Sweat practices have been used by cultures throughout the world for health benefits. Some examples include the American Indian sweat lodge ceremony, the Finnish sauna, the Russian bania, the Islamic hammam, and the Japanese mushi-buro. From the earliest known Mayan sweat house in 900BC to the modern day Bikram Yoga and day Spa Saunas, sweating is a practice that has benefited humankind in a number of ways.
Primarily, the physiological benefits of “sauna bathing” are: increase in blood flow to skin, muscles and organs, decrease in diastolic blood pressure, increase in cardiac output, enhancement of lung function – increased lung capacity and ventilation. In fact, some research has found that sweating has helped to prevent and treat some lung, heart and skin problems. However, it is contraindicated for people who have unstable angina, aortic stenosis, chronic heart failure or arrhythmias of the heart. Additionally people have experienced improvements in chronic pain conditions and sleep problems as sweating is very beneficial for muscle relaxation, calming the nervous system and promoting deep sleep.
Improvements in mental and emotional wellbeing have also been noted in the research. The practice of sweating in a group, with a community has proven to support mental satisfaction, energy and relaxation. Emotional wellbeing outcomes have included improved mood and reduction in anxiety and frustration. When the sweating practices is combined with traditional spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation, another depth of benefit is added to the experience for people.
A study done with sweat therapy groups found that groups participating in sweat ceremony had greater improvements in fatigue and revitalization that groups that participated in therapy without sweating. The sweating participants also perceived to gain more benefit than the non-sweating participants. The research article from Google scholar, referenced below, gives a further comprehensive literature review and description of benefits of sweating, which we have touched on in this blog. Personally, as someone who has had lymph nodes removed, I have found the sweatlodge ceremony helps to reduce lymphodema even more effectively than all the movement practices that I do. I feel a lot more relaxed and energised in myself for some time after a sweat lodge, and it is very nice not to have the discomfort of the lymphodema.
At Soul Nurturing we believe strongly in the benefits of creating time and space to connect with a restorative stillness and our inner wisdom. A sweatlodge ceremony is the perfect space for this. It is also an opportunity to practice gratitude for the simple things in life that we so often take for granted. Just to name a few we are so fortunate to have fresh water to drink, mother nature and our beautiful earth that provides all we need for survival, sunshine that warms our body, stimulates healthy cellular function and provides us with light. A sweatlodge ceremony is the place to sit in gratitude and remember these simple gifts we have in life.
For all our readers, we have a special offer to deepen your connection with your inner wisdom and are inviting you to book a 1 hour Kinesiology or Massage consultation with us for just $80 when you mention this blog. We have some unique tools for supporting you to master your health through connecting with your body’s wisdom. Phone Simone for Kinesiology 0427 320 302, or Michael for Massage 0417 534 647
References:
THE EFFECTS OF SWEAT THERAPY ON GROUP THERAPEUTIC FACTORS AND FEELING STATES By STEPHEN A. COLMANT Bachelor of Arts Stockton State College Pomona, New Jersey 1990
Master of Arts New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico 1994
Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University In partial fulfillment of The requirements for The Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY December, 2005