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I got an amazing gift from my brother this past Christmas.  He lives in Alberta, and I in Ontario, so I don’t get to see him often.  He was coming home for Christmas for a couple of weeks, so I asked him to build me a sauna while he was here, being the handy guy he is.  Well, he did one better – he bought me one!  I was completely shocked and blown away!

I had been wanting a sauna for long time.  I was able to go down to my local health food store and use their sauna every now and then, but I didn’t get to go as often as I needed.  We also had plans of moving (and still do), so we weren’t all that interested in putting something in the house that we were going to have to remove again, a few months later.  Then, we also had to consider the cost.  If you have ever priced out a personal sauna, they aren’t cheap.  But, every time I spoke to Pam, she wanted to know if I had built my sauna yet.

Why would I want a sauna anyway?  Well, Pam has been on my tail to get a sauna ever since I began Nutritional Balancing.  Using a sauna on a regular basis is another big part of the detoxification protocol used in Nutritional Balancing. Not only that, I feel that it is another tool (along with the coffee enemas) that I will use for life because of all the health benefits.  But, you don’t need to be on this particular program to experience the benefits of a sauna!  Lets face it, we live in a toxic world, and we need all the help we can get!

Benefits of Sauna Therapy:

• Skin rejuvenation – The skin is the largest organ of the body and use of the sauna restores elimination through the skin.
• Enhanced sweating – The sweating process gently and safely eliminates heavy metals and toxic chemicals.  According to Dr. Wilson, “Sweating during exercise is not nearly as effective for detoxification because exercise activates the sympathetic nervous system.  Sympathetic nervous activity inhibits toxin elimination.”
• Exercise Benefits – Saunas can provide some of the same benefits as exercising while expending less energy, such as enhanced circulation, lowered blood pressure and improved elasticity of arteries.
• Decongestion of internal organs – By heating the body, the body powerfully shunts blood toward the skin to dissipate heat.  This decongests the internal organs and greatly stimulates circulation.  Sinuses, joints and many other tissues benefit greatly.
• Fever therapy (hyperthermia) for infections, tumors, radiation poisoning and mutated cells - Raising body temperature powerfully assists the body to kill bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses, and mutated cells.
• Inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system -  It enables the body to relax, heal and regenerate itself much faster, causing recovery from many types of ailments.
• Improved circulation
• Oxygenating and hydrating the cells and organs (Source)

There are several different types of saunas, but not all saunas are created equal.  The traditional sauna that most people are familiar with is the sauna that uses hot rocks.  Next came along the far-infrared sauna.  And finally, there is the near-infrared sauna.  Though any sauna is better than no sauna at all, the best and most effective is the near-infrared.  All electrically-powered saunas emit a small amount of electromagnetic radiation, but the near infrared sauna emits less of this dangerous radiation.  The near infrared saunas are able to penetrate the body more deeply and can be concentrated on certain body parts.  The spectrum of visible radiation in the red, yellow and orange colour range, appears to stimulate the lower body organs, including the organs of elimination – the liver, kidneys and large intestines, which is an excellent added benefit.  Acting as an antioxidant nutrient, it has the ability to activate the cells and support metabolic processes.  The near infrared saunas also use less electricity, are less costly to purchase, and can be easily and very inexpensively built from scratch. (Source)

I was not planning on buying a fully built sauna, like the one pictured above.  As beautiful and lovely as they are, they can be pricey.  Luckily, Dr. Wilson (who oversees all the patients on the Nutritional Balancing program) has provided free do-it-yourself plans on his website here.  This cuts down tremendously on cost, and doesn’t look too hard to do, especially since all the parts needed are readily available at the hardware store.  But, instead of building me a sauna, my fabulous brother just bought me one instead!  It is similar to the model above.  It is a far infrared sauna, but who am I to complain?

So, I was on my way.  Starting my new year off right and accelerating my detox.  I was deep into Nutritional Balancing, taking my supplements, and doing my coffee enemas and now my saunas on a regular basis.  In a perfect world, I would be able to do one coffee enema and one or two saunas every day!  You must be laughing out loud, just like me right now at that suggestion!  However, some people are so ill, that do this they must.  And, often, most people have tried just about everything else before they finally come to Nutritional Balancing to get well again (because little else works!).  And, when it gets to that point, you will do whatever it takes to get your health back.  Ok, so lets get back to my reality!  I am lucky if I am able to rotate doing enemas and saunas, every other day.  Some weeks are pretty hairy though, and I might only manage to do one of each — but that’s better than nothing!

While I am letting the sauna warm up, I gently bounce on my rebounder (mini trampoline) for 5 minutes before I get in.  This is excellent for the lymphatic system, as the lymph is responsible for helping to move toxins out of the body.  I sit in my sauna for 1 hour, set at 145-150 degrees F.  If you are just starting out, you will want to lower the temperature, and start out with only 20 minutes or so, and slowly work your way up.  If at any time you feel nauseas, faint or dizzy, it is time to get out of the sauna and cool off!  It is also a good idea to bring a glass of water into the sauna with you to sip on during your session to help replace the water lost as you sweat.  After your session is over, allow your body to cool down and have a luke warm shower to remove the toxins from your skin that have been sweated out. The sauna can be safely used two times per day, preferably first thing in the morning or last thing at night.  Children as young as 5 years old can also go into the sauna, if supervised, though for a much shorter time.  Even my 10 year old son asks if he can go in the sauna, usually once a week he uses it!

Even though it takes time out of my day, I love getting into the sauna!  Again, just like the coffee enemas, I do it in the evening after my kids go to bed.  It gives me an hour to relax and unwind after a busy and stressful day, and who couldn’t use more relaxation?  I am able to listen to music, read, knit or just close my eyes and drift away!  We as moms do not take enough time to nourish ourselves, and I am afraid that this neglectful practice contributes to our increasing health problems.  So, throw the guilt away and begin healing your body.  De-stress and detoxify, at the same time with sauna therapy!

Do you have a sauna?  Do you love it as much as I do?  Let me know in the comments below!

This post is being shared at Real Food Wednesdays, Simple Lives Thursday, Fight Back Friday, Fresh Bites Friday, Freaky Friday, Monday Mania and Real Food Forager’s Detox Challenge!

Tags: infra-red sauna

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