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Sweating Can Be a Healthy Part of Good Physical Training, Experts Say

Posted on: Monday, 21 March 2005, 03:00 CST

One thing that's inevitable with any vigorous workout is a good sweat.

Sweating can be a very healthy part of good physical training, experts say, and many people today are opting to further sweat it out in the sauna.

Saunas have been around for ages, said Laraine Merrill, general manager of Rocky Mountain Fitness in Eagle and Boise. While an individual is sitting in the sauna relaxing, they are also reaping the benefits of improved circulation and flushing the toxins out of their system, she said.

Saunas are excellent for relaxation as well as a cleansing method for stress relief, noted Brad Duke, Treasure Valley director of fitness for Gold's Gym.

Some of the health benefits of a sauna include detoxification of metabolites from the skin (such as excessive salts, heavy metals, urea, and lactic acid), regulation of metabolism, endocrine system stimulation, improved circulation, and possibly improved healing time, said Duke.

Saunas and steam baths also provide excellent skin conditioning properties, said Shaun Wardle, chief operating officer of Idaho Athletic Club, which fields several Valley centers.

Saunas have been a staple part of fitness centers for decades. Some people also enjoy the added convenience of having a sauna at home.

Eagle residents Brad and Lisa Grover, both employed in the finance and accounting business, built their own home gym. The couple has a spinner, treadmill, stepper, rowing machine, and weight stations. In 2000, they also purchased and installed a sauna from Scandia Health Systems of Boise.

We purchased the sauna mainly as a cleansing process for us, said Lisa Grover. Once done with the sauna, we feel relaxed both physically and mentally.

Scandia owner Beatriz Kuzara said saunas have been used throughout the years in many civilizations, including the Turks, Romans, American Indians and Finns.

According to Kuzara, saunas can be utilized for weight reduction; relief of joint pain, colds, and allergies; improved sleep habits; promotion of cardiovascular health; the treatment of various types of skin disease; helping ease the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder; and improvement of the body's immune system.

Most people who build them at home have experienced saunas in their health club first, or they have been suggested by a doctor, said Kuzara, whose companies also provides saunas, steam baths, and related equipment to fitness centers throughout the U.S. Because the sauna is so effective at relieving stress, many professionals put saunas in their homes for this purpose.

She noted that many older people install home saunas to help relieve the aches of arthritis.

Kuzara said the sauna is an important part of a home gym and any exercise regimen. The Grovers use their sauna one to two times a week and, according to Lisa, time dictates whether we just exercise or exercise and sauna.

Massage also plays a role in any comprehensive fitness program. Massage can be an excellent way to speed up recovery of injured muscles, and lessen overall body aches, said Duke. Some employees at fitness centers are trained to rub people the right way.

Massage has its own therapeutic function and provides a complementary service to individuals achieving vigorous exercise. People are looking for the entire experience in fitness, and that includes proper relaxation and stress relief techniques.

Idaho is now catching up with other parts of the country in how we utilize massage, said Merrill. She said massage has become more accepted as a form of treatment in recent years.

It is now used more as a form of maintenance, she said, and it promotes flexibility, strength, stamina, and good circulation - as well as getting the painful knots out of the neck, back or hip area.

Finally, nutrition is key to the achievement of any fitness goals.

Proper eating habits and supplementation are critical to success, Wardle said.

(Copyright 2005 Dolan Media Newswires)

Source: Idaho Business Review, The

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