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Far-InfraRed Energy (FIR)

Passive Exercise, Weight Loss, and Athletic Training

The body uses several means to cool itself as it reacts to the deeply warming effect of Far-InfraRed. Heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate increase and blood vessels dilate to move warmed blood from the interior of the body towards the skin. Heat is transferred from the blood to the sweat and is ultimately released through evaporation on the skin.

This body cooling process, which takes place while using the sauna, provides similar cardiovascular benefits to those experienced when working-out. In fact, using saunas has been described as a form of ‘passive exercise’.

 Healthy Sweating

This ‘passive exercise’ effect was researched by NASA and Far-InfraRed was determined to be an ideal way to maintain astronauts’ cardiovascular fitness during long space flights. The sauna is also beneficial for those who do not or cannot exercise, yet want to maintain a healthy level of fitness. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), August 7, 1981 stated that:

“ Many of us who run do so to place a demand on our cardiovascular system, not to build big leg muscles. Regular use of a sauna may impart a similar stress on the cardiovascular system, and it’s regular use may be as effective, as a means of cardiovascular conditioning and burning of calories, as regular exercise.”

The same JAMA article elaborated on the sauna’s calorie burning effect :

“A moderately conditioned person can easily sweat off 500gr. [of sweat] in a sauna [conventional hot air style] consuming nearly 300 calories - the equivalent of running 2-3 miles. A heat-conditioned person can easily sweat off 600-800 cal. with no adverse affects. While the weight of the water loss can be regained by hydration with water, the calories consumed will not be.”

Passive Exercising

The volume of sweat produced in a Far-InfraRed sauna can be 2-3 X greater than that in a conventional unit. Therefore, the total calories burned and the potential for weight loss are truly significant.

In the following table you will find the calorie-burn values of several exercises versus the calorie-burn for a Far-InfraRed Sauna.

Burns 600 or more calories in just one 30-minute session!

In 30-minutes of activity, a 150-pound person burns calories as follows:

SPORT

  • Far-InfraRed Sauna
  • Marathon Running
  • Vigorous Racquet Ball
  • Swimming (crawl stroke)
  • Jogging
  • Tennis (fast game)
  • Cycling (10 mph)
  • Golfing (without a cart)
  • Walking (3.5 mph)
  • Bowling

CALORIES

  • 600 +
  • 593
  • 510
  • 300
  • 300
  • 265
  • 225
  • 150
  • 150
  • 120

Table of Contents

What is Far-InfraRed Energy?

The Far-InfraRed Sauna Benefits in Brief

Detoxification:

Why is Detoxification Important, by Zane R. Gard, MD

Detoxification Program Using the FIR Sauna, by Michael R. Lyon, MD

Alternative Medicine Magazine: Warming Up To Far-InfraRed

Sweating: The Body's Cooling and Cleansing Mechanism

Pain Relief and Healing

Passive Exercise, Weight Loss, and Athletic Training

Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia and the FIR Sauna

Strengthen Your Immune System

Sweat Your Way to Radiant Health, by Robert Young, MD

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, by Kevin Halsey

In addition to burning calories, Far-InfraRed may help accelerate weight loss through other means. Many ‘Weight- Loss’ authorities and alternative health care experts believe that our bodies use fat in order to encapsulate certain toxins. This encapsulation protects our bodies from the toxins’ damaging effects. Far-InfraRed has the ability to mobilize and eliminate these fat bound toxins thus, eliminating the physiological need for such fat stores.

The Far-InfraRed sauna can play an important role in athletic training. The stimulation to one’s cardiovascular system induced by the sauna is the perfect ‘warm up’ prior to athletic activity. Additionally, Far-InfraRed enhances muscle flexibility thus, aiding with injury prevention.

The sauna provides benefits when used before and after activity. Far-InfraRed heat, which deeply penetrates our muscles and tissues, reduces lactic acid in the body. Lactic acid is the muscle metabolism by-product, which causes soreness and stiffness following exercise. Far-InfraRed saunas are being used by world-class athletes and are gaining popularity in fitness facilities across the continent. Commenting on his experience with the Soft Heat Far-InfraRed sauna, Michael Smith, Canadian Gold Medal Decathlete, states:

“I’ve been using the Soft Heat sauna several times a week for the past couple of years. It’s been a tremendous asset both to my training and around competition times. It helps my muscles relax and gets me back onto the track ready to train hard again.

....Great for recovery and regeneration from competition and workout.”