How to Take a Sauna Before a Workout

Combining the benefits of a detoxifying sauna with a regular workout can be beneficial to the overall muscle relaxation of your body. Saunas are mostly used for detoxifying the body and heating up your circulatory system to promote relaxation and overall health. Anecdotally, many exercise enthusiasts say they enjoy a sauna to relax their muscles after a workout. Working out and taking saunas both are components for an improved lifestyle of health and fitness.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 48 oz. water
• Towel

1. Prepare for the sauna by drinking 24 to 32 oz. of water before you enter the sauna. Make sure you've eaten a satisfying, healthy, protein-rich meal 30 to 60 minutes before your sauna and workout. While you sweat and work your muscles, your body needs fuel to burn.

2. Keep your sauna short. If you do sauna before or after your workout times, limit your dry sauna time to only 10 to 15 minutes at a maximum. This allows your muscles to stay warm and flexible, but spending too long in a sauna with workout times can dehydrate your body and reduce the positive effects of both the sauna and exercise.

3. Towel dry after the sauna before you begin your work out. This will help remove the layer of toxins you have sweated out. Drink at least 24 oz. of water to rehydrate from the sauna. Also make sure to drink more water at intervals throughout your workout.

4. Rest for at least 10 to 15 minutes after the sauna before you begin your workout. Do a few minutes of stretching your muscles out after your rest period before you workout. As an alternative to using saunas with your workout, consider taking the saunas in between workout days to promote your body's circulation, relaxation and detoxification in various ways.

Tips & Warnings

• Drink extra water before the sauna to replenish your system. Take saunas a maximum of two times per week. Consider a sauna AFTER your workout as a better alternative. \Jim Stoppani, Ph.D., who writes as the senior science editor for Muscle and Fitness, says "Don't sauna before a workout." The water you lose by sweating in a sauna comes from your blood and it can reduce the amount of blood flow you need while lifting weights or working out.

• No matter what people or companies promise, saunas are NOT for the purpose of weight loss. Whatever weight you lose in the short-term is just water and salt loss. Amateur exercisers and sauna users may say it doesn't matter when you sauna with a workout, but health professionals and trainers do recommend using a sauna after, rather than before, a workout.

References

• Muscle and Fitness Training Questions

Resources

• The Finnish Sauna and Your Health