I will take an infrared sauna fix anywhere I can get it: at a yoga class, at my local infrared sauna studio, or even wrapped up in an infrared sauna blanket. But having a sauna at home is the real dream. And I can’t recommend Clearlight Saunas enough. Not only because we are authorized distributors, but also because Jim and I have taken the plunge and got one for ourselves.
Clearlight Saunas use True Wave heaters, which blend ceramic and carbon infrared heaters for the best of both worlds. (Ceramic heaters produce hotter heat, and carbon ones produce infrared waves that penetrate deeper. Together, they’re calibrated to a specific level of heat that’s intended to optimize how the body heats up and sweats.)
The furniture-grade Canadian cedar and basswood exteriors are treated with non-VOC finish. And the saunas come with Bluetooth and AUX inputs which mean you can safely play music or your favorite guided meditations from inside the cabin. You can even turn on your sauna from your phone so that it preheats while you’re coming home from work or set it to be ready to go by the time you wake up in the morning. Each sauna comes with a lifetime warranty. They’re beautiful to sit in, too.
So if you’re lucky enough to be in the market, the challenge becomes choosing the exact right model for your space and your needs. Here are three of my favorites:
The Compact Infrared Sauna
The Clearlight Sanctuary 1 plugs into a standard wall outlet, and because it measures less than four feet by four feet, you can make room for it even in tighter spaces. Despite its smaller size, it feels very open; you can thank the glass front wall and the skylight for that. It features two types of heaters pumping out far and full-spectrum infrared heat, which can get intensely hot if you’re into that. (Far infrared covers a narrow range of longer infrared wavelengths that penetrate deeply into the body and aren’t crazy-hot. Full-spectrum infrared includes a wider range of wavelengths that includes far infrared as well as mid and near infrared, and it may provide a wider range of benefits than far infrared alone.) You can customize your experience with color therapy: Every Sanctuary model includes ninety-six LED lights with twelve color options.
The Infrared Sauna for Movement
The Sanctuary Y is made for those who want to move. (The “Y” stands for “yoga.”) Sure, you can hang out on the two benches with some pals. Or you can remove the benches entirely—they’re lightweight enough that it’s easy to move them around—roll out a mat and stretch, foam roll, or down dog to your heart’s content. Which we highly recommend: The heat has a way of breaking up stiffness and getting you out of your head and into your body. This model includes both far and full-spectrum infrared and the full suite of color-therapy lights. (Note: Watch video below to get a better idea of what this sauna is all about.)
The Backyard Infrared Sauna
If you don’t have room to work with in the house but you do have a place in your yard where you could imagine yourself sweating it out (with a view, perhaps?), the Sanctuary Outdoor 5 could be a great fit. It’s built into a wooden cabin designed to hold up to the elements, and the floor-to-ceiling dual-paned glass windows help lock in heat without obstructing your line of sight. There’s plenty of room to lie flat in this one—it seats up to five people—and the bench transitions into a recliner, too. (This one has a limited warranty on the exterior cabin, but all the interior parts are under lifetime warranty.)
