When Ryan Schiff first reached out to me about buying an infrared sauna, he’d already been down the rabbit hole. Weeks of research, a stack of open browser tabs, and a handful of pushy salespeople who treated him like a lead instead of a human being. Sound familiar? If you’ve ever started shopping for an infrared sauna and walked away more confused than when you began, friend, you’re in the right place.

He found me while he was searching for the right sauna for his home, and our conversations turned into a real friendship. On Episode 118 of the Homes That Heal™ podcast, we sat down to talk through his whole buying experience, plus the unexpected thing that came out of it: his first book.

Meet Ryan, the Guy Who Did His Homework

Ryan is a lifelong athlete and former professional hockey player who’s about to turn 60 and, in his words, still tries to feel like he’s in his 30s. A few years back, a routine heart scan gave him a reason to take his wellness up a notch, so he leaned into the things that made him feel strong: hot yoga, cold therapy, and eventually an infrared sauna he could use every single day at home.

He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t do anything halfway. So when he decided to buy a sauna, he researched it like a second job. That thoroughness is exactly why his story is so helpful for the rest of us.

Why Buying an Infrared Sauna Feels So Overwhelming

Nobody warns you that the moment you show a flicker of interest, the internet comes for you. Ryan described it perfectly. The second you drop your information into a website, the bots descend. Six hundred dollars off. Free shipping. Buy today. It’s a lot.

Underneath all that noise sits a real problem. There are SO. MANY. OPTIONS. Far infrared, full spectrum, two-person, corner units, indoor, outdoor. Every company swears theirs is the best, and most of them care more about closing a sale than understanding what you need. No wonder people freeze.

The good news? Buying an infrared sauna gets a whole lot simpler once you know which handful of things truly matter. Let’s break them down.

What to Look For When Buying an Infrared Sauna

Heater Placement Matters More Than Price

If you remember one thing from this whole post, make it this one. Infrared travels in a straight line, which means the placement of the heaters decides whether that healing heat reaches your body or just warms up the air around you. Some of the saunas Ryan compared had big gaps with no heat at all. You can sit in a unit like that and feel toasty, but you’re missing much of what you came for.

What you want is heat coming at you from every direction, ideally surrounding your body so you’re truly bathed in it. When someone quotes you a rock-bottom price, ask where the heaters are placed before you get excited. A cheaper sauna that leaves half of you in a cold spot isn’t a deal.

Indoor vs. Outdoor: Start With Your Space

Ryan lives out at the beach, and his garage doesn’t have full walls, so salt air was a genuine concern. He really wanted a specific indoor model because it fit his yoga practice better. I told him not to buy it. More than once.

An indoor sauna placed outside will not hold up to the elements, and watching a $10,000 investment slowly rust would break both our hearts. So we found him an outdoor-rated unit that still gave him room to stretch. The lesson holds for everyone: your space comes first. Measure it, look at your climate, and let that guide the model rather than the other way around.

Low-EMF Materials and Honest Build Quality

Because an infrared sauna runs on electricity, it’s worth choosing one built to keep electromagnetic field exposure low. This detail matters even more if you plan to sit in it daily, the way Ryan does. Ask about EMF and ELF levels, the type of wood, and whether the company uses any glues that could off-gas when heated. A quality builder will answer these questions without flinching.

A Simple Checklist for Buying an Infrared Sauna

Before you commit, run through this quick list:

• Where are the heaters placed, and will they surround your body?
• Is the unit rated for where you plan to put it?
• What are the EMF and ELF levels?
• What wood and materials are used?
• What does the warranty cover, and for how long?
• Does the company answer your questions like a partner or push you like a target?

The Part Nobody Asks About: Warranty and Service

Everyone wants to save three hundred bucks. Almost nobody asks what happens when something goes wrong. Ryan’s delivery is a perfect example. The crew that dropped off his sauna damaged it during delivery, cracking the top and the glass. Because he’d chosen a company with a solid warranty (he went with Clearlight, which I’ve trusted for years), they sent a completely new unit and covered the reinstall costs. He even got a replacement part for the speakers.

Now picture that same scenario with a bargain unit shipped from who-knows-where. Damaged on arrival, no real warranty, and a salesperson who’s long gone. Protecting your investment is one of the most important pieces of buying an infrared sauna, and it almost never shows up in the flashy discount ads.

The Real Reason People Bring Wellness Home

Ninety-nine percent of the time, people buy a sauna for their health. Some are being proactive. Others have received a diagnosis or a scan that lit a fire under them. Ryan fell into both camps.

Here’s where I want to be careful and clear. Regular infrared sauna use has been associated in research with better circulation, relaxation, and cardiovascular support, and heat therapy is one of the more studied wellness practices out there. Even so, a sauna is not a replacement for your doctor. Ryan talked it over with his cardiologist and did plenty of his own research before deciding what was right for him, and his wellness routine grew right alongside those conversations. I love that he took the whole picture seriously instead of reaching for a shortcut.

What a home sauna really gives you is access. A 45-minute drive to a wellness studio is plenty of time to talk yourself right out of going. Between a full schedule, kids, and a long day, that drive becomes the reason you skip it. A sauna under your own roof removes that excuse entirely, and consistency is where the magic lives.

So who is a home sauna best for? The busy parent who can’t carve out a studio membership. The person recovering from an injury who craves gentle heat on their own timeline. The one who, like Ryan, wants a daily wellness practice that fits their life instead of fighting it. If any of those sound like you, a sauna at home might be worth the look.

When He Stopped Forcing It, the Ideas Came

Ryan didn’t just use his sauna to sweat. He used it to get quiet.

Last January, work had thrown him some curveballs, and he found himself sitting in the heat most mornings in total silence. No podcast, no music, just breathing and letting his mind settle. One morning, after hearing a writer describe how fly fishing mirrored his life, an idea landed: what if Ryan wrote a book about golf and the lessons it had quietly taught him?

So he tried. His first attempt was a rushed three-day draft that read like a list of courses he’d played, and he knew it fell flat. Then he tried something different. He stopped forcing it.

Back in the sauna, he’d spend the first few minutes just breathing, and then the ideas would flow on their own. Chapters took shape while he sat in the heat. He’d climb out, sit down at his computer, and the words came easily because he’d already lived them in that warm, quiet space. What began as a chore turned into something he loved, and A Fool’s Errand was born.

I get a little giddy about this, because it’s what I’m always trying to describe to people about infrared heat. Think of sunlight on a plant. Give yourself that light and space, stop white-knuckling the outcome, and you bloom into what you’re meant to become. Ryan didn’t muscle his book into existence. He got quiet enough to let it arrive.

That’s the kind of room a home sauna makes for you. Not just circulation and recovery, but stillness. And stillness has a funny way of handing back the ideas you’ve been too busy to hear.

Trust Yourself More Than the Sale

The thing I appreciate most about Ryan is that he trusted his own gut the whole way through. He didn’t let the discount countdown clocks or the influencer noise make his decision for him. Instead, he gathered good information, asked real questions, and stayed in the driver’s seat of his own health.

That’s my hope for you too. Buying an infrared sauna shouldn’t feel like getting hustled. When you focus on the few things that matter and tune out the rest, the overwhelm fades and the right choice gets clear.

About Ryan Schiff:

Ryan is a lifelong athlete, former professional hockey player, and first-time author. After a heart health scare in his late 50s, he built a daily wellness practice around his infrared sauna and cold plunge. During those quiet sessions, he wrote A Fool’s Errand, a book about golf, presence, and the people who shape us along the way. You can find the book on Amazon and follow along on Instagram @afoolserrandgolfbook.

Links & Resources

• Ryan’s book, A Fool’s Errand
• Follow the book on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afoolserrandgolfbook
• Curious about infrared saunas? Start here: Infrared Sauna Info & Resources
• Take a peek at my Jen Recommends list to see more of my favorite products.
• Grab my FREE Home Wellness Checklist here for more tips.

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Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services. The statements and views expressed are not medical advice and are not meant to replace the advice of your medical doctor. This podcast, including Jen Heller and her guests, disclaims any responsibility and any adverse effects you may experience from the specific use of the information contained herein. The opinions of guests are their own and this podcast does not endorse or accept responsibility for the statements made by guests. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you think you have a medical condition, consult your licensed physician.