Warming Up at HigherDOSE

After ten days of South American summer, returning to an icy New York City has been a serious shock to my system. I feel my best in the summer--even on the most sweltering, sticky days--and I seem to spend every winter battling chronic dry skin, tight joints, and chest and shoulder muscles that are constantly sore from huddling against the cold. 

I'd been hearing a lot about infrared saunas and their wide range of health benefits, so a few weeks ago I booked a 60 minute session at HigherDOSE to try it out for myself.

HigherDOSE claims that 45 minutes in an infrared sauna has the detoxifying effect of a 7-day juice cleanse, the calorie burn of a 3-4 mile run, increased serotonin and collagen production, decreased cortisol, and relief of muscle pain...all of which sounds really great, but my main goal was just to feel really, really hot. 

In brief: mission accomplished. I don’t know if I sweated out the same toxins that would be eradicated by a week of green juice or if I burned any more calories that I would sitting on my couch watching The Sopranos, but it felt great to really heat up and at least imagine my muscles unclenching, my cells oxygenating.

After 15 minutes of post-sauna cool-down, I took a red-faced, sweaty subway ride back to Brooklyn, chugged a liter of coconut water, and admired my glowing complexion in the mirror while enjoying a semi-lightheaded, pleasant buzz. 

When I woke up the next morning feeling like my normal self, I wasn’t sure if I was sold--wasn't I supposed to have radiant skin and feel anxiety free?! But as the temperatures dip again, I wouldn't mind heading back to the sauna to heat up and let the winter doldrums melt away. At least for an hour or two.

Have you tried an infrared sauna? Any big believers or total skeptics? I'd love to hear your thoughts!