Jonas Doerr – Opinion Columnist
Being hot usually isn’t relaxing. A hothead is someone who gets angry easily. A heated argument is usually a bit too intense. Someone who breaks into a cold sweat is nervous or afraid. And if a situation is steamy, nobody involved will be very calm.
The sauna is different. Instead of becoming angry or nervous, most people relax when sweating in the sauna. Of course, if someone throws too much water on the rocks or a sweaty heartthrob strolls in, it might get steamy. Otherwise, lots of people head to the hotbox to settle down.
But is there more to the sauna? Can it provide other benefits to those who can push through the 200-degree heat? Will it make your skin glow like an angel, detox your body better than a laxative, and even help you live longer?
Gustavus has a sauna available to students. The dim, wooden room next to the pool is open most of the time during weekdays and for a few hours on weekends. But are there any good reasons for students to make use of it? Why would anyone want to roast themselves like a rotisserie chicken?
One hope of sauna-goers is that the heat will give them great skin. Some common claims are that saunas can detox one’s skin, increase collagen production, and increase blood flow to the skin. A Google search of “Are saunas healthy?” reveals dozens of articles that practically scream how amazing saunas are for one’s skin, immunity, weight loss, and ability to run races in Desert Valley (that’s for real – it’s on badwater.com). But some of these claims might be overblown.
First of all, sweating does not flush toxins out of the body like a toilet. Sweat is mostly water with some salt, carbs, and proteins mixed in. Dr. Charles Smith says on the University of Arkansas for Medical Science website that the idea of sweat cleansing the body is a myth. The body removes toxins through the liver or other organs, not by sweating.
Still, anyone who has been in a sauna knows that it gets the heart pumping. Many people come out of the sauna with rosy cheeks and skin that seems to glisten – and not just from the sweat. Faster blood flow might bring more nutrients to the skin, but it’s unclear if those benefits are permanent.
In fact, one of the few proven benefits of sauna-going is related to one’s heart health. Dr. Earric Lee ran a study in which sauna users had a significant improvement in cardiovascular health after working out as compared to those who only worked out. It might actually be true that going to the sauna will help people live longer.
And the people who train for Death Valley marathons with the sauna might have a point. Any regular sauna user knows how it gets easier after the first few times. If you want to build up your heat tolerance, what better way to do it than by sitting inside a human-sized microwave? For anyone who prefers not to race in deserts, it still might feel amazing to play it cool in the summer while your friends moan about the heat.
However, there can be some risks to using the sauna. The heat and increased heart rates can make some people feel light-headed. It’s important not to stay in the sauna for too long to avoid heat stroke or other health-related issues.
It’s also essential to chug plenty of water before and during sauna use. All the sweat literally takes a lot out of you, so unless you have aspirations to be a raisin, it’s better to stay hydrated. Be careful, though, not to bring a metal water bottle inside because it will get very hot.
While not every purported benefit of saunas is real, there are other reasons to go. Some people can enjoy the restful feeling of sitting back in the warmth. Some people enjoy challenging themselves to try things outside their comfort zones. Part of the joy of the sauna is shaking sweat off your eyebrows knowing that you conquered the extreme heat.
Maybe none of this seems appealing. The sauna isn’t for everyone. There are many other ways to stay healthy and be relaxed, like eating well, yoga, exercise, and throwing soft squishy objects at one’s friends.
But if sitting on a dimly lit wooden bench, sweat slowly sliding down your shoulder, hot air tingling your nose hairs, as you chuckle with the follow sauna-ers then spray off the sweat with an ice-cold shower seems like heaven on earth, the sauna might be right for you.