Whether you’re a serious climber or someone who just loves a day on the wall, taking care of your body will always help you to climb stronger, for longer and for life. This is the true purpose of ‘recovery’ - by giving your body and mind time to rest and recover, you will come back to your next session better than ever.

One of the lesser-known ways to recover from climbing or bouldering, and any strenuous exercise, is by using an infrared sauna. Modern infrared sauna has been popular across the globe since the 1970s, and in more recent years high performing Australians have been discovering their benefits and supercharging their physical and mental performance.

And great news – having regular access to an infrared sauna is no longer just for athletes and famous wellness enthusiasts. It has never been easier to place an infrared sauna in your own home to enjoy the experience and all the health benefits for life.

Here are three ways infrared sauna will support your climbing and bouldering efforts.

Infrared sauna is fantastic for improving your flexibility and mobility. Stretching in or after your sauna will increase your core temperature and improving your circulation, which altogether helps to loosen up tight muscles and joints. Working on your mobility and flexibility will provide you with a wider range of motion, improving your ability to reach your foot to some far up and away climbing hold, or grip tighter so you can advance on your climb.

While the feeling of sore after a big workout is kind of awesome, infrared sauna can help sooth those tired muscles and supercharge your recovery.

As you sit in the heat of the sauna your heartrate will slightly rise, which will boost your blood’s circulation. This can help move lactic acid through and out of the muscles, speeding up the repair process. This increased cardiovascular health will also add to your ability to climb or boulder harder and for longer, and achieve your other fitness goals sooner.

Another excellent benefit of infrared sauna use is relaxation and energy improvement. The time you spend in the sauna is the perfect time to switch off and shift away from the hustle and bustle of your day. It's the ideal set up for wind down and meditation and gives you the opportunity to regularly connect your mind, body, and spirit. Taking time to focus on relaxation each day is also an excellent way to reduce your stress levels and improve your mental health.

The heat also increases white blood cell production and helps boost the immune system, which is often run down in people with chronic fatigue. Next, activated Cytochrome C Oxidase and increased ATP production will help give your energy levels a boost.

• Detox
• Healthy skin
• Improved circulation
• Pain relief
• Cardiovascular
• Stress management

An infrared sauna is an enclosed chamber, often made of wood and glass, that uses infrared light to heat anyone sitting in it. Infrared light is a safe wavelength of light that people feel as heat. It’s a radiant warmth that feels similar to sitting in the sun and generally reaches temperatures around 60 degrees Celsius.

This warmth penetrates deeply and gently into the body and muscles, giving you a cardiovascular workout while removing heavy metals and toxins. These saunas boast various benefits, from relaxation and improved circulation to better sleep and pain relief. You can get in-home infrared saunas from brands such as Found—Space or access them at venues like day spas or health retreats.

But having one at home is best, as you’ll get the best results through taking at least three sessions per week, 30-45 minutes per session at 45-55 degrees Celsius.