Hygge during the Holidays
Over the past couple of years, you may have seen or heard the term Hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) floating around. A Scandinavian term dating back to the 18th century, it basically translates to finding small ways to be cozy, content and have well-being. It was started as a way to deal with long, dark cold winters, and to raise spirits and give people a feeling of closeness. The idea was to create warm, safe spaces, and use dim lighting, soft fabrics and earthy scents for grounding.
Our infrared sauna and red light therapy panels are the perfect addition to this Hygge philosophy, as many Nordic and Scandinavian cultures have used a sauna routine as part of their winter wellness for centuries. Our sauna invites a warm, relaxing environment, as the temperature reaches 140 deg F. Guests can enjoy total darkness, colored chromotherapy lighting (we suggest red this time of year), or just relax in the warm glow of the salt lamps. Listen to a relaxation CD, put on a guided meditation, or choose a Solfeggio frequency for additional healing benefits. Soft bath towels and curved back rests give comfort while relaxing.
To amplify the benefits of the sweating, and to help flush the body of stagnant lymph and aid the detoxification process, we suggest adding a dry body brush routine before your session, and using a jade roller or gua sha spoon during your session. An earthy scented spritzer made of cedarwood and eucalyptus essential oils will be grounding yet invigorating, and is perfect for the dryness of winter.
Rehydrate post-sauna session with minerals and electrolytes, a warm mug of nettles tea with rosehips, or a steaming bowl of organic bone broth. These are all full of essential nutrients that your body has just released while sweating, and help to calm, replenish and heal. After a deep sweat session, Scandinavians also like to do a Cold Plunge–either into an icy bath, snow bank, or a cold shower. The hot to cold transition can help with inflammation, improve blood flow, release endorphins, relieve pain, give a sense of euphoria, boost lymphatic detoxification, and rejuvenate the skin.
Infrared sauna sessions and red light therapy are beneficial any time of year, but the long winter months are when they are most valuable. They offer a deep sense of relaxation, increase circulation, help detoxify the body, boost immune system, promote better sleep, and help with dry irritated skin. The long, quiet sessions force us to slow down, embrace the dark, honor the season of life we are in, listen to our body, and nourish our soul. What a perfect time to stop the rush, and truly just “be”.
We encourage you to grab some of these sessions for your own winter wellness routine and truly embrace what this season is all about. And while you’re at it, Give the Gift of Hygge to your loved ones as well. Three, five or ten packs of sessions can make the winter months go from unbearable to enjoyable.