The big lie about sauna culture

I'll hold my hand up, I am guilty of this. And so are many other sauna companies, and influencers. We put out a message to try and sell, that's how a business stays in business. That's how influencers get clicks, likes, shares, whatever else is included in that array. And it's not really a lie, so much as a half truth, a lie by omission if you will: sauna is not relaxing.

We post wonderful pictures of gorgeous people lounging in the sauna, looking damn good. How relaxing! Warm up on a cold day in the winter by relaxing into the heat. But here's the thing, it's only relaxing for the first few minutes. Once my body gets up to temp (about 6-8 minutes in the winter, 4-5 in the summer), it isn't relaxing. It's hard. It's uncomfortable. My skin gets itchy, I want to get out. But here's the thing, that's the whole point.

We also as sauna business owners and influencers praise the health benefits of sauna, and they are immense:

• reduced cardiovascular disease (stroke, heart attack)

• reduction in cognitive decline (Alzheimer's, dementia)

• improved athletic performance

• increased depth and duration of sleep

• reduced all cause mortality of up to 40% (less likely to die for any reason)

• increased sexual attractiveness (yup this one is real)

But what we fail to mention is that all of these only come after proper, uncomfortable heat. Sitting in a lukewarm room for half an hour does nothing. Repeat this 4 times a week, still nothing.

Just like just about everything that is good for us, doing it once doesn't change much, and doing it part way gets you about a quarter of the benefits. Running 10 miles is not the same as walking 1 mile. Likewise spending a few minutes in a warm sauna is not even close to enough to cause what we want, discomfort.

The benefits from sauna, both physiological health benefits, and the mood boosting (relaxation being a big one) come from being in the discomfort of heat. That is where the adaptation comes from.

For some, this is easier than others. And some learn to love it, to look forward to their friend the heat. Just like runners who learn to enjoy the burn of a hard work out, the taste of metal in their mouths. Or gym rats who look forward to the pump, the soreness, the pain that comes from serious lifting. The same goes for sauna. It is not relaxing, not at first, not until you're done and out of the heat.

And here's the kicker, the more discomfort you're able to endure, the more relaxing it feels once its over. Funny how that works, in sauna and often in life.