One of the best ways for many of us to get a break from winter is to spend a few minutes in a sauna.
A Finnish tradition, the high temperatures inside a sauna act on your body in a number of ways. Your blood vessels dilate, allowing your circulation to increase. This causes your heart to beat faster and your skin to become flush. You sweat a lot, which can result in a certain amount of detoxification. Your brain releases certain hormones known to make you feel good such as melatonin and serotonin.
It’s almost like exercise, but not quite. When I have time, I like a few minutes in a sauna following a workout. The combination is very good at fending off any winter blues symptoms.
The Finns, of course, prefer a plunge into cold water following the time in the sauna. Suffice it to say, I do not have the stuff to be a Finn.
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