Dry Sauna / Steam Room

[David Nicol]

We have a sauna and steam room facility at the university leisure complex and I was wondering if any tribe members have any information on positive and/ or negative effects of using these after intense exercise?

For the past week I've been having a sauna after a gym session and am wondering the effects it has been having on my body?

Would be great if I could hear your experiences

Kind Regards,

[JayBell]

I love saunas after working out, unfortunately I rarely have access to one. Saunas help clean the body out...and relax the muscles. Unfortunately, often times it has an *over* relaxing result. After the sauna, I jump in a very cold shower for about 15 seconds to get the blood moving again.

[Shaf]

Contrasting cold showers with the sauna or steam room works well for me.

They work even better if you contrast cold showers with a hot tub or hot shower. Just remember to always end on cold. hot/cold/hot/cold/hot/cold

The one thing you need to look out for is dehydration. If you become dehydrated because of the sauna, it may increase your recovery time.

For a post-workout routine in the sauna, I like making sure that the ROM of the trained joints is optimal (if you have the room). Doing an abbreviated type of WW thing coupled with syncronized breathing and following it by laying down on one of the benches for about 5-10 minutes, sipping water.

[Scott Sonnon]

Well advised, Steve. Same thing I do.

[David Nicol]

Thanks guys. Yeah, my main worry was dehydration but i make sure that i take plenty of water before during and after.

I had fantastic results with this last weekend to release tension and pain in my lower back. I started with WW then alternated prasara body flow with 10 lengths (small pool) very relaxed swimming, focusing on breathing throughout. I did about 4 or 5 sets of this followed by more WW and then alternated 10 min whirlpool, cold contrast, 5 - 10 min sauna, cold contrast. I was the only person in the hotel leisure area that night, it was only lit with uplighting and was designed to look like a garden - with relaxing music playing softly - the temp poolside was 45 degrees C. I came out so relaxed afterwords and my back was fixed - one of the best yoga sessions I've ever had. It meant I could train at karate the next day when I otherwise wouldn't have been able to. Would thoroughly recommend it to anyone.

Thanks again,
David