Have you experienced BLACK SWEAT during Infrared Saunas?

Infrared saunas are very different to traditional steam-based saunas.

Unlike traditional saunas that heat the air in the space, infrared saunas use infrared heat waves to heat your body from the inside out.

Infrared waves penetrate past the dermal layers of your skin to stimulate your cells and unlock deep detoxifying potential.

The power of Infrared Heat:

Your body stores toxins and heavy metals in fat cells to prevent them from moving into the bloodstream. Infrared heat waves stimulate and liberate toxins from fat cells to be moved through the body for elimination.

This is why it is so important to drink lots of water during and after your sauna to flush these toxins out of your body.

Headaches experienced after saunas can be due to the detoxing process as your body begins to filter out heavy metals, environmental pollutants, and toxins from food, drink, household products and body products. Post sauna headaches and body aches are not necessarily due to dehydration as some people may think.

What’s in your sweat?

In traditional saunas, only 1% of your sweat is toxins. Whereas in infrared saunas, 90% is water and the remaining 10% is toxins!

You can see the high toxin content in your sweat once it dries and looks like a milky or opaque colour on surfaces.

This is why it can be beneficial to shower off any body products before your sauna, wipe sweat off yourself during your saunas and have a shower afterwards to prevent toxin reabsorption.

The amazing BLACK SWEAT!

Having regular infrared sauna sessions creates a learned detox response in your body.

As your body adapts, you may start to notice faint black spots appearing on your towel — black sweat!

This is a sign of a transition occurring and significant detoxification is happening within your body!

The ideal sweat and temperature…

45–55 Degrees:

For the most effective detox, we aim to sweat to the point where droplets form on the skin’s surface, similar to raindrops gliding down a window. If your body begins to pour sweat excessively, you may just be ‘water dumping’ with less focus on detoxing.

If your sauna is around 45–55 degrees, you will likely avoid water dumping and bring your body into a detox state.

55 degrees and above:

When your sauna is above 55 degrees you will start to bring your body into gentle shock. Here you can stimulate heat shock proteins which is great for cologne production, cell repair and the release of natural growth hormones.

In higher temperatures, your body will be rapidly trying to bring your core temperature down and your heart rate will increase so more calories will be burnt.

These higher temperatures are also great for hot-cold therapy. Some people use ice baths or jump into a cold shower after their sauna or in intervals.

Where to book a sauna…

My favourite place for saunas is Soul Haven; Yoga and Pilates, located in Mornington (Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne).

Soul Haven have an intro offer of 2 x 45-minute sessions for only $50. You can also pair your sauna with a relaxing yoga class or strength training in one of their reformer Pilates classes.

City Cave have many locations across Australia. They have an intro offer of 3 sauna sessions for $90 and also have massages and floats available.

Otherwise, if you have a steam sauna in your gym, that is a great place to start to build resilience to the heat and sweat and to build a regular sauna practice.

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Infrared saunas are an amazing tool for detoxing, cardiovascular health, circulation, mindfulness, stress relief, releasing inflammation, fighting fatigue, cell repair, improving overall health and well-being and experiencing black sweat!

Saunas are a mindful practice that you can incorporate into your well-being routine and build up your resilience over time.

You may start with one sauna a week for 20 minutes at a time. For the best results and to add years onto your life, 3–4 saunas a week will allow you to see and feel a real transformation in your body, your mindset, your mood and your energy levels.

Embrace the sweat and the challenge, surrender through your body and mind and let the transformation unfold within you…

You’ll be addicted in no time just like me!