Many of us are spending some more time in the gym this time of year, and you may have walked past the steam room without a second thought on if it’s worth staying for an extra 15 minutes before going home. Long story short: yes. It’s totally worth it! Before we hop into all the benefits of using a steam room, let’s clear up a big question you might have:
What’s the difference between a steam room and a sauna? Are they the same?
The short answer is no, they’re definitely different! The biggest difference is that saunas use dry heat and are much warmer. Steam rooms are still warm, but not quite as intense as a sauna. The humidity level is also much higher.
Now that we have that cleared up, let’s jump into all the wonderful reasons to use a steam room:
Decongestion
If you have a stuffy nose from a cold or sinus infection, steam therapy can be amazingly helpful. The combination of warmth and moisture works wonders to open up the nasal passages and thin out mucous to help you recover more quickly.
Improved Circulation
Moist heat really helps to get the blood flowing, especially in the legs and arms. When your circulation improves, so does your heart health. High blood pressure also tends to get lower (side note: this is one of the reasons why you feel relaxed in a steam room!).
Glowing Skin
No need to spend all your money on an expensive facial! Moist steam opens up the pores and releases toxins beneath the skin as well as any dirt, bacteria, or dead skin on the skin’s surface. Because of this, you may have more clear and even skin.
Workout Recovery
There’s a reason why many people sit in the steam room at the gym after a workout – and not just to relax! Moist heat penetrates deep into muscle tissue to aid in healing and also loosens stiff joints. Since we know that steam rooms also improve circulation, all that flowing blood also helps to promote healing.
We love steam rooms on their own, but we also love using some of our many 100% Pure Eucalyptus ShowerMists to amp up the healing and benefits. Take one of our ShowerMists and spritz a few sprays into the steam (away from your face) and breathe deeply. It’s an easy but effective way to make your time in the steam room even more beneficial.