Benefits
THE FUN WAY TO STAY HEALTHY AND DISSOLVE
STRESS
As we become more and more aware of increasing
stress in our lives, we need to find fun ways to release
the tension and relax in these bodies. Stress is the fallout
from our modern way of life and causes dis-ease. The insidious
thing about stress is that you almost have to step outside
of it to realise you're suffering from it. So many of us
are stressed without even knowing it. Spa-ing becomes essential
maintenance, no wonder the spa " industry " is
doing so well... Everything at the Kiva Spa, sauna, spa,
plunge-pool, massage and skin treatments are modalities
through which we focus within rather than without. This
becomes the key as we absorb stress through our interactions
with the outer world. Often we "relax" in front
of the TV which actually is just a lower level of stress.
The spa environment offers the opportunity to sense the
body and mind from within. This is the first step, to shift
from the outer to the inner. Then we can begin to unwind
through these ancient modes of healing and relaxation;
water, steam, heat, touch, until we completely let go.Then
you are left with such a delicious feeling, deep inner
stillness, soft relaxed body, full surrender and acceptance.
Very alert and present with ourselves and those around
us. Its such a fun way to stay healthy.
HEALTH
BENEFITS OF SAUNA
There is good reson why humans have taken
sweat baths for hygienic and health purposes since the
stone age.It's because sweating has proved its effectiveness
in flushing out toxins and disease and maintaining optimal
physical and mental health.
The skin is the largest organ
and it plays a major role in detoxifying the body alongside
the lungs, kidneys, bowels, liver and lymphatic and immune
systems. All the body's organs get a work out in the sauna
benefitting the whole immune system.What is happening physiologically
is that all the internal body systems are speeding up.
Breathing is deeper, the heart beats faster, the metabolism
speeds up and all the body fluids are moving quicker, sweat,
blood, lymph. This means more aliveness all through your
body. Tension gets dissolved, toxins are released rapidly,
even heavy metals are sweated out in the sauna.
By the end your skin feels soft and supple, pink and radiant.
You feel serene and youthful, full of life force.
THE
POSITIVE EFFECTS OF NEGATIVE IONS
Research
in Finland has shown that wood heated saunas have way more
health benefits over electrically heated
ones, including infra-red. This is because the negative
ions produced in a wood heated sauna. The electric
coils produce positive ions and
do not heat the rocks sufficiently to produce negative
ions when water is splashed on. Contrastingly
the steam in a wood heated sauna is highly charged
with health giving negative ions.
Since
the early 1950’s scientists have suspected that ions play an important
role in how the body functions and consequently in how we feel. Research
has shown that an abundance of negative ions in the air we breathe is highly
beneficial while a lack of ions or a higher rate of positive to negative can
cause physical harm. So what are the natural
sources of negative ions? Cosmic rays, crashing water
(waves and waterfalls), steam, fire and plants during
photosynthesis.
Europeans
take ion depletion seriously and negative ion generators
are installed in businesses, banks, hospitals, cars
and planes.. Negative ion therapy is being used to
heal burns, respiratory disease and cancer. Scientists have found
that if the air is charged with too few negative ions and too many positive ions
we become tense, anxious and fatigued. Air conditioning,
smog and long distance driving are examples of conditions
that contribute to this.
WOMEN IN THE SAUNA
The
sauna has special significance for women apart from the
fact that it is warm and dark and womb like.
Menstruation. During
menstruation the sauna can alleviate
some of the cramp pain by relaxation
and removal of excessive water caused
by sodium retention.
Pregnancy and childbirth For the same
reason the sauna is generally beneficial for healthy pregnant
women.
After childbirth taking a sauna relieves aching muscles,
cleanses the body and gives the mother needed privacy.
Until she has recuperated from birthing, lower temperatures
are recommended.
Menopause. Menopause is another area where
sauna can alleviate and ease the symptoms. It does this
by stimulating;
- The
automatic nervous system.
- The
pituitary gland
- The
adrenal gland
- The
ovaries
Some
medical experts consider menopause an elimination
crisis which makes the sauna even more useful.
The theory is that menopause is more than just
an elimination for the uterine lining, it is an
elimination cycle for the entire body. Upon cessation
of the reproductive cycle, a woman’s must
find other ways of ridding itself of toxic accumulations.
While this adjustment is going on, uncomfortable
symptoms are experienced. Taking saunas reduces
some of these distresses by acting as a general
toxic eliminator.
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