Can Infrared Sauna Improve Your Love Life?

In our busy lives, it can sometimes be difficult for you and your partner to find and spend quality time together. A sense that there are not 'not enough hours in the day' and we have too many responsibilities, can lead to a feeling of exhaustion. It seems like once you're on that hamster wheel together, there's no escape.

Well, home infrared saunas can help you break out of this in two ways: by strengthening your personal well-being and by unwinding, refreshing and reviving together in the sauna at the end of a hard day's work.

While we're talking about the impact of infrared saunas on love life, it's also interesting to take a closer look at a frequently asked question: can they contribute to a healthy sex drive, especially in terms of their potential effects on testosterone levels.

A quick tour of the blog post

• Infrared saunas and personal well-being
• Joint sauna: a ritual of connection
• Mindful experience
• Influence of infrared sauna on testosterone
• Infrared saunas: your home spa

 Infrared Saunas and Personal Well-being

The infrared sauna delivers more than a serene experience after a day of hard work. But before we look deeper into this aspect, it’s worth it to consider the science behind this form of heat therapy.

The Science of Heat Therapy

The gentle heat you feel in an infrared sauna differs from the intense heat you experience in traditional dry or steam saunas. It's like the welcoming embrace of natural sunlight, without the oppressive heat that makes conventional saunas unbearable for some. This is because traditional saunas heat the air to warm your body and infrared saunas rays infiltrate the body directly, using infrared radiation.

The invisible light of the infrared saunas reaches the deeper laying tissues in your body. This process, although subtle, activates a cascade of physiological responses, such as increased blood circulation, initiation of detoxification processes and muscle relaxation, among others.

For those interested in the scientific basis, we recommend our article: 'The Effects Of Regular And Long-Term Sauna Use' 

Mental clarity and emotional balance

Thanks to the gentle, in-depth warmth of the infrared sauna, your muscles are soothed. Moreover, this experience leads to a profound mental relaxation. Studies show that regular sauna use substantially reduces anxiety and stress levels.

Numerous testimonials indicate as well that regular sauna sessions positively influence sleep quality. I don't need to tell you that deeper, restful sleep contributes to healthy mental and emotional well-being. These findings are also confirmed by research.

Consistent sauna sessions have even more benefits that contribute to your overall health:

Beyond Mental Health: The broader impact 

Detoxification: These saunas excel at gradually raising the body's core temperature, allowing for a deep, detoxifying sweat. This process removes toxins from the body, and leaves you feel purified and renewed.

Increased circulation: The heat from an infrared sauna stimulates blood flow and reflects the benefits of a light workout. This enhanced circulation ensures that oxygen and nutrients are transported through your body more efficiently, increasing energy levels and vitality.

Pain relief: Chronic pain can take a toll on your mental resources, constantly distracting your attention and sapping your energy. Infrared sauna waves are natural pain relievers through their action into the cores of muscles and joints, decreasing inflammation and pain.

Skin Health: The skin is often a reflection of our overall health, and infrared saunas add to skin well-being. By amping up detoxification and a circulation, sauna sessions can lead to clearer, more elastic and healthier-looking skin.

The serene environment of an infrared sauna allows you as well to escape life's usual distractions not alone, but together.

Joint sauna: a ritual of connection

A joint infrared sauna session can become a conscious choice in your hectic life: a special moment for both of you to simply 'be' together. Somehow, we know how enriching these moments are for well-being, for ourselves and our relationships. The research 'Do couples who play together, stay together?' confirms that shared leisure time can protect couples against stress [1].

So, make your sauna session a mutual mindfulness practice. Blend the unique healing impact of the warm sauna rays with some quality time together.

Mindfulness

Simply put, mindfulness [2] can be as simple taking a moment to breathe and really notice everything around you and what you are feeling within, without rushing or judging being fully present in the now, paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, and the world around you, like the colors, sounds, and smells, with a kind and open mind. Imagine you're savoring your favorite piece of chocolate, and you take the time to really taste, smell, and enjoy it—that's mindfulness. It's being mindful of and enjoying the simple moments, being kind to yourself, and not getting lost in worries about the past or the future. 

In short, mindfulness means being fully present and involved. Research [3] shows that when couples practice mindfulness together, it has beneficial effects on communication and emotional intimacy.

We've rounded up some ideas for mindful(ness) practices that will ensure your shared sauna session goes beyond physical relaxation and detoxification:

Silent Conversations

The intimate setting of an infrared sauna – free from distractions – contributes to experiencing full presence with your partner, making every touch and feeling more meaningful. 

This increased presence fosters non-verbal communication, where the warmth, smell, atmosphere and even breathing together can deepen your connection without a word being spoken. 

Mindfulness in this context is not just about being aware of your surroundings; it's about tuning into each other's emotions through subtle gestures such as a comforting touch or a shared look of understanding.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy enriches the sauna experience by stimulating the senses. The scents of the essential oils help you become aware of the present moment. Inhaling different scents can evoke and enhance emotions, such as relaxation, joy or intimacy. Choose essential oils with calming or aphrodisiac properties. The following four oils are praised for their positive effects on love life:

Ylang Ylang: This oil soothes stress, anxiety, sadness, tension and insomnia. This oil is known for its aphrodisiac properties, which not only increase libido, but also have a positive influence on the sensuality between partners.

Rose: Often referred to as the “Queen of Oils”. Its deep floral scent is believed to evoke romantic feelings.

Jasmine: Known for its sweet, exotic scent and is widely used for its uplifting and sensual properties.

Sandalwood: It’s rich, woodsy scent is known to boost mental clarity and calmness, creating a serene and harmonious environment.

You can mix rose, jasmine or sandalwood with Ylang Ylang or use them individually.

For practical tips on how to use aromatherapy during your IR sauna session, click here.

Sound therapy

This therapy, which uses calming sounds or binaural beats, is ideal for a shared mindfulness experience. You can play ambient sounds or music through the speakers.

When you go for binaural beats, you will need headphones or earbuds. These beats work by delivering two slightly different sound frequencies to each ear, causing the brain to perceive a third tone that represents the difference between the two.

This encourages the brain to tune the wave frequency to this beat, leading to a more meditative state.

Breath Exercises

Breathwork exercises in the sauna offer a unique way to relax completely and to encourage a sense of connection between the two of you. Techniques such as alternate nostril breathing or synchronized breathing are particularly suitable for this. This focus on your breathing leads to a deep experience of the now.

If you are new to this form of breathing. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Sit opposite each other in a comfortable relaxing position and maintain eye contact. Make sure you can hold this position for a few minutes.
• Start by simultaneously taking a deep breath and inhaling slowly through your nose. Try to coordinate each other's inhalation and exhalation rhythms.
• After taking a deep breath, hold your breath for a count of three and then exhale slowly together through your mouth. This joint exhalation helps release tension and promotes a sense of unity.
• Repeat this pattern for several minutes.
• You can enrich this exercise by sharing a moment of gratitude with each other at the end of these joint breathing exercises. This could be a simple thank you, a smile or a gentle touch.

Meditation

Joint meditation in the tranquil environment of an infrared sauna offers a profound way to deepen your connection. Especially when the meditation focuses on gratitude or loving kindness, such as Metta meditation [4]. This is a kind of compassion meditation, aimed at establishing unconditional kindness and goodwill towards yourself and others, with the aim of toning down suffering and amplifying connection.

Research into the different effects of meditation on the quality of relationships suggests that meditation, especially compassion meditation, may not only benefit individual health, but also improve the quality of close relationships. [5]

By adopting the meditative practices, partners can experience a better relationship. This is thought to be mediated by factors, such as increased empathy, forgiveness, and better emotion regulation. This research underlines the potential of meditation to enrich intimate bonds.

Start your shared sauna meditation session in a comfortable sitting position, preferably face-to-face, with your eyes closed. In this intimate setting you can, without words, direct thoughts of gratitude and loving-kindness to your partner. Read more about sauna meditation here.

Try these mindfulness exercises, mix them up and find the one that suits both of you. Please share your experiences and ideas about your joint sauna sessions so that we can inspire others.

influence of IR Sauna on Testosterone

Testosterone, a hormone crucial for vitality, strength and libido, plays an important role in muscle strength, bone health and overall well-being in addition to reproduction. 

The answer to whether the effects of infrared saunas can naturally increase testosterone levels seems inconclusive. Although direct research on infrared saunas and testosterone is scarce, studies on traditional saunas might give us some clues, suggesting that sauna sessions may lead to a temporary increase in testosterone, the long-term effects appear minimal.

However, the benefits of an infrared sauna extend beyond the immediate hormonal shifts: regular sessions contribute to stress reduction, improved sleep quality and overall health. These factors indirectly support healthy testosterone levels. This article unpacks the influence of infrared sauna on testosterone.

Check out our sauna blanket and PEMF reviews

Infrared saunas: your home spa

Excited about the idea of improving your relationship through mindfulness and connection in the warmth of an infrared sauna? While the concept may seem luxurious, there are surprisingly affordable options available, making this intimate experience accessible to many. 

For those who want to work on their personal health, such as stress reduction and sleep quality, there are affordable portable sauna solutions such as sauna blankets. These start at $140 and go up to $950.

Couples who want to share this rejuvenating experience, at least a 'two-person infrared sauna' is required. These are available in cabin and tent styles. Although they require a larger investment and higher energy costs, they are helpful in creating valuable moments of connection and well-being.

But it doesn't stop there. The two-person sauna setup can also be realized with, for example, two mats, two blankets or a combination. Various customer reviews of both the sauna blankets and the PEMF mats showed that users owned both: a mat and a blanket.

Even for creative people on a tighter budget, building a DIY infrared sauna can be an exciting and rewarding project. You can transform a small room into a sauna room. This way you create your own place of relaxation.

Do you like the idea of improving your relationship and reducing stress with an infrared sauna? However, do you not yet have a (suitable) infrared sauna? Then discover the possibilities of infrared saunas on our site. 

Visit our review page to discover the many choices to suit your lifestyle and budget: from affordable portable options to more spacious double units.

Diane Sargent

References

1. Casey J. Totenhagen et al., Do couples who play together stay together? A longitudinal dyadic examination of shared leisure, financial distress, and relationship outcomes, ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/368643346

2. Crystal Hoshaw, What is Mindfulness? A Simple Practice for Greater Well-being, Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/health/mind-body/what-is-mindfulness

3. Eugenia Mandal, Mindfulness, relationship quality, and conflict resolution strategies used by partners in close relationships, PubMed, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10653557/

4. Kirsten Nunez , 5 Benefits of Metta Meditation and How to Do It, Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/health/metta-meditation

5. Kleinman, B. M. (2011). Differential effects of meditation on relationship quality. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 72(1-B), 539.

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