Infrared Sauna Austin: Should You Sweat on a 106 Degree Day?
Infrared Sauna Austin: Should You Sweat on a 106 Degree Day?
Quick answer: If you have been outside in today's roughly 106 degree Austin heat and you are not fully rehydrated, skip the sauna today, book a 20 minute full body Red Light Therapy session instead, and save your infrared sauna reset for Sunday.
Austin is having its hottest day of the year. Forecasters put today near 106 degrees, within about a degree of the record set two years ago, at the tail end of the city's longest run of 100 degree days in two years. It is also Pride Saturday, with the festival at Fiesta Gardens and the parade down Congress Avenue tonight, and Austin FC hosts Philadelphia Union at Q2 Stadium. A lot of Austin is going to spend today outdoors.
So people ask us a fair question: why would I pay to get hot when it is already 106 out?
Heat load is cumulative, and that matters
Your body does not keep separate ledgers for outdoor heat and studio heat. If you have spent hours on hot pavement, you are already carrying a heat and fluid debt. The CDC notes that dehydration is the single most important factor that predisposes people to heat related illness, and that recovery from heat exhaustion means rest in a cool place plus fluids with some salt and glucose. Adding a sauna session on top of that is stacking in the wrong order.
That is not a reason to avoid infrared sauna in an Austin summer. It is a reason to sequence it.
The smarter order of operations
Cool down and rehydrate first. Shade or air conditioning, water, and something with electrolytes. Give it a few hours, not a few minutes.
Today, choose red light instead. Full body Red Light Therapy is 20 minutes and adds essentially no heat load. Clients commonly report easier muscle and joint comfort and better sleep, which is exactly what you want after a long day standing outside.
Tomorrow, book the sauna. Once you are rehydrated and rested, a 30 minute Infrared Sauna Suite session is a genuinely good Sunday reset. It is a lay down suite with chromotherapy, so your feet do not have to hold you up.
Want the deeper version? The 45 minute Infrared Sauna Cabana is a walk in cabin with full spectrum infrared. Best on a day when you have not already been cooking outside.
Add the GLOW facial if today involved a lot of sun and you want your skin to look like it did not.
Hydration and safety, plainly
Drink water before you feel thirsty, and do not overdo it either; the CDC suggests staying under about 48 ounces per hour. Skip the sauna entirely if you feel dizzy, nauseated, or have stopped sweating, and get to a cool place instead. If you are pregnant, on medication that affects heat tolerance, or managing a heart or blood pressure condition, talk with your doctor before any sauna session. We are happy to talk through timing with you, but we are not a substitute for medical advice.
Where to find us
Sweatland is at 215 South Lamar Blvd Suite B, Austin, TX 78704, minutes from downtown and the Congress Avenue route. We are women founded and Austin founded. If you have been searching sauna near me 78704 or South Lamar wellness, we are a 30 minute stop, not an afternoon.
New client specials: full body red light therapy for $25, an intro pack of three sessions for $99, or an intro week for $88. FSA and HSA eligible. Parking in the Bridges on the Park garage is free.
Book online at thesweatland.com/book, text 737-258-9551, or call 512-494-4800.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to use an infrared sauna when it is 106 degrees outside?
It can be, if you are well hydrated, rested, and have been in air conditioning for a few hours first. If you have just come in from hours in the sun, cool down and rehydrate today and book your session for tomorrow instead.
What is a better choice than sauna after a long day in Austin heat?
Full body Red Light Therapy. It is a 20 minute session that adds almost no heat load, so it fits on a day when your body has already had plenty.
How long should I wait after being outside before a sauna session?
There is no single rule, but a few hours in a cool space with steady fluids is a reasonable minimum. If you are still flushed, headachy, or thirsty, wait longer or move the booking to the next day.
Does infrared sauna help you handle Austin summer better over time?
Regular sauna use is associated with adaptations that improve heat tolerance, which is part of why endurance athletes use it. Build that habit consistently across the season rather than on the single hottest day of the year.
Where can I do red light therapy near 78704 today?
Sweatland at 215 South Lamar Blvd Suite B, Austin, TX 78704. Full body red light therapy is $25 for new clients. Book at thesweatland.com/book or text 737-258-9551.