How to Activate Your Parasympathetic Nervous System with an Outdoor Sauna

After a stressful day at work or school, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to reset your parasympathetic nervous system. What this does is help relax the body after intense and stressful situations. One of the best and easiest ways to reset your parasympathetic nervous system is by sitting in an outdoor sauna. Being exposed to the intense heat helps stimulate the body’s parasympathetic nervous system. This makes investing in a home sauna kit extremely worthwhile, especially for those who struggle with stress management. A home sauna can go a long way in improving your quality of life if you are anxious or have a stressful life. This blog will explore how the parasympathetic nervous system works and how saunas can help activate it. If you’re interested in investing in a home sauna, contact SaunaFin. Our home sauna kits are entirely customizable to suit your outdoor space. Contact us today for a quote!

What is the Parasympathetic Nervous System

The parasympathetic nervous system is a group of nerves in your body that help you relax after stressful situations. Stressful situations include anything from mental stressors like work or school to physical stressors such as working out or injury. The parasympathetic nervous system is often referred to as the body’s “rest and digest” system. This is the opposite of the body’s sympathetic nervous system, which is also referred to as the “fight or flight” system. This system is responsible for preparing your body for stressful situations. 

It is crucial to activate the parasympathetic nervous system after stressful situations. Not only does this contribute to relaxation, but it also aids in sleep and digestion, stimulates bowel movements, and reduces anxiety. Reducing stress overall is also essential for strong cognitive function and heart health. While your body should be able to effectively regulate your nervous system by itself, people who struggle with stress management and anxiety may struggle to do this. This is why it is beneficial to participate in activities that help reset your parasympathetic nervous system. Sauna use is an excellent way to do so. 

How Outdoor Saunas Help Stimulate the Parasympathetic 

When you expose the body to high heat, you help your parasympathetic nervous system initiate its relaxation response. The sauna is responsible for stimulating a few bodily functions that can help relax your body.  

Stress Reduction

Using a sauna can help reduce stress, which is the primary function of the parasympathetic nervous system. When you are exposed to heat for a period of time, your body’s stress hormone will spike. But as soon as you leave the sauna, this hormone, known as cortisol, will drop well below the baseline level, contributing to lower stress levels. Decreasing cortisol will also help improve your digestion and bowel function, contributing to further relaxation.

Sauna use has also been shown to increase the release of other neurotransmitters. Both dopamine and endorphins are released as a result of sauna exposure. Dopamine is involved in stimulating feelings of pleasure, satisfaction and motivation. Endorphins are responsible for improving mood, reducing stress and alleviating pain. 

Increased Blood Flow

Sauna use also boosts vasodilation, which is another critical occurrence when activating the parasympathetic nervous system. Vasodilation is when your blood vessels dilate. Vasodilation occurs to increase blood flow to our muscles, digestive system and other vital areas of the body. This helps relax your muscles, encourage healing and stimulate digestion. Vasodilation also helps to lower blood pressure.

Improved Sleep

The primary purpose of the parasympathetic nervous system is to help your body rest. Improving sleep quality is the best way to facilitate rest. Sauna use already relaxes your body and stimulates the release of positive neurotransmitters, both of which help prepare the body for sleep. However, sauna use also stimulates the release of melatonin, your body’s sleep hormone. This contributes to quality, restful sleep. 

Rest and Digest Better with SaunaFin

The regular use of an outdoor sauna contributes significantly to activating the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is what allows your body to rest and digest. Sauna use is associated with parasympathetic functions, such as reducing stress and cortisol while boosting dopamine, blood flow, relaxation, digestion and sleep. This makes a home sauna kit a worthwhile investment for those who are looking to improve the activation of their parasympathetic nervous system. If you want a convenient way to reach your health and wellness goals from the comfort of your home, look into customizing a home sauna with SaunaFin.

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