I've been getting some good results at the gym but I was wondering is it worth using the sauna and/or steam room after a work out? Does the steam room actually help you lose fat, or is just a myth? How long should you use either to see benefits?
I use the steam room after a work out. I dont know the scientific explanation but if you use a steam room after a work out, your muscles dont ache the next day. I cant use a sauna as it gives me severe acne on my chest and shoulders.
Both the steam room and the sauna have their benefits. I love the steamroom too because, like Britannia said, it helps muscles to relax by improving the blood circulation to them. The sauna however, makes me more relaxed and calm. I consider it a good stress reliever as one of the best methods to excrete toxins from the body is through profuse sweating. Britannia, have you tried showering right after leaving the sauna? Usually, the break-outs are due to the body sweating out a bunch of crap, and once that dries on the skin the pimples appear.
I must say my mild acne does seem to clear up when I use the sauna, but I rarely have the time or patience to use the sauna after a work out because I work out in the evening and by the time I'm finished the gym is closing up.
Ive been trying this steam room at the local 24-hr fitness and let me tell ya, you really feel refreshed and energized when you get out of thier. i like to go in there before i hit the weights and try to warm up the body a bit and loosen up the muscles.
Steam rooms are excellent for skin clarity and health.
Buy a pair of exfoliating gloves, and scrub yourself down while you're in there. Do it for about 10-20 minutes and you should have a good amount of toxins and oils out of your body.
Then hit the showers -- hot water at first, to open up the pores and scrub any excess surface oils/toxins off.
Finish it off with a COLD blast for a few minutes, to get circulation going and to restrict the pores from inviting in more crap.
You skin will look and feel great after this.
Also, use a good quality moisturizer (I use Anthony Logistics' Oil Free Facial Lotion and Eye Cream). You'll look and feel five years younger within a month.