Are far-infrared saunas really all that?

I’ve done something akin to a sauna world tour over the past decade.

First up was a Japanese onsen, in which I sweated out toxins in the subterranean depths of downtown Tokyo, with only a white handtowel to preserve my modesty. I then said kia ora to the sulphuric delights of Rotorua, New Zealand, before moving on to continental ski-resort health spas, slightly sweaty gym saunas, more traditional Swedish bastu (yes, enjoyed in the buff), Turkish hamams … and so on.

So when WellBeing was invited to review a Sunlighten sauna, I figured it was time to try a somewhat more technical experience: a sauna featuring infrared heating technology, specifically “far-infrared” heat.

Feeling a little frazzled after a busy day, I make my way to one of Sunlighten’s partner clinics, Radiant Health Australia in North Sydney, to test-drive one of these high-tech saunas.

I’m greeted by business owner and fellow sauna fan Christine Harrigan, who sits me down in the waiting room for a natter about what to expect during the session. She asks whether I’d like to test a seated sauna or one in which I lie down. I opt for the latter and cross my fingers I won’t fall asleep. Then she gives me a run-down of some of the many reasons I’m going to leave her clinic feeling cleansed, revitalised and relaxed.

The science behind infrared hot boxes states that they emit a deep, constant heat that penetrates all layers of the body, healing, soothing and detoxifying. Infrared heat is a non-harmful component of the sun’s electromagnetic radiation and has been used to treat health conditions for years. It has three wavelengths: near-, mid- and far-infrared.

The purported health benefits of far-infrared heat therapy include detoxification, pain relief, immune-system support and weight loss.

Far-infrared heat therapy has been gaining popularity due to its deep penetration. Its purported health benefits include detoxification, pain relief, immune-system support and weight loss. I’m told that many people experience improvements in skin clarity and sleep after a single session, but more profound benefits are the result of a sustained program of sauna sessions. My shoulder has a pinched nerve and has been giving me grief, so I’m curious as to whether I’ll notice an improvement.

And so, down to business.

I’m ushered into a room at the rear of the clinic, where a wooden Signature series sauna cabin awaits, alongside the sauna I’m to test: the Solo System portable infrared sauna. Both are designed for use in the home and, I’m told, are easy to assemble. I’d like to try the mPulse sauna, which involves all three infrared wavelengths and is used as part of Sunlighten’s RealWell integrated wellness program, but it’s not yet available at Harrigan’s clinic.

The nifty Solo System unit consists of a Solo Pad and a two-piece dome, both of which incorporate Solocarbon heaters. I lie down on the warming pad, which is set up on a massage table, then slide the top portion of the double-dome design up to the base of my chin, so I’m surrounded by warmth.

Unlike the traditional saunas I’ve tried in the past, which involved high heat boosted by splashing water over heated rocks, far-infrared saunas operate at a much cooler air temperature range. What this means in practice is that, while the heat feels intense and penetrating, it’s different from what I’ve experienced before and not at all suffocating. I don’t sweat for the first 5–10 minutes, but when I do it feels cleansing. I feel my tension melting away.

After an indulgent 20 minutes, it’s time to emerge from the cocoon. I feel a little sticky and wouldn’t mind a shower, but there’s not one on offer, so I make do with towelling myself down. Thankfully, I’m distracted by the fact that the twinges in my shoulder have abated.

I take a seat in the reception area and sip a glass of water mixed with electrolytes, which help to balance and rehydrate the body after the sauna. I walk outside feeling deeply warm but also refreshed and oddly light as well.

Would I use a far-infrared sauna again? Absolutely. I’d like to see how my shoulder would feel after several sessions. For now, though, my passion for saunas has been reignited.

• To try out a Sunlighten sauna, you will need to book an appointment at one of their partner centres. Visit Sunlighten online or call 1800 786 544.