Saunas and hot tubs offer completely different experiences regarding their use and the amount of maintenance required. Depending on your purpose of use, you can decide to use one of the other or even combine both.
Saunas and hot tubs can be used in conjunction with one another to aid in rest and relaxation as long as you are properly hydrated and allow for a cool-down period between sessions. Because you should always be clean when entering a hot tub, it is advisable to visit the sauna first as it helps remove sweat and clean dirt trapped in your skin pores.
Keep reading to learn more about the use of sauna and hot tubs, as well as tips on the best type of sauna to pair with a hot tub.
Should you use the sauna before or after a hot tub?
Some people believe that cleansing your body in a sauna before using a hot tub helps clear your mind of stress.
Since a hot tub always needs to be perfectly clean when used, and the sauna helps you sweat and clean dirt trapped in your skin pores, it is advisable to use a sauna before using a hot tub. Using a hot tub after a sauna will cause your body temperature to rise, which will lead to dilation of blood vessels and increased blood circulation.
After a sauna session, you should take a shower, drink some water, and enter the hot tub. This cycling of the body through heat and cold helps exercise the skin and circulatory system.
Do hot tubs, and saunas do the same thing?
The heat hot tubs and saunas supply the body has a significant effect on the tissues and help your muscles to relax.
Saunas and hot tubs offer very similar benefits. They both increase the temperature of the body for therapeutic and relaxation purposes. A hot tub or sauna is not only a great place to relieve and unwind stress but also a place to improve your general wellbeing and alleviate muscle and joint pains.
The main difference between a sauna and a hot tub is in the way they work. When you are in a hot tub, it feels like you can immerse yourself, but in a sauna, you are sitting in a room with steam or infrared radiation.
Studies have shown that both sitting in a sauna or immersing in a hot tub can help increase deep sleep which is very important for the restoration of brain functions and processing of memories. Sound sleep also helps your physical and mental health in tremendous ways.
Sauna vs. hot tub for recovery
While saunas and hot tubs may serve the same overall purpose, they vary drastically in how the heat is applied to your body.
After an intense exercise session, immersing your muscles in a hot tub is more effective than a sauna session in preventing sore muscles. The direct heat and movement of the water in a hot tub or jacuzzi is also better for easing sore muscles.
However, in the area of skin cleansing and other health benefits, a sauna tops a hot tub. The sauna helps get rid of toxins due to the heavy perspiration caused by the high temperature in the sauna. You cannot get this benefit in a hot tub because you cannot sweat as much as you would in a sauna.
The sauna also exclusively provides health benefits like the improved function of the lymphatic and immune systems, increased blood circulation, and cleansing of the skin from toxins.
Is it okay to use the sauna and a hot tub on the same day?
Both saunas and hot tubs are safe as long as they are used in the right manner. They can be used on the same day after one another after a bit of rest.
Here are some tips to help you before you enter the hot tub:
- Cool down a bit before entering the hot tub
- Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol
- Spend no more than 15 minutes at once and for a shorter period if you have low blood pressure
- Ensure you do not subject yourself to a temperature more than your body can handle
How long should you wait between using the sauna and hot tub?
The body can be positively and negatively affected by extreme heat, and when it comes to hot tubs and saunas, it is advisable to be moderate and not go over the edge.
You should rest a bit for about 30 minutes before entering the hot tub, jacuzzi, or sauna again.
You can use that break to take a shower, rest, clean your body with towels, and drink lots of fluids.
What kind of sauna pairs best with the hot tub?
Studies have shown that a sauna session or immersion in a hot tub can provide similar health benefits to moderate-intensity aerobic exercises like cycling, jogging, and walking.
An infrared sauna is considered the best to pair with the hot tub because sessions can last for relatively shorter periods than traditional saunas or steam rooms. It is also more comfortable and safer.
Traditional sauna
In a traditional sauna, perspiration is achieved when you enter the room.
Most traditional sauna users pour water over the rocks to create steam to raise humidity levels in the sauna. This makes the room more comfortable and also moistens the nasal passages.
This helps in preparing the body for the hot tub.
Infrared sauna
Infrared saunas heat the air around you, radiating heat that warms the body directly, helping prepare you for the temperature of the hot tub.
It is not technically a traditional sauna, but it offers similar benefits as it at lower temperatures.
Steam room
Sitting in a steam room can help lower blood pressure, clear congestion, and improve skin health, all of which will pave the way for improved relaxation during your soak.