INFRARED SAUNA THERAPY - BENEFITING YOUR BRAIN

In part three of our sauna series, let’s talk about how sauna therapy benefits your brain!

What Our Brains Do

Our brains are pretty complex structures.  The brain controls every process in our bodies: thought, memories, emotions, movements, our senses, and many things we don’t even have to ‘think’ about – like breathing. 

Our brains are divided into lobes where different functions happen – like rooms in a house. And the spinal cord acts an extension of the nervous system to deliver messages to the rest of the body.

So how does sauna therapy help these processes?

How Sauna Therapy Benefits the Brain

Saunas have been part of Finnish culture for centuries.  One study looked at Finnish men who used saunas regularly over decades.  Researchers found that these men had a two-thirds reduction in both dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

How does that happen? Researchers think that the increased blood flow to the brain provided by sauna therapy has something to do with it. The blood flow may help remove substances that contribute to dementia starting.

How Sauna Therapy Benefits our Mood

Regular sauna therapy seems to benefit mood. It can reduce stress hormones and increase proteins in the brain that make us feel better. Researchers think that regular sauna use causes our bodies to make adaptions to the ‘stress’ of heat. These adaptions change our stress response and make us feel better. 

Saunas are also a great place to relax! They provide stress reduction while we sweat. They can help us practice mindfulness as we take time out from our busy lives. Studies have also shown that regular sauna users tend to sleep better. Healthy sleep habits also help to reduce stress.

Sauna Therapy at Pittsburgh Fitness Project

More studies need to be done to confirm these benefits to our brain. But the initial research looks promising. The Pittsburgh Fitness Project has three medical-grade infrared dry saunas. But be sure to check with your provider before starting any new health regimen. 

 Schedule your FREE Recovery Day Pass to try out our saunas in addition to our compression therapy at PFP’s Recovery Lounge.