To Sauna or Not to Sauna

We all know that saunas are prohibited for weight cutting purposes, but did you know that they can actually be a healthy and beneficial complement to your training regimen?  A few of the YMCAs around here have one, and I've started taking advantage of it after swimming or any of my workouts, for that matter.

For starters, it is a nice, relaxing end to a workout.  I've seen many individuals do some of their post-workout stretching in there.  You already know that you should stretch when your muscles are warm, but a sauna facilitates this even more so.  You can even do some imagery and visualization and/or reflect on the workout you just performed to help you mentally unwind from your training.

One of the biggest reasons for using a sauna is that your skin is your largest eliminative organ.  That means that you can get rid of a lot of toxins in your body simply by sweating them out.  But the crucial thing here is to replenish the lost fluids as you sweat, rather than just passively sweating, as is so commonly associated with saunas.

Do not dehydrate yourself in a sauna and then go exercise just so that you can lose more weight.  Water weight loss is not permanent weight loss.  In high school a couple classmates of mine asked me for some advice because they wanted to lose weight.  They said they were going to sit in the steam room at their gym, not drink anything, and then go run on the treadmill.  I explained to them why it was a stupid idea, but they did it anyway.  The next day in class they told me how dead tired they felt when they tried to run.  No kidding.

If used appropriately, a sauna can be a great tool for an athlete.  It can keep your skin healthy and clear while aiding in recovery.  You simply need to avoid the pitfalls of dehydration which have brought about the stigma of using them.  And of course, don't be foolish; obey the time limits posted inside the sauna and get the heck out if you feel like you're going to pass out.

Sauna up,
Jeff