Sauna Relaxation Tips
When picturing the best way to relax after a stressful day, kicking back in a hot sauna is probably near the top of most people's lists. It's hard to beat the feeling of warmth sinking in below the skin, easing sore muscles and allowing your heartbeat to slow to a calm, peaceful thrum.
If you're lucky enough to have your own cedar barrel sauna, you know the importance of relaxing for your physical and mental well-being. Here are some tips for chilling out in your outdoor sauna to ensure you're getting the most out of your investment in your health.
How Does Relaxation Help the Body?
The benefits associated with relaxing in a sauna are well-documented and have been the subject of many peer-reviewed studies over the years. According to experts at the Mayo Clinic, spending time in a sauna can be extremely beneficial for the cardiovascular system, improving your heart health and lowering blood pressure. Lower blood pressure is associated with a wide range of health benefits, including a happier overall mood and a longer life.
Benefits of an Outdoor Sauna
Spending quality time in an indoor sauna is good for you, but relaxing in an outdoor sauna may be even better. With an outdoor sauna, you get the added benefits of being close to nature and taking in the beauty of the world around you while you relax. Studies have shown that even just looking at images of nature – for instance, through the door or window of an outdoor sauna – can reduce or even eliminate feelings of anger, stress, and worry, leaving you free to embrace more positive emotions instead.
In addition to being closer to nature, outdoor saunas provide you with a place to decompress that is completely removed from the rest of your house. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is vital for relaxation, but it can be extra tough for those who work from home. Ensuring your relaxation space is far away from your office increases the likelihood that you'll be able to turn off your work brain when it's time to clock out for the day.
What is the Best Outdoor Sauna for Relaxation?
While any type of barrel sauna can increase your ability to relax, some materials might come with more benefits than others. For instance, a wooden cedar sauna may provide a more relaxing atmosphere than a sauna made from plastic or metal materials. Results from a 2018 study suggest that inhaling the odor of cedar wood may promote and enhance feelings of relaxation, particularly after a long day of monotonous work.
Paradoxically, jobs that involve repetitive tasks can be stressful and mind-numbing at the same time; therefore, having a way to unwind and relax our brains at the end of the day is very important for people whose day-to-day activities include a high level of monotony. A cedar barrel sauna comes with all the benefits of a regular dry sauna, plus the added component of rich, aromatic cedar wood.
Tips for Relaxing in your Outdoor Sauna
You're finally clocked out for the day, with nothing left to do but climb into your cedar barrel sauna and let your mind and muscles relax to the max. Here are some ways to enhance your quality time while hanging out in your outdoor sauna.
Listen to Music
The connection between music and the mind has been the subject of many studies. Researchers at the University of Nevada found that music with a tempo of 60 beats per minute may help enhance feelings of calm, allowing you to get even more out of your time in the heat.
Add Scent
We've already talked about the ways a cedar sauna can provide an aromatic boost to your relaxation, but other scents may prove just as calming. Try adding lavender essential oil to your routine.
Try Meditating
Meditation comes with a slew of positive effects on your mental and emotional well-being. Having a regular mindfulness practice can help you manage stress and anxiety, as well as improve your sleep and help you live a calmer, more well-balanced life.
Read
Do you sometimes get bored or antsy while sitting in your cedar sauna with nothing else to do? Try bringing a book next time. Reading has been shown to lower the heart rate and relieve stress even faster than listening to music or drinking a cup of calming tea.
The Bottom Line
Taking care of your mental and physical health becomes so much easier with the right tips and tools at your disposal. The next time you step into your outdoor sauna, try using one of the techniques above to make your relaxation time even more productive. You'll be amazed at the difference even thirty minutes of dry heat can make at the end of a stressful day.