A common question I get asked is “Jen, what about the electrical energy and monthly costs?” This too is one of the many reasons why people are ditching the old-school traditional sauna and going with infrared.

They’re energy efficient, cost approximately 25-40 cents per hour and heat up to a solid temp in 20-30 minutes. Only 20% of the energy is used to heat the air, leaving the rest of the energy to heat the body. You generally don’t even notice an uptick on your energy bill and they’re super easy to maintain.

Traditional saunas typically take a couple hours to heat up and draw a lot more electricity to maintain the hot airspace temps. Not to mention, where there's moisture, there’s a potential breeding ground for bacteria growth, especially if it’s not maintained properly. Which is not an ideal environment for healing. 

Let's talk about electrical efficiency

My sauna has always been my sanctuary space and I hope yours is too. Bask in the warmth while safely soaking in the healing.

I also treat my sauna sessions like my workouts - make it count, but don’t forget to give your mind and body a rest by sprinkling in some low and slow/restorative days.

I get in when it’s 120-125 degrees, turn it up to 140-145 and let the temp climb as I’m inside so the heaters are always on and my body is receiving maximum infrared benefits

My ideal temp range is 120-145 degrees, depending on my hydration and mood

I typically pair my sauna with my morning yoga/workout routine

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My Sauna Rou t

Sunlight is a combination of visible and invisible light. All colors of the rainbow are present in sunlight including infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths. These wavelengths are not visible to the naked eye.

Out of all the invisible rays that emanate from the sun, far infrared is familiar and responds well to our bodies because we also produce far infrared. Research has found that human beings produce infrared heat in the “far infrared range,” centered at 9.4 microns. This wavelength range is the most natural and healthiest for the body and why it’s important to find a quality sauna. The infrared frequency range that’s produced by the body combined with the healthy rays of sunlight, is what is experienced in Clearlight® infrared saunas. 

Infrared penetrates deep into your skin tissue (up to 1 -2 inches) to help dissolve and expel unwanted, stagnant substances that have accumulated in the body. This allows the body to sweat and detox naturally through our skin - our body’s largest organ. On a cellular level, the bio-identical wavelength frequency of infrared heat combined with elevated circulation is why many feel energetically reinvigorated and balanced from exposure to far infrared waves. It’s the same exhilaration of intense exercise. In short, infrared rays have the incredible power to revitalize and restore your cells and metabolism.

The Scientific Explanation

how it actually works

Everything you see inside the sauna that are black panels (walls & bench) these are far infared heaters that are completely surrounding you.

Tests have shown that the energy output of Clearlight’s True Wave far infrared heaters is tuned so closely to the body’s own radiant energy that our bodies absorb as much as 93% of the far infrared waves that reach our skin.

Far infrared waves penetrate into our body and activate the sweat glands. The sweat glands are one of the tools that the body has at hand to eliminate toxins. The skin is actually the largest organ of the human body and has been called many times; “the third kidney” because of its ability to discharge large amounts of waste material through the sweat glands. It is one of the best mechanisms the body has for elimination. 

far infrared

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A research paper that was published decades ago by researchers S.Inouye and M. Kabaya showed that far infrared has the ability to cause a vibration in human tissue if wavelengths similar to the ones produced by the body are introduced. This is similar to the effects demonstrated in infrared spectroscopy.

When introduced in the proper wavelengths of 9.3 to 9.4 microns, water molecules can begin to vibrate. This vibration reduces the ion bonds of water and the eventual breakdown causes encapsulated gasses and other toxic materials to be released to be eliminated.

Full spectrum refers to the entire infrared spectrum: near, mid and far infrared. Near Infrared is the shortest wavelength, and will be absorbed just below the surface of the skin creating a sweat that promotes healing and revitalization. 

Mid infrared is a longer wavelength that can penetrate deeper into the body’s soft tissue increasing circulation, releasing oxygen to reach injured areas.

Far infrared is the longest wavelength which penetrates the fat cells causing vasodilation, where the fat cells vibrate to expel toxins, resulting in the greatest levels of detoxification and stimulate your metabolism to aid in weight-loss.

Full spectrum infrared

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The sun is our primary source of radiant energy, but not all of this energy is beneficial. Although life needs energy from the sun, too much sunlight damages the skin. Infrared heat provides all the healthy benefits of natural sunlight without any of the dangerous effects of solar radiation. 

For years, the healthcare industry recommended infrared heat lamps as a source of infrared therapy but the lamps were cumbersome, extremely hot and difficult to maintain at a constant temperature. Today, many healthcare professionals use infrared heaters to treat a variety of diseases throughout the world and Clearlight is proud to be working with many of these resources.