There is nothing more rewarding than finding out that something pleasurable is actually a relaxing activity. Spending time in a hot tub or a sauna is a healthy way to relax after a long day. So get ready to find out which is more relaxing, a hot tub or a sauna?
Saunas and hot tubs offer a relaxing but very different experiences. Although they are different, they both use heat to the body for therapeutic and relaxation reasons. Both provide a relaxing experience with a feeling of well being. Both hot tubs and saunas can alleviate muscle aches and body pains.
Hot tubs and saunas have a perception of being used for fun and socializing, but science supports that they can help you sleep better, relax, and reduce muscle pain.
If you want to relax, both saunas and hot tubs can ease tension and offer a way to spend quality time alone or with your loved ones. Either can be a fun and exciting place or a temple to your relaxation efforts.
What makes a hot tub relaxing?
Hot tubs promote stress relief and relaxation. As you immerse yourself in hot water, buoyancy takes some of the gravitational pressure off of your body. The reduces gravitational pressure allows you to relax more deeply. The jets in hot tubs are designed to relieve tension in your body. They loosen up your muscles to help avoid strain and stiffness. Hot springs and hot tubs have been used for overall wellness and stress relief throughout history.
How does a hot tub relax you?
Even scientists agree with the health benefits of hot tubs. According to a study conducted by Bruce Becker at Washington State University, spending time in a hot tub can help the vital functions such as digestion, heart rate, salivation, respiration, circulation, and even sexual arousal. According to science, our sympathetic nervous system (which increases under stress) and the parasympathetic nervous system (which stimulates calm) fall into balance when your body is immersed in warm water filled hot tub.
According to the same study, our autonomic nervous system responds to warm water immersion, in the same manner, it responds to meditation or other relaxed states.
What is the most relaxing hot tub water temperature?
If your goal is to relax, the ideal hot tub temperature is between 100-102 degrees Fahrenheit. Realistically, what hot tub temperature you find the most relaxing has a lot to do with your personal preference. Some hot tub users prefer the water temperature at 98 degrees Fahrenheit, and others like it as hot as 104 degrees.
The best way to find the most relaxing temperature for you is to test out a few temperatures. It’s a great feeling to find the right temperature for you. If you use a hot tub year-round, you might want to seasonable adjust the water temperature.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that hot tub water temperatures should never exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The CPSC considers 100 degrees Fahrenheit safe for a healthy adult.
Should I change the hot tub water temperature in the winter?
It’s normal to want to bump up the water temperature of your hot tub during the winter months. Again, you need to experiment with the ideal water temperature for you. If you prefer a more mild water temperature, you could keep the water temperature as low as 101 in the winter.
What is a relaxing hot tub water temperature in summer?
Some people prefer cooler water temperatures during the summer months. It is not uncommon for hot tub users to keep the water temperature as low as 95 degrees in the summer. It is best to experiment with water temperatures until you find the “right temperature.”
How do you relax in a hot tub?
- Decompress in your hot tub while listening to relaxing music.
- Improve your hot tub experience through aromatherapy.
- Embrace silence and meditate in your hot tub.
- You can relax in your hot tub while you enjoy a great book.
- Watch a movie that fits your mood. Make sure not to choose a movie that will stress you out.
- If you want to relax with exercise, you can do a low impact workout in your hot tub.
- A hot tub is a great place to relax with a loved one.
- If you are enjoying an outdoor hot tub in the dark, relax while stargazing with friends or loved ones.
Do saunas relieve stress?
The heat in the sauna is a great stress reliever. Saunas help us regulate the level of cortisol in our blood. Cortisol is a stress hormone that is released when you are under stress. Saunas are known to reduce cortisol in our blood. Sauna bathing stimulates the production of serotonin, the hormone that makes us feel good.
Can saunas help you sleep?
Insomniacs or people who have difficulty falling asleep know how difficult it is to fall asleep, especially when you are worried, nervous, wound up, or anxious. Even if you don’t have a sleeping disorder, you should enjoy the calming effects of a sauna. By using a sauna before going to sleep, you calm your mind and body, making it easier for you to not only fall asleep but to stay asleep.
A calmer mind sleeps better than a restless one.
People who use saunas report deeper and more relaxed sleep. The heat and silence of the sauna will help you relax. Using a sauna just before going to sleep can have dramatic effects on your sleep patterns. As your body cools after using a sauna temperature in the sauna, you’ll experience deep sleep.
Too high levels of cortisol can lead to a variety of health problems, such as:
- Headaches
- Weight gain
- Anxiety
- Sleeping disorders
- High blood pressure
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Irritability
How hot tubs and saunas are different?
To put it simply, hot tubs and saunas work differently. Saunas are small rooms where you sit in high heat. They are either heated by either steam or infrared light. Hot tubs, on the other hand, get you to relax in warm or hot water, depending on your personal preference. You soak in a hot tub, and you steam in a sauna.
Steam saunas use heated moisture to heat the air inside the sauna. Infrared saunas use infrared light to warm your body. One of the main differences between saunas and hot tubs is that hot tubs require less space. Many hot tubs are movable, whereas most saunas a built-in.
Saunas require minimal maintenance. As long as you keep the room clean with an occasional scrubbing, you are good to go. The good news is that hot tubs require even less maintenance than saunas. You need to test the water and do the required hot tub chemistry once a week. Beyond that, you need to keep your hot tub defoamers handy for when the water becomes cloudy due to excessive use.
Hot tubs can be fun for the entire family, but the heat in saunas can be too much for some members of your family. The bodies of children are too sensitive for saunas. A hot tub is the better choice if you are looking for something relaxing for the whole family. If you lower the water temperature, you can play with your children, hold parties, and laugh together in your hot tub. Hot tubs can be fun when water temperatures aren’t really “hot.” The lower temperatures can make hot tubs appropriate for people of different ages.
What are the advantages of a sauna?
- Day-to-day sauna usage can improve the cardiovascular system. When you are in a hot sauna, you are essentially training your heart muscles. Some say it can be as powerful as exercise.
- Saunas offer chronic pain relief by relaxing your muscles. They can do wonders for elderly people or anyone with joint pain.
- Through the sweating process, saunas help remove toxins from the body.
- The release of endorphins can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
- Saunas can be energy efficient because they only need energy when you use them.
What are the risks associated with using a sauna?
Sauna bathing can cause numerous acute, transient hormonal, and transient cardiovascular changes. Despite the risks, saunas are well tolerated by most healthy people as sweating is normal, while in a sauna, there is a risk of dehydration. People with kidney disease are at a higher risk of dehydration. The high temperatures in a sauna can cause nausea and dizziness. Children should be supervised in the sauna at all times.
To minimize any negative health effects of saunas, take the following precautions:
- Avoid the use of the sauna if you are ill.
- Limit your time in the sauna to 20-minutes. If you have not used a sauna before, limit time spent to five minutes.
- Avoid alcohol
- Drink water to stay hydrated.
What are the health benefits of a hot tub?
- Hot tubs bring a wellness ritual into your daily life.
- The heat widens your blood vessels, which carries nutrient-rich blood throughout the body.
- Soaking in a hot tub can reduce headaches because dilating the blood vessels decrease pressure in your head.
- A hot tub can improve your mood and mental health.
- Immersing in hot water can loosen tight muscles and reduce swelling.
- Your heart works harder when immersing yourself in hot water. And that is the reason soaking in water gives you a healthy cardiac workout. The pressure on your body from the water in the hot tub increases your cardiac volume.
- Stretching in a hot tub can improve your mobility.
- According to a study, regular spa baths can reduce blood sugar and glucose levels.
- The hot water and the built-in jets in hot tubs can help release tension and kneed the toxins from your body.
Are there any risks associated with using a hot tub?
Because a hot tub can raise body temperature, it may be unsafe for pregnant women. According to research, women who use hot tubs more than once for an extended period are more likely to have babies with neural tube birth defects such as anencephaly or spina bifida. It is best to avoid hot tubs while pregnant.
Tens of thousands of infections and even some deaths were linked to infections from pools and hot tubs. If pools or hot tubs aren’t properly cleaned can be an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Pseudomonas causes infections of the skin and hair follicles. The same bacteria cause the infection known as swimmer’s ear. Germs that live in unclean hot tubs can cause GI infections with diarrhea.
People with heart disease should be cautious using a hot tub. Because you can’t sweat in a hot tub, which is what your body does to cool you down, your blood vessels have to widen to cool your body. The widened blood vessels result in lowered blood pressure. To respond to the low blood pressure, your heart rate increases, which could put a strain on your heart. For healthy people, this is not a problem, but it could be dangerous for people with heart disease.
Should I use a sauna or a hot tub first?
If you are lucky enough to have access to both a hot tub and a sauna, you might be wondering which one to use first. Some people might not have the energy to get into a hot tub after using a sauna. But it really depends on what you like. Some people enjoy taking a shower first, then use the sauna, and finish in the hot tub.
Which is more relaxing, a hot tub or a sauna?
Have you ever thought about which one is better, a hot tub or a sauna? Whether a hot tub or a sauna is more relaxing is up to your personal preferences. But hot tubs have a wider appeal. Hot tubs offer the added benefit of a jet massage. You can selectively direct jets of the troubled areas of your body. The jets can also reduce stress and anxiety. Hot tubs might not be safe for some people, including those with heart disease and pregnant women.
Saunas, unlike hot tubs, tend to be a more tranquil, relaxing, and quiet experience. Hot tubs are great for the entire family. You can enjoy it with friends and have a fun social experience. But if you prefer a quiet alone time, saunas a meant for you.
Before you use a hot tub or a sauna, ask your doctor.
