In today’s fast-paced London lifestyle, stress, fatigue, and physical strain are constant challenges. Whether you’re an athlete, a fitness enthusiast, or simply looking for a natural wellness solution, sauna therapy offers powerful results. But when it comes to choosing between an Infrared Sauna in London and a Traditional Finnish Sauna in London, which one truly fits your wellness goals?
Let’s break down the key differences, benefits, and use cases—so you can confidently choose the right sauna experience for your lifestyle.
What Is a Traditional Finnish Sauna?
A Traditional Sauna heats the air to high temperatures—typically between 70°C and 100°C—using heated stones and low humidity. This dry heat induces deep sweating and relaxation, a practice rooted in Nordic wellness traditions.
Benefits of Traditional Sauna Therapy:
- Muscle Relaxation: Dry heat eases muscle tension and supports post-workout recovery.
- Cardiovascular Support: Regular use may lower blood pressure and boost circulation.
- Immunity Boost: Stimulates white blood cell production for enhanced immunity.
- Stress Relief: Encourages mindfulness and reduces cortisol levels.
- Skin Cleansing: Promotes natural detox through sweat and unclogged pores.
What is an Infrared Sauna?
An Infrared Sauna uses infrared light panels to directly heat the body at lower temperatures (around 40°C to 60°C), offering a gentler experience while promoting deep tissue detoxification.
Many infrared saunas also include Red Light Therapy, which supports skin health by stimulating collagen production and cellular repair.
Benefits of Infrared Sauna & Red Light Therapy:
- Detoxification: Promotes deep, cellular-level sweat and toxin elimination.
- Faster Recovery: Supports inflamed joints and reduces muscle soreness.
- Skin Rejuvenation: Red light improves tone, texture, and collagen production.
- Mental Clarity & Energy: Enhances circulation and supports mitochondrial function.
- Gentle Comfort: Ideal for first-timers and those sensitive to high heat.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Infrared Sauna vs. Finnish Sauna
| Feature | Traditional Finnish Sauna | Infrared Sauna & Red Light Therapy |
| Temperature | 70°C – 100°C | 40°C – 60°C |
| Heat Source | Heats air & stones | Direct infrared body heating |
| Humidity | Low, with optional steam | Very low |
| Heating Time | 30–45 minutes | 10–15 minutes |
| Session Length | 10–20 minutes | 25–45 minutes |
| Sweat Type | Surface sweat | Deep tissue sweat |
| Space Needed | Larger shared rooms | Compact, private cabins |
Which Sauna Is Right for You?
Choosing between a Traditional Finnish Sauna and an Infrared Sauna with Red Light Therapy depends on what you like and what you want to achieve. Both types have great benefits, so here’s how to decide which is best for you.
Choose a Traditional Finnish Sauna if you:
- Like it hot and intense: Traditional saunas are very warm, usually between 70°C and 100°C. The dry heat and steam make you sweat a lot and feel relaxed. If you enjoy strong heat, this is a good choice.
- Want heart and immune health: Using a traditional sauna can help your heart, improve blood flow, and strengthen your immune system by making your body produce more white blood cells.
- Enjoy old sauna traditions: Traditional Finnish saunas have been used for hundreds of years. If you like the idea of a cultural and authentic sauna experience, this one is for you.
- Want to share the experience: Traditional saunas are usually bigger rooms where friends or family can join you.
Choose an Infrared Sauna with Red Light Therapy if you:
- Prefer lower heat and longer sessions: Infrared saunas are cooler, around 40°C to 60°C, so they’re easier to handle, especially if you don’t like very hot places. You can stay longer and feel comfortable.
- Need deep detox and muscle healing: Infrared heat goes deeper into your muscles and helps you sweat out toxins. It also helps reduce muscle pain and joint soreness faster.
- Want better skin: Infrared saunas often use red light therapy that helps your skin produce collagen, making it healthier and younger-looking.
- Like privacy: Infrared sauna cabins are small and private, perfect if you want a quiet, personal session.
Knowing these differences will help you pick the right sauna for your body and goals. Whether you choose the hot, traditional sauna or the gentle, healing infrared sauna, both can improve your health and help you relax.
Combining Infrared and Traditional Saunas for Optimal Wellness
Alternating between Infrared Saunas and Traditional Finnish Saunas offers a powerful, complementary approach to wellness. Traditional saunas use intense dry heat to relax muscles and improve circulation, while infrared saunas penetrate deeper to reduce inflammation and promote cellular repair.
Together, they enhance muscle recovery, support deep detoxification, and improve skin health by flushing toxins and boosting collagen production. This combination also helps reduce stress and increase energy, providing a balanced routine for overall health.
For those seeking maximum benefits, using both sauna types can create a comprehensive and effective wellness experience.
How Your Body Benefits from Infrared and Finnish Saunas
- Thermoregulation and Improved Blood Circulation
Both infrared and traditional Finnish saunas help your body regulate temperature. Finnish saunas use dry heat to raise your skin temperature, causing blood vessels to open wider. This improves blood flow, which delivers more oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and tissues. Better circulation helps with faster recovery and supports heart health.
Infrared saunas heat your body directly with infrared light that penetrates deep into muscles without heating the air much. This deep warming increases blood flow and helps your cells get more oxygen, supporting healing and removing waste.
- Detoxification Benefits
Sweating is one of the best ways to detox your body. Traditional Finnish saunas raise your core body temperature, making you sweat out toxins like heavy metals (lead, mercury) and harmful chemicals. Infrared saunas cause you to sweat deeply at lower temperatures, which may help remove fat-soluble toxins through your skin’s oil glands. - Pain Relief and Reducing Inflammation
Infrared red light therapy boosts energy production inside your cells, helping reduce inflammation and pain. It’s great for healing injuries and easing chronic pain. Traditional Finnish saunas also help by releasing natural pain-relieving chemicals (endorphins) and lowering stress hormones, improving mental focus and reducing pain. - Muscle Recovery and Performance
Using saunas after exercise helps reduce muscle soreness and speeds up healing. Finnish saunas relax tight muscles and increase flexibility with their dry heat. Infrared saunas improve blood flow to injured areas, helping deliver nutrients faster to damaged tissues and supporting quicker recovery. - Immune System Support
Regular sauna use can boost your immune system. Finnish saunas increase white blood cells, which fight infections. Infrared saunas help your lymphatic system work better and assist with removing toxins from cells, which supports overall immune health.
Who Benefits Most: Use Case Scenarios
- The High-Performance Athlete
For athletes pushing their bodies to the limit, recovery isn’t optional it’s essential. Traditional Finnish sauna sessions promote muscular relaxation and improve blood flow, speeding up recovery and reducing soreness after intense training. Infrared sauna with red light therapy adds cellular-level support, accelerating tissue repair and reducing inflammation.
- The Busy Professional
Constant deadlines and screen time can drain mental clarity and disrupt sleep. Infrared light therapy offers a calming, detoxifying experience that enhances mood, improves sleep quality, and reduces brain fog. Meanwhile, the deep, dry heat of a Finnish sauna helps melt away stress and tension built up throughout the day.
- The Wellness Enthusiast
Looking for a holistic routine? Regular sessions in both sauna types offer long-term benefits from improved circulation and glowing skin to a stronger immune system and mental resilience. Pairing the two allows users to switch between deep detox and cellular rejuvenation, depending on their wellness goals.
- The Injury Recovery Warrior
Whether recovering from a sports injury or chronic pain, passive heat therapy can complement physiotherapy. Finnish saunas help loosen stiff joints and muscles, while infrared red light therapy targets deeper tissues and aids the body’s natural healing response without physical strain.
- The Skin & Beauty Conscious
Red light therapy is gaining popularity for its skin-enhancing benefits. Increased collagen production, reduced inflammation, and improved tone and texture make infrared sessions an effective part of a beauty routine naturally paired with the detoxifying power of traditional sauna heat.
Sauna Safety Tips
To maximize benefits and ensure safety:
- Stay well-hydrated before and after sessions.
- Limit session lengths according to your comfort.
- Cool down gradually after heat exposure.
- Consult a healthcare professional if you have any health concerns.
Ready to Relax, Detox, and Rejuvenate?
Sauna therapy is a natural, effective way to support your body and mind in busy London life. Whether you choose the intense heat of a Traditional Finnish Sauna or the gentle warmth and skin benefits of an Infrared Sauna with Red Light Therapy, your wellness journey awaits.
Why not try both and discover what works best for you?
