1. Greater endurance and physical performance through hyperthermic conditioning
Hyperthermic conditioning is the process by which the body gets used to withstanding high levels of heat in order to increase its endurance. By accustoming their bodies to high temperatures, elite athletes have managed to clearly improve their endurance training performance.
Regular exposure to heat pushes the thermoregulatory system to adapt to these demanding conditions, which then makes it easier to manage the negative effects of overheating during exercise. Hyperthermic conditioning through sauna use has also shown positive effects such as:
- ✓better cardiovascular function
- ✓a lower heart rate
- ✓a lower core body temperature during exercise
- ✓increased blood flow to skeletal muscles and other tissues
- ✓more efficient oxygen transport to the muscles
- ✓an increase in red blood cell count, among other benefits
One study showed that two 30-minute sauna sessions a week, taken after exercise for three weeks, increased time to exhaustion by 32 % in competitive runners compared with their starting level (Effect of post-exercise sauna bathing on the endurance performance of competitive male runners).
It is no coincidence that some world champions have made the sauna part of their preparation, and have chosen an Ørigin sauna for their own home.
2. Enhanced neurogenesis (production of new cells)
Heat stress has been shown to increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein responsible for creating new cells in the body. Used alongside regular physical activity, the sauna can therefore become a genuine tool for stimulating BDNF production. A higher BDNF level is associated with:
- ✓better learning ability
- ✓stronger long-term memory
- ✓reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms
- ✓better muscle repair
- ✓the formation of new muscle cells
To find out more, this study explores the subject in detail: Running enhances neurogenesis, learning, and long-term potentiation in mice.
3. A reduced risk of all-cause mortality
This is probably the most striking study: carried out in Finland on more than 3,400 men aged 42 to 60 and followed for 20 years, it shows that regular sauna use (4 to 7 sessions a week) has a significant protective effect against:
- ✓sudden cardiac death
- ✓cardiovascular disease
- ✓coronary heart disease
This study, carried out in the very heartland of sauna tradition, scientifically confirms what the Nordic countries have practised for generations. The full details are in the sources below: Sauna Bathing and Mortality.
4. Support for detoxification (studies on full-spectrum infrared saunas)
A study of police officers suffering from chronic conditions linked to prolonged exposure to toxic chemical compounds showed promising results with infrared sauna therapy. The aim was to reduce symptoms such as:
- ✓weakened immune defences
- ✓respiratory problems
- ✓cognitive problems
- ✓gastrointestinal problems
- ✓neurological problems
- ✓emotional problems
By the end of the study, neurotoxicity scores and chronic symptoms had fallen by 50 to 70 % compared with their initial level.
And what about enjoying it together?
These benefits are considerable, and can genuinely change things for your everyday health and wellbeing. But beyond the science, there is also the simple pleasure of a shared moment of warmth: with friends, with family, or just the two of you. The traditional sauna, where water is thrown over the hot stones and the scent of wood fills the cabin, has something almost meditative about it. That is also why we love it so much.
Want to know which sauna best fits your daily life? Book a call with an Ørigin expert advisor: they will guide you to the model best suited to your space and your habits.
