I’ve been using a sauna for years, both dry and steam, however dry is 100% the better option. Over the years I’ve also learned the right (and unfortunately wrong) way to use the sauna. Because there is indeed a wrong way to use the sauna that can do you more harm than good, leaving you dehydrated, or with a headache.
Here’s the top 5 mistakes I see people making all the time, and what you should know to maximize the benefits of your sauna session.
1. Never wear toxic clothing in the sauna
I’m talking about polyester, nylon, viscose, and any synthetic-heavy fabrics. You are literally seeping chemicals into your pores. Your best bet is to wear nothing at all if your sauna and comfort level allow it. However, if you’re like me and you’re using a shared sauna sometimes clothing is required. Make sure you are wearing natural materials like organic cotton and linen.
They’re simple, breathable and exactly what I want against my skin when I’m sweating in high heat.
2. Never bring a plastic water bottle into the sauna.
I’m begging you. I see this so many times when I’m sitting in the sauna, somebody drinking out of a plastic water bottle, whether it’s a disposable bottle or a reusable plastic one.
The amount of microplastics that they are drinking would blow your mind. Research has found that exposing certain plastic water bottles to high temperatures can significantly increase the release of microplastics and nanoplastics into the water. You can literally taste the plastic if you have ever drank out of a water bottle in the sauna.
Listen I understand why people bring a water bottle into the sauna. Staying hydrated is extremely important when you’re sweating that much, but you don’t need the plastic bottle.
I recommend using stainless steel instead. Glass is another option if your sauna allows it, although many shared saunas don’t permit glass for obvious reasons. Click HERE to see the safe water bottles I recommend.
3. Bring a clean towel in with you
And not just one to sit on, but one to wipe the sweat off your skin as you sweat. As soon as you see sweat wipe it off. Because if you don’t when you leave that sauna your skin is just going to reabsorb all of the toxins that you sweated out.
4. Do not bring your phone into the sauna
First of all you should be relaxing in the sauna, not scrolling on socials, texting, or finishing up a work email. You need to sit back and learn how to deal with being in extreme heat without distractions.
For your phone, the sauna is also the ultimate killer. The heat far exceeds the safe operating limit for most phones, and humidity isn’t exactly doing your phone any favours either. Some wellness experts note that EMF and blue light exposure from your phone can add cellular stress during a detox session. And while I believe this still needs to be studied more in depth, why bother risking it. So leave the phone out of the sauna, 15 mins without it won’t hurt.
5. You need to sweat for at least 10 mins.
From the moment you start sweating needs to be a minimum of 10 minutes. Not everyone is equal, some people, especially if they’re new to saunas, might not sweat for the first few minutes, others might sweat right away. The main thing is to actually be sweating for a minimum of 10 mins to cleanse. Usually 15-20 minutes in the sauna does the trick for me.
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