Heat things up a bit...

Lets make things a little hotter, maybe walk on the wild side to spice things up a bit, lets step in the SAUNA to see a bunch of our own gender with small towels (if any), red faces dripping with sweat. Haha yeah I know, maybe that doesn't sound like the most fun thing in the world right now but lets take a look.

Sauna's are old, like really really old. Steam rooms with hot rocks and "bath houses" have been in use for thousands of years. The reason for that should be pretty obvious... they work. How? Heat. Heat. Heat.

Heat has an amazing affect on your body, it works as a sort of accelerator. For example, if you put a hot towel on your arm what happens? Your arm turns red, this is because that heat has caused waaaaaay more blood to be pumped to that one area where the towel was. So, you step in a sauna, BAM your whole body is blasted with heat (and shock from the towel-less ones) and your body immediately gives the command to pump blood fast, your insides start working like coal workers in the bowels of a giant steam ship! Internal blood flow increases speed within seconds and ALAS you have joined the league of the red faced sweat drippers!

Okay, but seriously here's the bottom line, blood is life, everything in your body happens because of blood. From your oxygen to your nutrients, your blood is responsible for it all. When your body has a problem it sends more blood to the problem area to accelerate the healing process. That is why say you sprain an ankle, well that means you over extended a ligament. Blood is sent to that ligament to give it the proper nutrients and chemicals to heal it, causing the swelling. Bottom line, increased blood flow means increased healing in whatever area has that extra blood.

SO, back to the sauna, heat hits you everywhere (don't worry this doesn't mean your entire body is going to swell up like a sprained ankle) blood flow is accelerated throughout your entire body as your heart rate increases. Now your body is getting extra blood everywhere, promoting the healing and at the same time sweating out toxins. Extra oxygen and nutrients get to cruise though your body. It's like a million tiny handymen running around your blood vessels on the mission to fix EVERYTHING.

Why not just stay in the sauna for hours until all my problems are gone??? No that is not what I am suggesting at all. what happens if you drive your car all day redlining the RPMs? The car will probably blow up! No body wants to blow up their car. In the sauna your body is working hard, a lot harder then it would be under normal conditions. So staying in that state of increased work load will actually start to have a negative affect. No don't worry, I'm not talking about major stuff, usually it just means you are a little more fatigued and tired that's all. The point is, don't get crazy, go in for 20 minutes or so, get a good sweat in and walk out feeling refreshed not exhausted. And do us all a favor, keep that towel tight. :)

The last thing I have to say about the sauna.
DRINK PLENTY OF WATER I'll say again, DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. When your body works harder it needs more water to perform. Also when you sweat you need to replenish the water you are loosing. DRINK WATER THE WHOLE TIME YOU ARE IN THE SAUNA OR DON'T BOTHER GOING IN. Okay, I feel better.

All good things come in moderation.