Sweat Therapy: A Guide to Greater Well-Being

greater activation of the therapeutic factors, then sweat therapy may be . ). Bloch and Crouch refer to this therapeutic factor as Guidance (). . and by the degree to which it is used to promote healing and well-being from both within.
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But if you own a steam room , you have an ideal place to work on your mindfulness training. In fact, the effects of steam heat can be a great complement to the benefits of mindfulness. The effects of mindfulness can be life-enhancing in multiple ways, including:. Native American sweat lodges , Russian Banyas , Jewish Shvitz, Finnish saunas , and Eastern Indian hot yoga are just some of the different ways people have used heat therapy for thousands of years.

Here are the ways steam therapy can aid the mind-body connection

Colmant, a clinical psychologist, became interested in sweat rituals after attending a Navajo sweat lodge. This set him on an investigation into different cultural traditions, which convinced him of the psychotherapeutic effects that may be gained by using heat therapy as part of a meditative practic e. If you have regular access to a steam room, you are way ahead when it comes to achieving a more powerful mind-body connection.

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Your stress levels drop, and a serenity descends upon you. Now, imagine taking that moment in the steam room to work on your mindfulness meditation. Steam therapy provides more than surface relaxation. It has true physiological benefits that can help you find your peaceful place on a more consistent basis.

Hot tips from a summit of sauna experts

These cumulative benefits help calm the body, and allow you to maintain a healthy homeostasis that promotes a better mind-body connection. A good sauna starts with proper heating and dimensions. Risto Elomaa, president of the International Sauna Assn. The bench should be a maximum of 3.

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The Finnish Sauna Society suggests temperatures from to degrees. A minimum of degrees is important; below it, bacteria will be fruitful and multiply.


  • David Copperfield (Modern Library).
  • Hot tips from a summit of sauna experts?
  • Mareijkes Courage.
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  • Sauna, meditation and mindfulness.

Consider the sauna a spiritual ritual — so, no cellphones. And just as when you enter a church, mosque, cathedral, temple or synagogue, it's respectful to others — and yourself — to be as quiet as possible. Go naked and be not ashamed. Many, if not most, Americans think it's taboo to wear their birthday suits in public, especially in mixed company — even in a sauna.

In Europe, many families sauna naked together without hang-ups. Leave a solid two to three hours to absorb and integrate the full gestalt of the experience. This will entail a cycle of three hot-to-cold repetitions. After a quick shower to rinse off the day, spend 12 to 20 minutes in the sauna. Follow this by a cold plunge into a cool pool of 5 seconds to whatever you can stand. Since we are all different, you might want to experiment with different meditation techniques. Some find that their meditation is helped by music, others by scents or by lighting.

Stephen Colmant, Sweat Therapy - A guide to greater wellbeing. Reward yourself blog Health 45 Lifestyle 7 Products 6 Share. Sauna, meditation and mindfulness Jul 11, 1: How to create your own sweat ritual First of all: Always make sure to stay hydrated.

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The lesser and the looser the clothing, the better. Be careful to drink plenty of water before, during and after your session. Stay in the sauna for around 15 minutes at a time, then take a break to cool down and drink some water.