Let’s face it: winter has a way of creeping into our bones. And while a slow yoga flow or post-class chai helps, there’s one wellness ritual that’s quietly changing the self-care game: infrared sauna therapy.
It’s not just about sweating — it’s about what happens inside your body when the heat goes deep.
🔥 What Is an Infrared Sauna, Exactly?
Unlike traditional saunas that heat the air around you, infrared saunas use infrared light to warm your body directly. This means you get a deep, detoxifying sweat at lower (and more comfortable) temperatures — usually between 45–60°C.
Infrared heat penetrates muscles, joints, and tissues more effectively, which is where the magic starts.
💪 1. Muscle Recovery & Reduced Inflammation
Infrared therapy is a dream for post-yoga recovery or sore bodies (hi, Hot Pilates crew 👋). Research published in the Journal of Athletic Enhancement found that infrared saunas significantly reduced muscle soreness and improved recovery after strength training sessions.
Another study in the Clinical Rheumatology Journal observed reduced pain and stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis after regular infrared sauna use – showing potential benefits for both athletes and those with chronic pain conditions.
In short? You sweat, and your body sighs in relief.
💗 2. Cardiovascular & Heart Health
We love a bit of heart-opening work on the mat – but it turns out your cardiovascular system gets a major win in the sauna, too.
A well-known 2015 study in JAMA Internal Medicine followed over 2,000 men over 20 years. It found that frequent sauna use (4–7 times a week) was linked to significantly reduced risk of heart disease and even all-cause mortality.
Infrared heat causes your heart rate to gently increase – similar to a mild cardio session – improving circulation and lowering blood pressure over time.
🧠 Mental Clarity, Mood & Stress Reduction
Infrared saunas don’t just relax your muscles – they relax you. Stepping into that warm glow is like giving your nervous system a hug.
Research in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine has shown that regular sauna use can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Add to that the benefits of solitude, stillness, and no screens? You’ve got a potent recipe for peace.
And let’s not forget the power of ritual — the act of carving out time for yourself. For Wonder members juggling kids, careers, and life stuff, those 20 minutes can be a sanctuary.
💦 Detoxification (Yep, It’s Real)
While “detox” gets thrown around too casually, sweating does play a key role in helping the body eliminate certain toxins. A review in Environmental Research found that sweating through sauna use can aid the excretion of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury.
That deep sweat you get in an infrared sauna? It’s your skin doing what it was designed to do: release what no longer serves you.
✨ Infrared at Wonder: More Than Just a Sweat
At Wonder Yoga, our private infrared sauna is designed to support everything you’re doing in class. Whether you’re building strength, finding softness, or chasing that post-savasana bliss — the sauna is your sidekick.
Pair it with a class
💡 Hot Pilates + Sauna = metabolic magic
💡 Yin Yoga + Sauna = next-level relaxation
Book it solo
Just 20 minutes, a water bottle, and your own little moment of peace.
📚 Want to Dive Deeper?
Here are some of the studies referenced:
- Laukkanen et al. (JAMA Intern Med, 2015) – Link
- Beever, R. (Canadian Family Physician, 2009) – Link
- Crinnion, W. (Alternative Medicine Review, 2011) – Link
❤️ Ready to Try It?
You don’t need to be a sauna veteran. You just need 20 minutes and a willingness to feel better. If you’re on our $99 Intro Offer, sauna access is already included — so why not start today?A place that aches or fills with love, that feels compassion and trust, and that is dependent on our experiences can seem empty or overflowing. The most vital of organs, intrinsically linked to life… you got it; the HEART. It is the centre in the body where we ‘feel’ but beyond that, there is, within the heart, a subtler centre that experiences spirit.
Book your next sauna session here