How often and for how long should you use the sauna?

The Finnish sweat room, now generally known to us as the sauna, naturally originated in Finland. A sauna session is meant to bring us health and relaxation. However, for the sauna truly to be relaxing and to promote health or strengthen the body’s immune defences, it is important not to overdo it. Both the number of sauna sessions and the length of each session, as well as the rest periods between them, should follow certain recommended guidelines.

What is the ideal length of a sauna session?

A maximum of three sauna sessions in one day is recommended. Each session should last between 8 and 15 minutes. It is always important to remember that you should listen to your body first and foremost. If you notice that the sauna is becoming too much for your body, you should leave the sauna and allow yourself time to cool down and rest.

To help your body become accustomed gradually to the high temperatures during the first sauna session of the day, it is advisable to start with a session at a lower temperature of around 50 to 60°C.

How long should the break be before the next sauna session?

Breaks between sauna sessions are essential for the body’s recovery and should therefore not be too short. There are different approaches when it comes to the right length of the break. While some recommend a break of around 30 to 45 minutes, others suggest using twice the length of the previous sauna session as a guideline. Under no circumstances, however, should the break be shorter than the previous session. When deciding on the right length of the break, your own sense of wellbeing is particularly important. Sauna bathing should relax the body and strengthen the immune system. If you feel that your body is still exhausted after a steam infusion and needs a little more recovery time, you should allow yourself that time.

How often per week is a sauna visit advisable?

In principle, there is of course nothing wrong with going to the sauna every day, especially if you have one at home. However, you should bear in mind that if you visit the sauna several times a week, you should reduce the number of sauna sessions per day. If you genuinely use the sauna every day, one session each time is more than sufficient. If, on the other hand, you go to the sauna only two or three times a week, then two sessions on those days are ideal. If you visit the sauna weekly or less often, you may happily enjoy up to three sessions per day.

What else should be taken into account?

Using the sauna causes the body to lose a large amount of fluid. It is therefore important to ensure that you are well hydrated, preferably with water, before your first sauna session. You should also drink enough between and after sauna sessions.

For hygiene reasons, you should have a quick shower before and after using the sauna. And one very important point: never use a sauna if you have a fever or are unwell, as this places additional strain on the immune system.

Conclusion

The sauna is an excellent way to relax and to strengthen your immune system. If you follow a few basic sauna rules, drink enough fluids and choose the length of your sauna sessions and the breaks between them in line with the recommended guidelines, sauna visits can leave you feeling re-energised and restored.