Infrared sauna before or after massage? In our fast-paced world, we are constantly trying to find ways to reduce stress and relax. It’s hard to survive otherwise. There are two methods that many turn to for relaxation and health benefits. They are infrared sauna therapy and massage. They are both effective and highly enjoyable. We can even combine them. But in what order?
In today’s article, I want to explore if we can even boost the positive effects that infrared saunas and massage provide. Or maybe the wrong order of these procedures will annihilate all the health benefits sauna therapy and massage provide separately… Let’s explore the positive influence of both sauna and massage sessions on our bodies and souls and see if we can benefit from using them together.
Combining sauna with massage: effects
From my experience, having joint sauna sessions with massage therapy has a truly transformative effect on both body and mind. Let me walk you through the potential gains this collaboration brings us:
Enhanced relaxation
A wellness session that includes a sauna and a massage can help relax your muscles and loosen tension in your body.
Improved blood circulation
The sauna and massage combination increases blood flow more than the two wellness procedures separately. That will help deliver oxygen and nutrients to your muscles even more efficiently.
Deeper muscle penetration
Both massage and sauna help to relieve you from muscle stiffness and soreness.
Detoxification
When you pair the detoxification process of sweating with a massage, this helps to flush out toxins from your muscles and tissues even faster.
Stress reduction and mental health benefits
We all know the stress-relieving qualities of sauna and massage. If we combine the two of them, we can boost their stress-reducing effects. I should say that the sense of relaxation and well-being is simply profound.
You can see that combining sauna and massage therapy has a fantastic effect on both our physical and mental well-being.
Now it’s time to consider in which order we should use a sauna and massage. When is it better to go the infrared sauna before or after massage? Let’s look at the arguments from both options.
Infrared sauna before massage: benefits
If you go for a sauna session before your massage, you will gain a whole range of positive effects. I’ll be honest and say that I usually take these treatments in this order (but not always.) Here are the advantages of using a sauna before your massage:
- Muscle relaxation: the mild heat of the sauna room helps you relax and loosen tight muscles. Your massage therapist will work with areas of tension without any problems. The pre-massage relaxation is one of the sauna benefits that will lead to a more effective massage and deeper muscle release. I go for such a double treatment after especially strenuous workouts, and the effect is remarkable. No aches and pains the next day.
- Increased circulation: I believe that one of the key benefits of the sauna is its ability to increase blood flow throughout the body. With improved circulation before your massage, more oxygen and nutrients will be delivered to your muscles, and we all know how vital oxygen is.
- Warm-up for deeper work: a sauna can act as a warm-up for your muscles. After a sauna, they will be more pliable and receptive to the deeper pressure, especially if you have therapeutic massages such as deep tissue or sports massage. Massage therapists can work with deeper layers of tension more efficiently.
- Detoxification: after you detoxify your body during a sauna session when sweat helps you get rid of toxins, you can improve the effect as massage therapists continue working on your body and squeeze the toxins out of you.
- Stress reduction: the soothing warmth of sauna bathing always has a calming effect on me. If I start my wellness session with a sauna, it lets me fully unwind and enjoy the massage. And I’ve noticed that the anti-stress effect lasts longer than when I take only one treatment.
- Extended relaxation: if you go to the sauna before your massage, you can prolong the relaxation that the sauna gives you and extend the sense of calmness and well-being throughout the massage.
If you start your wellness routine with a sauna before your massage, it’s obvious that you will boost the positive effect of both therapies.
Infrared sauna after massage: benefits
Let’s take a look at the positive effects of starting your wellness session with a massage and ending it with a sauna experience. Here are the health and wellness benefits:
- Muscle recovery: after being on a massage table, your muscles may feel relaxed but sometimes fatigued. If you go to the sauna afterward, heat therapy will help your muscles recover because it will stimulate blood flow and circulation. The heat soothes any lingering soreness and relaxes you even more.
- Deep relaxation: when I step into the warmth of a sauna immediately after a therapeutic massage session, my sense of relaxation gets even deeper. The heat helps to loosen muscles and calm the nervous system even more. There will be no stress or tension remaining afterward.
- Detoxification: massage therapy stimulates the release of toxins from the muscles and tissues, which can accumulate there. If you go to an infrared sauna session, the detox process continues by sweating and flushing out impurities from the body. This leaves you feeling cleansed and fresh.
- Prolonged benefits: thepositive effects of a deep-tissue massage don’t stop at the end of the treatment session. If you include a sauna afterward, these positive effects will last even longer.
- Improved sleep quality: we all know how effective both massage therapy and a sauna are in terms of sleep improvement. The deep relaxation after the sauna bathing that follows the relaxation from a massage treatment prepares your body for a restful night’s sleep.
- Stress reduction: if you end your wellness session with a sauna bathing experience, you can reduce stress hormones and promote a sense of calmness and well-being that you started feeling during a massage. This holistic approach to stress reduction helps you have a positive outlook.
As you can see, incorporating a sauna after your massage can also improve the overall effect of your wellness routine. Going to the sauna after a massage is also a viable and healthy option.
Final thoughts
In my article, I wanted to show you that whether you choose to use a sauna before or after your massage, you will enjoy and even enhance the positive effects that both treatments have on our bodies and souls. You can see that some effects remain the same no matter in what order you take the treatments.
The most important thing is that the combination of sauna sessions and massage therapy creates a holistic approach to health and well-being.
So, indulge in this ultimate experience and combine the warmth of a sauna with the touch of a massage. Your body and mind will thank you for it.
FAQ
Is it better to have massage before or after sauna?
The choice between having a massage before or after a sauna depends on your personal preference and needs. Both approaches have benefits, so it’s ultimately up to you.
Can you do infrared sauna after massage?
Yes, you can definitely have sauna therapy after a massage (both infrared and traditional saunas are effective.) In fact, it can enhance the benefits of both therapies, promoting relaxation, muscle recovery, and detoxification.
Is it better to go to the thermal spa before or after a massage?
It depends on your preferences and goals. Some people may prefer to go to the thermal spa (or steam sauna) before a massage to relax and prepare their muscles, while others may find it more enjoyable to go after a massage to relax more and prolong the therapeutic effects.
Should you do lymphatic massage before or after sauna?
It’s generally recommended to do a lymphatic massage after a sauna session. The heat from the sauna can help to relax muscles and improve circulation, which can boost the effect of the lymphatic massage techniques in stimulating lymph flow and promoting detoxification.
Is it better to cold plunge before or after a massage?
Cold plunging before a massage can help reduce inflammation and numb pain, making the massage more comfortable and effective. However, some folks may find it more beneficial to cold plunge after a massage to further reduce inflammation and stimulate muscle recovery.