Sinead Corcoran Dye feels the heat testing a cheaper alternative to a home sauna.
If you read this column every week (thank you), you may remember I tested out a home sauna a few months ago. I did rate it for relaxation, and the feeling I was sweating out every meal I’ve ever eaten. It cost a few thousand dollars though, which is out of most people’s budgets, mine included.
This week I came across a much cheaper alternative – the $259 portable, infrared sauna blanket from Well Products Limited, which is actually more of a heated sleeping bag than a blanket. It comes with a control box that plugs into the wall and includes a book of instructions that must have been roughly translated from another language into English, because it made no sense and was virtually impossible to follow. I just made it up as I went along, praying I wouldn’t electrocute myself.
After plugging in the blanket and climbing in, I attempted to zip myself up to my neck. Unfortunately, my arms just don’t bend that way, so I got as high as my boobs. I then lay on the ground like a sausage roll in a rustling, steamy plastic bag, which quickly became very sweaty. I was a sweaty foot in a sock.
There are numerous alleged health benefits from using an infrared sauna blanket. They include weight loss, muscle-tension relief, detoxification, increased metabolism, decreased constipation, better sleep and a stronger immune system. The controlled, timed heat is said to cause the body to sweat and release toxins, aiding a healthy immune system, boosting your metabolism and accelerating the burning of body fat, although research suggests this could just be water weight.
