The new infrared sauna at Luna Rae Spa and Wellness is ready to help people heal their bodies through sweating.
According to spa owner Jennifer Breitbach, modern infrared saunas heat the body from the inside out, providing a variety of health benefits.
“It’s not like a traditional sauna where you sweat because the heat is coming from the outside of your body,” said Breitbach. “It heats up your inner core like your body’s natural fever defense. It really helps with your immune system, there’s detoxification, heart health, immunity, muscle recovery, relaxation and anti-aging benefits. When you sweat, you’re cleaning your pores out and releasing some of the environmental toxins and heavy metals which can sometimes inhibit weight loss for people.”
According to Breitbach, saunas have been growing in popularity, with many people having lifelong, regular sessions. While single visits are still good, regular usage is better for lasting benefits and performing regular maintenance on the body such as improving sleep, stress relief, temporary pain relief and even weight loss. Still, even with all the benefits, a sauna can take some getting used to, so Breitbach advises gradually acclimating your body first.
“Your goal is to sweat, so it might take a slightly lower temperature or shorter session if you’re not used to it. Some people easily sweat, but for others, it takes them a bit to acclimate to that. Because it’s infrared, it’s a more comfortable atmosphere — you don’t feel like you’re imminently suffocating.”
In a modern world of desk jobs and air conditioning, Breitbach said people are often lacking the proper amount of sweat needed to purge their bodies of toxins, a problem saunas are designed to fix.
“You want to shower after, but sweating is good for you. Think about before we modernized everything when we did more physical labor — if you’re not doing that and you’re having environmental toxins and all the other toxins we have nowadays, it’s staying in your body. We can’t control everything in the environment, so this is a way to help you maintain by getting rid of that stuff.”
Luna Rea’s sauna can comfortably fit two people at once and is available for bookings by couples. It features chromotherapy and a Bluetooth radio for music, meditation or even watching a movie during sessions. Breitbach said the service also pairs well with Luna Rea’s halotherapy, also known as dry salt rooms or “the toothbrush of the lungs.” This therapy involves breathing in micro-sized salt particles which then flow through every part of the respiratory tract before dissolving and attracting impurities. Much like the sauna, halotherapy is meant to remove toxins from the body, and help improve chronic respiratory illnesses and skin conditions, including acne.
Both halotherapy and sauna sessions can be booked at Luna Rae as stand-alone appointments for one or two people or as an add-on service with a massage. Breitbach also includes them as package deals for private spa parties for up to six people rotating through stations in the spa. For more information, contact Luna Rea’s website at https://www.lunaraespaandwellness.com
