Sauna + Swim Retreats and Why We Love a Sauna!

At Zest Life we love to sauna and to mix that up with a cold water dip is even better. We all know saunas are not only relaxing but also offer a range of health benefits. Incorporating sauna sessions into your wellness routine can help support physical and mental well-being in many ways. Just remember to stay hydrated and listen to your body while using the sauna!

Here are Laura’s 6 top benefits of using a sauna:

1. Improved Circulation

• How: The heat in a sauna causes your blood vessels to dilate, which improves blood flow and increases circulation.
• Benefit: Better circulation can lead to improved oxygen and nutrient delivery to muscles and organs, helping with recovery, reducing muscle soreness, and promoting overall heart health.

2. Detoxification

• How: The high heat induces sweating, which helps flush toxins and impurities from the body through your skin.
• Benefit: Sweating can help eliminate heavy metals, chemicals, and other toxins, potentially leading to clearer skin and improved overall health.

3. Stress Relief

• How: The warmth of a sauna helps your muscles relax, promotes endorphin release, and encourages a meditative, calm state.
• Benefit: Regular sauna sessions can reduce stress, promote mental relaxation, and help with managing anxiety and tension.

4. Improved Skin Health

• How: The sweating process helps clear pores, removes dead skin cells, and promotes better skin hydration.
• Benefit: Using a sauna regularly can result in smoother, clearer skin and can help with conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

5. Pain Relief and Muscle Relaxation

• How: The heat of the sauna can relax sore or stiff muscles, ease joint pain, and increase flexibility.
• Benefit: Saunas are commonly used by athletes and people with chronic pain for recovery, as they can reduce muscle tension and inflammation.

6. Boosted Immune Function

• How: The heat in a sauna raises your body temperature, which mimics a fever and can stimulate the immune system.
• Benefit: This “artificial fever” can help enhance the body’s ability to fight off infections and reduce the frequency of colds or other illnesses.

The power of sauna has been known for centuries and for that reason we are excited to bring a sauna session to all of our Anglesey swim retreats in 2025. We are teaming up with a fabulous local company called Sawna Bach who have sauna pods at both beach and lake locations here in North Wales.

Day 1 of your swim retreat will be a swim and sauna experience at Llyn Padarn, one of the most majestic lakes at the foot of snowdon. You will be expertly guided in the water and the private sauna will be right there for you to relax in post or in between swims.

Browse our Anglesey sauna and swim retreats here.

 

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk