Juniper
Although I am not a fan of sweating, I was really eager and looking forward to trying a new experience I was curious about – Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna Therapy @ SweatSpa. There are benefits to this therapy and not just limited to one. They include:
Detoxification: Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna helps to expel toxins from the body by penetrating deep into the skin, promoting a cleaner and healthier system.
Stress Relief: The soothing infrared heat promotes deep relaxation, reduces stress, and enhances mental clarity.
Fat Loss: Infrared sauna sessions can help boost metabolism and promote fat loss, aiding in weight management.
Pain Relief: Infrared heat penetrates deep into muscles and joints, alleviating chronic pain and stiffness. It’s especially beneficial for conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and sports injuries.
Skin Rejuvenation: Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna Therapy increases circulation, which delivers more nutrients to your skin. This helps improve skin tone, reduce wrinkles, and promote a healthy, glowing complexion.
Improved Circulation: increased circulation delivers more oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and tissues, enhancing healing and recovery.
I was most interested to see if there would be any weight loss after the session. There are a few SweatSpa outlets but I chose their Bukit Jalil outlet as it is so easily accessed from Pavilion Bukit Jalil if you know which exit to take from the mall (it’s the one nearest to Parkson).
SweatSpa saunas utilize three types of infrared wavelengths—Near-Infrared (NIR), Mid-Infrared (MIR), and Far-Infrared (FIR)—to deliver a holistic health experience: For the utmost benefits, it’s best to go for Far-Infrared as it reaches the deepest tissues, facilitating detoxification, inflammation reduction, and relaxation.
SweatSpa @ Bukit Jalil was a bit tricky to locate but as the area is not that difficult to navigate, first-timers will soon figure it out as it is just a stone’s throw from Hyatt Place. But what is the difference between the traditional sauna and an Infrared Sauna? Well, unlike traditional saunas that heat the air around you, infrared saunas use light to create heat within your body. This allows for deeper penetration of heat, targeting muscles, joints, and cells more effectively and comfortably.
The session begins with a quick registration followed by a body composition analysis to understand metrics like muscle mass, metabolic rate, and visceral fat levels. My fat level is understandably above average for my age and my weight was 62.3kg before the session (actually I thought it would be higher).
Then I was ushered into my private sauna room which has the infrarred sauna chamber, the temperature had already been set and I could feel the intense heat as I entered the room. There is a paper cup, water carafe, towels and a face mist on the shelves. I had to remove all my clothes and there is a full-length mirror where you can gaze on your “before” and “after” self. Towels are placed on a lounge chair inside the sauna chamber and you can relax while listening to music or just lie back and have a nap if that is possible during the 30-minute session.
The temperature does increase gradually and I admit I wasn’t in the chamber for the entire duration of the 40 minutes as the heat was too intense for a beginner like me. I had to take sips of water and take a breather.
After the 40 minutes is up, get dressed and head out to the reception where you can wipe yourself down with a cold towel (that is definitely much needed). Back on the body composition analysis machine and to my delight and surprise, I had lost half a kg which is not a lot but then again, I couldn’t endure all 40 minutes in the chamber. I admit I was in and out a few times but even then could lose a bit of weight.
Overall, it is a very good experience and given the fact that you can lose some weight after just 1 session, imagine what it can do for you after a few more sessions. You can even go with a friend if you are not shy as they have a double (bigger) room so you can have a chat while enjoying the session.
Visit www.sweatspa.com for more information.
