Saunas are a heated, enclosed space that encourages detoxifying perspiration, relief from aches and pains, and deep relaxation. Infrared saunas heat up the body and this offers various health benefits. The less clothing you wear in a sauna, the more beneficial it is so if it is permitted and possible, you can go nude into a sauna with just a towel to sit on.
The simple answer to what you should wear in a sauna is ‘as little as possible’. Many people say that saunas are best experienced nude but not all saunas allow visitors to be nude. Saunas often provide towels and other types of clothing that can be worn inside the sauna. Some saunas have a private room where you can take off all your clothing and be nude if you wish.
Infrared saunas heat the body up by using infrared light. This causes the body to sweat which eliminates toxins. If you choose to wear heavy clothing or coat your body in lotion or oil, that covers the pores of your skin which makes it harder for the body to sweat. The less you wear, the more effective your sauna experience is going to be.
What You Should Not Wear In a Sauna
The answer to this is pretty simple. You should avoid wearing anything that makes it harder to sweat. These can include:
- Heavy towels
- Shoes
- Thick hats or other heavy headgear
- Thick swimsuits made of non-breathable materials
- Makeup
- Dirty clothing
- Materials made of PVC or spandex
If you want to cover up in the sauna, a light cotton shirt and cotton shorts are recommended as cotton does not affect the rate of sweating while also offering good body coverage. The items you choose to wear in a sauna should be loose, light, breathable and easily removable.
Etiquette and Tips for Infrared Saunas
Public saunas usually have guidelines written or mentioned for visitors before they enter the sauna but knowing the general etiquettes of visiting a sauna that everyone should be aware of. These include:
- Always shower before a sauna. This removes any dirt and grime on the body, opening up the pores on the skin which allows for better sweating.
- Do not wear makeup or remove it when going into a sauna. Makeup also clogs the pores on your skin which inhibits sweating and therefore makes the sauna less effective.
- Make sure to hydrate before going into a sauna and hydrating again after coming out of the sauna. Your body can lose a lot of fluid in the form of sweat so it is best to hydrate frequently.
- If you’ve planned a sauna session ahead of time then it is best to avoid dehydrating drinks in the hours leading up to the sauna session. Dehydrating drinks can include coffee, alcohol, sugary foods and soft drinks.
- When going into a sauna, it is best to let your body breathe and sweat as much as possible. It is best not to use any oil or lotion when in the sauna as both of those block the pores on the skin and hinder sweating.
- In the hours leading up to the sauna, it is best to eat foods that are energy-rich. Since the body uses up energy in the sauna, it needs to be replenished which is why eating energy-rich foods before the sauna is a good idea.
- After a sauna, avoid taking a shower right away. Your body needs to return to normal temperature first which is why is it essential to cool down once you come out of the shower. If you’re in a hurry and need to shower right away, a warm shower is better than a cold one to avoid a sudden change in body temperature.
Following these sauna etiquettes will make sure that your sauna experience is a pleasant one and that you do not offend anyone else that is sharing the sauna with you. Remember, the less you wear in a sauna the better it is as it allows your body to sweat more freely. Although if you are going to experience for the first time for infrared sauna then you should also learn about the infrared sauna benefits and disadvantages so it will be more feasible to you to enjoy that therapy.
