I have just come back from a very bruising and achy holiday in Chamonix. I have never tried any type of winter sports before and decided it was a good idea to try snowboarding! Well I have never fell so much in my life and I consistently acquired new bruises, aches and pains. However I was really amazed with my ability to recover. My bruises would only last 2-3 days and then fade and achy muscles would not be as bad as I had anticipated them to be.

It then occurred to me that it must be a result of the daily sauna I was taking. The conventional sauna heats up the air in an enclosed space – usually between 70-90 degrees Celsius. It has been a tradition in Scandinavian countries for generations and now has become a part of popular culture. You can find Sauna’s in health spas, Gyms and even in people’s houses! We were lucky enough to have a small sauna in the house we were renting for the week and it seemed a perfect end to the day to have a sauna.

It is recommended to stay in the sauna for 15 minuets before taking a break. An essential part of the routine is to ‘cool down’ if you have been sufficiently slow roasted. A common method is using a plunge pool, but most often a nice long cold shower will do. The sharp contrast of hot and cold on your body does amazing things to your condition. Most importantly for me it creates a pumping action in your circulation. Your capillaries dilate and come to the surface of your skin when you are hot, to keep you cool. This increases the blood flow to your muscles and skin. When you ‘shock’ your body with cold water, your capillaries contract and blood retreats from the surface of your body, then you head back into the warmth of the sauna to heat up again.

This action help flush out toxins very quickly, helping to ease aches, pains and even reduces the appearance of bruising. Other benefits include:
• Increases endurance and stamina
• Alleviates depression
• Reduces stress hormones – adrenaline and noradrenalin
• Improves micro circulation
• Aids weight loss
I highly recommend this practice especially for the damp slightly cold climate of Ireland. Be cautious when you start however. Never allow yourself to become dehydrated as you don’t want to sweat out all your essential minerals and salts. If you feel ill, you should come out sooner for a break, as often we have to work up our stamina for the sauna.

Myrthe Wieler