21/05/2026
Seven reasons to sauna 🔥
The research on regular heat exposure is genuinely remarkable. Here’s what science says is happening when you sit in the heat.
1. Increases longevity. A 20-year Finnish study of 2,315 middle-aged men found those who sauna’d 4–7 times a week had a 40% lower risk of death from any cause compared with men who sauna’d just once a week. (Laukkanen et al., JAMA Internal Medicine, 2015)
2. Protects your heart. The same study found 4–7 sessions a week was associated with a 50% lower risk of fatal cardiovascular disease and a 63% lower risk of sudden cardiac death — again, compared with once-a-week users. Heat causes blood vessels to dilate and the heart rate to rise, similar to moderate exercise.
3. Sharpens the mind. A follow-up paper from the same cohort found men who sauna’d 4–7 times a week had a 66% lower risk of dementia and 65% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, compared with once-a-week users, over a median 20-year follow-up. (Laukkanen et al., Age and Ageing, 2017)
4. Lifts your mood. Heat triggers endorphin release and lowers cortisol. Small clinical studies have shown antidepressant effects lasting several weeks after a single session of whole-body hyperthermia.
5. Calms the nervous system. Regular sauna use is associated with improved heart rate variability — a marker of “rest and digest” activation. The post-sauna state is one of the deepest forms of nervous-system downregulation available without medication.
6. Eases sore muscles and joints. Heat improves blood flow, reduces inflammation, and eases stiffness. Multiple studies have shown sauna and thermal therapy can help with chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and rheumatic conditions.
7. Deepens sleep. The body’s core temperature drops sharply after a sauna, mimicking the natural temperature drop that signals sleep onset. Regular users consistently report falling asleep faster and sleeping more deeply.
Come and try it for yourself.
Book a session at hubmatakana.nz
