6 Reasons Why Your Garden Sauna Can Support Your Mental Health
6 Reasons Why Your Garden Sauna Can Support Your Mental Health
Outdoor saunas have a long and fascinating history originating in Finland, where these places of relaxation date back thousands of years. Over the years, traditional saunas went through many transformations in terms of materials, design, and technology, but their main functions remained the same. Places for spiritual and physical cleansing, but also casual relaxation, diplomacy, and social gatherings, garden saunas are enjoying a lot of popularity nowadays.
Interestingly enough, saunas have often been considered the “poor man’s pharmacy” in Finland, thanks to their multiple health benefits. A sauna session is more than just a way to unwind it can also be a spiritual experience that allows you to reconnect with your inner self and to take a break from technology and from the humdrum of modern life.
The health benefits associated with garden saunas are the main reasons behind their growing popularity so let’s take a look at some of the most notable ways in which a garden sauna can improve mental health, but also physical health because you can’t have one without the other.
1 A garden sauna can reduce pain
The relaxing atmosphere inside a garden sauna can help reduce both physical and emotional pain. Exposure to intense heat will cause a small amount of stress on the body that will lead to the release of beta-endorphins, which are a type of neuropeptides produced by the human body that help with pain management. These endorphins have a powerful effect on the body as they help it adjust to the warm environment but at the same time, they will also have a pain-relieving effect on the body. Getting rid of a headache, muscular pain, joint pain, and other types of chronic pain will automatically have a positive impact on one’s mental health and general well-being.
2 A garden sauna can reduce stress and anxiety
Our busy lives can bring about many opportunities, but can also generate some inconveniences such as an increased level of stress. We are constantly exposed to information, entertainment, and different activities which can make us feel overwhelmed, depleted, and have excess cortisol when our minds and bodies feel any type of perceived threat, a stress hormone known as cortisol. is automatically released. The release of cortisol is very useful in dangerous situations, but when triggered accidentally, it harms the body. Our modern society is a relatively safe environment where we do not face real threats daily, but our bodies cannot distinguish between real danger and a stressful situation at work, bad traffic, heated arguments, and other minor nuisances, so it is quite common for cortisol to be released in excess and without a good reason, intensifying stress, anxiety, sadness, and other negative emotions. The good news is that, over time, a garden sauna can reduce the amount of cortisol your body produces. The whole process is quite interesting as the high temperatures inside a sauna will generate a cortisol release, but over time, the body will start to adjust, releasing less cortisol and becoming stronger and more resilient. So spending time in a sauna regularly might prevent your body from releasing high levels of cortisol during unpleasant daily activities.
3 A garden sauna can help you sleep better
A sauna session will expose your body to heat thus loosening your muscles and promoting endorphin release. This will, in turn, help you achieve a state of great relaxation. Once you leave the sauna and become exposed to cooler temperatures, your body will automatically detect that it is time to sleep. Being exposed to the high temperatures in the sauna will make regular temperatures seem cooler, and this will allow your body to transition from hyperactivity to relaxation. Being relaxed before going to bed will help you enjoy a better sleep and you will wake up feeling energized.
4 Garden saunas will improve your mood
Disconnecting from stress factors, technology, and work, and becoming more relaxed will automatically improve your mood. A sauna session can have a huge impact on your overall mood and it can even induce a feeling of euphoria. The warmth of the sauna will make you feel protected from the unpleasant elements of the modern world and it will allow you to take a break and focus on your thoughts and feelings. Introspection is oftentimes a great way to solve problems that oftentimes seem unsolvable.
5 Regular sauna sessions have cognitive benefits
A study found that regular sauna sessions could reduce the risk of dementia and other similar cognitive affections. The study revealed that middle-aged men who took sauna sessions several times a week were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. As it turns out, spending time in a sauna can reduce blood pressure and improve circulation, thus reducing the risks of getting the aforementioned diseases.
6 Saunas can reduce depression and promote introspection and reflection
Spending time in a sauna can help fight depression by augmenting the production of endorphins, which are natural mood elevators produced by the body. Endorphins will make you feel better, lower your stress levels, and will also act as pain relievers. Spending time in a sauna is a great way to reflect and meditate, which are great ways to overcome some of the symptoms associated with depression.
In Conclusion
A garden sauna is a great investment that can improve your life considerably by reducing stress, pain, and depression, and preventing certain diseases. Over the years, science has shown that regular sauna sessions are therapeutic for both the body and the mind. If you have a busy life and feel overwhelmed by the fast pace of your life, spending time in a sauna is a great way to take a short break from everything and focus on your well-being.
