I’ve Been Going to the Sauna for 1.5 Years – My Results

So I’ve been going to the sauna almost every single week for over a year and a half now, and I just really wanted to share my experience with you. What I’ve noticed, what has actually changed for me, and whether I would recommend it.

First of all, I have it included in a subscription at my gym, where I can also work out and use other facilities. And I’ll be honest: otherwise, it’s not cheap. So for anyone who’s seriously considering it, that’s something you should factor in. If you’re constantly buying day passes, I honestly wouldn’t recommend that. If you go regularly, it makes way more sense to get some kind of membership. It’s usually a lot cheaper in the long run, and there are often different pricing options.

Of course, the dream would be having a sauna at home. But let’s be real – most of us don’t.

SAVE IT

There Are Different Types of Saunas (And They All Feel Different)

One thing that’s important: there are different types of saunas, and they all serve slightly different purposes.

For example, there’s the steam bath, which is much cooler compared to the really hot saunas and works more with humidity. It’s great for your nasal passages and just feels very soothing in a different way.

At my gym, they also offer scrubs – like a body peeling you can use while you’re in there. That’s honestly such a nice extra because you’re basically exfoliating and detoxing at the same time. Love that.

My Favorite: Guided Infusions (Absolute Highlight)

My personal routine usually includes two guided infusions.

That’s when there’s a sauna master who leads the session, uses different scents, sometimes music, and kind of structures the whole experience. It’s way more intense than just sitting in a regular sauna. The heat feels stronger, the scents make it feel almost like an experience rather than just “being hot,” and overall it deepens that relaxation feeling times ten.

Those sessions are honestly my highlight every single time.

If you have the option to join something like that, I would 100% recommend it.

Usually, these are bigger saunas with quite a few people inside. That’s something you just kind of have to get used to. At first, it might feel a bit awkward, but the more often you go, the less it bothers you. Now? It’s not even a thing for me anymore.

The Temperature I Personally Recommend

Generally speaking, I can really recommend Finnish-style saunas – especially in the 70–90°C range. That’s where I personally feel the strongest effect.

I’d rather stay in a bit shorter but go hotter (if your body handles it well) than sit longer in a lower temperature. But obviously – and this is not medical advice – if you have health conditions or struggle with high temperatures, please talk to your doctor first. Don’t just push through.

For everyone who tolerates heat well though, it’s honestly the most intense and rewarding experience.

Afterwards, I always feel like I’ve been reborn and everything has been sweated out. All the toxins, all the tension – gone. I feel deeply relaxed in a way that’s hard to describe. It’s such a clean, calm feeling.

The Biggest Change: I’m Way More Stress-Resilient

This is probably the most important part for me.

I’ve struggled with anxiety for a long time. And I still do. I tend to have anxiety phases or moments where I overreact internally and feel very overwhelmed.

I actually started going to the sauna around the time when I was really dealing with that heavily – about 18 months ago. And I genuinely feel like it has helped me.

Whenever I have a super stressful day or feel anxiety creeping in, and I go to the sauna, it calms me down. And I mean really calms me down. It’s one of the very few things that can do that so consistently.

I think it’s because your body is forced to focus on something completely different. The heat is so intense that your mind kind of… switches off. And over time, when you repeat that experience regularly, your body learns that state of deep relaxation.

It’s almost like you train your nervous system to calm down more easily.

And that has carried over into my everyday life. I’m noticeably more stress-resistant. Difficult phases, uncomfortable situations, overwhelming moments – they don’t hit me as hard anymore. I can handle them better. They don’t completely take over.

Mentally, that’s been huge.

The Physical Changes I Noticed

The most obvious physical change? My skin.

It’s honestly the first thing you notice.

My skin has way more moisture now. I struggle less with acne and breakouts, and it looks much clearer overall. But what surprised me even more is how much less dry my skin is.

I used to have really dry hands and certain dry patches on my body because my skin type is naturally on the drier side. But since going to the sauna regularly, that has improved so much. My skin just feels more hydrated and stays that way.

It also looks more glowy. More alive. I look fresher, healthier – just overall better, if I’m being honest.

It Helped Me More Than Just “Relax”

Relaxation is kind of the core theme here.

I’ve talked before about my weight loss journey and how I lost quite a bit of weight at one point. And honestly, the sauna supported that process too. Not in a magical way – but because so many physical issues are connected to stress.

Not diseases, obviously. But things like stubborn weight, tension, certain physical discomforts – they’re often tied to chronic stress, anxiety, or an unregulated nervous system.

Everything is connected.

If your nervous system is constantly on edge, if you rarely have real rest phases, that shows up in your body. It shows up in how you look, how you feel, how you carry yourself. Your inner world reflects outward.

And that’s probably the biggest effect I’ve noticed from going to the sauna regularly.

Would I Recommend It?

From the bottom of my heart: yes.

Even if you can’t go every week, try going every few weeks. Just make it a regular thing.

Real talk – it’s one of the best things you can do not just for your physical health, but especially for your mind and your soul.

And I don’t say that lightly.