I’ve known about saunas for most of my life, but I didn’t truly get the benefits of sauna until much later. What started as a social thing — a fun place to hang out with friends and enjoy amazing food — has slowly become one of the most healing and important parts of my weekly routine. Now, I go for my body, my mind, and even to spend quality time with my daughter.
As you’ll read later, sauna (especially when paired with cold plunge) offers powerful benefits — not just for recovery and relaxation, but for brain health, mood, and overall well-being. It’s especially helpful for people dealing with dopamine-related imbalances or neurological conditions like ADHD, depression, chronic stress, or Lyme disease — because it helps calm the nervous system, clear mental fog, and support natural detox.
In this post, I’m sharing my personal sauna journey — from my early memories in a tiny steam room in New Jersey to the wellness center I visit now, complete with cold plunge and yoga classes. I’ll also share the real-life benefits I’ve experienced and how you can start feeling them too — even if you don’t have access to a wellness center or spa in your area.
How I Got Into Saunas (And How It’s Changed Over Time)
I was first introduced to the sauna about 20 years ago. I’d known about it my whole life, but honestly, I didn’t really understand the benefits. Even that first time, I wasn’t impressed — not because it wasn’t good, but because my focus wasn’t on health at all. I was there for the social part.
It was a small sauna in Passaic, NJ — just one steam room and a cold plunge, if I remember right. I think that place is gone now. But what really pulled me in back then wasn’t the sauna itself — it was the food. The kitchen there was amazing. I believe the cook and his wife were from Uzbekistan, and the food they made was unforgettable. Rich, flavorful, homemade — it was honestly the highlight of the visit for me.
For years, that was the pattern: eat first, then steam. Anyone who knows anything about sauna culture is probably shaking their head — and they’d be right. You’re not supposed to go into a sauna on a full stomach, and you definitely shouldn’t drink alcohol while doing it. But we were young. Health wasn’t the priority. It was just about hanging out.
Later, a new banya opened in Fair Lawn, NJ — BRC Day Spa & Sauna Resort. It was big and beautiful, with multiple steam rooms, a pool, a relaxation area, and a nice restaurant. And yep — once again, the food was amazing. But for me, it was still mostly a social thing.
Fast forward to today — and everything’s shifted. Now I go to a wellness center that’s not too far from home, and honestly, it’s been a perfect fit for where I’m at in life. It has everything I need for my health goals: a sauna, steam room, cold plunge, indoor and outdoor pools — including one of my favorites, a heated outdoor pool. It also has a full gym with yoga and other fitness classes.
It’s become one of my favorite parts of the week — not just because it helps my body and mind reset, but because I get to share it. My 14-year-old daughter joins me from time to time, and it’s become our time. A space where we can slow down, be present, and connect.
Top 5 Benefits of Using a Sauna (From My Real Life)
Sauna time has slowly become one of the most grounding parts of my week. I started doing it after the gym — but honestly, the biggest difference I’ve felt is in my back, shoulders, and overall mood after long days at the computer. It’s like everything unknots and I can finally breathe again. Here’s what I get out of it:
1. Mental Reset
The heat hits, and everything slows down. It pulls me out of my head and into my body. I leave feeling calmer, more grounded — like I’ve pressed pause on the chaos.
2. Back & Neck Relief
I sit most of the day, and it shows. My shoulders get tight, my upper back aches — sometimes even my neck flares up. The sauna melts that tension in a way nothing else does. Add in a light workout, and it’s the combo that keeps me pain-free.
3. Natural Detox Support
There’s something powerful about sitting in the heat and letting your body do what it’s designed to do. Sauna supports gentle, natural detoxification — no extreme protocols, no complicated routines. Just heat, stillness, and space to release what your body doesn’t need. I always walk out feeling lighter — physically, mentally, even emotionally.
4. My Body Actually Winds Down
After sauna, it’s like my nervous system finally relaxes. No racing thoughts at night, no tossing around. I fall asleep faster, and stay asleep longer. No magic — just a calmer body heading into rest.
5. More Focus, Less Fog
There’s something about stepping out of the heat that leaves me feeling clear. Not jittery energy — just steady, focused, and sharp. Like I finally caught up with myself.
What About Chronic Conditions Like Lyme or ADHD?
While most of the research around Lyme disease and sauna focuses on infrared therapy, traditional saunas can still offer real support. Sauna use helps your body release toxins, while the heat improves circulation and relaxes muscles and joints — all of which can bring relief from some of the fatigue, aches, and tension many people with Lyme experience.
It’s also particularly helpful for people dealing with dopamine-related imbalances or neurological conditions like ADHD, depression, or chronic stress — not just because of the detox, but because regular sauna use can help calm the nervous system and support mental clarity.
As always, if you’re managing a chronic condition, it’s a good idea to check in with your healthcare provider, but saunas are a gentle, natural tool that many people find genuinely helpful.
Want to Try This at Home?
You don’t need a full spa setup to get the benefits of sauna. If you’re looking for something affordable, compact, and effective, I recommend this:
👉 Relax Infrared Sauna
💸 Use code SAUNALOVE for $100 off.
It’s a solid choice if you want the benefits without remodeling your home or spending thousands. It fits in small spaces, heats up quickly, and delivers real results.
If you’re looking for something more high-end, I’ve also been exploring options from Clearlight Saunas — a trusted name in full-spectrum infrared saunas. I’ll be updating this post soon with more info once my recommendation is finalized. In the meantime, if you’re interested in comparing sauna options, stay tuned for my upcoming guide to choosing the best sauna for your space, health goals, and budget.
✨ Closing Thoughts
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you don’t have to completely change your life to start feeling better — sometimes, it’s about finding simple, consistent practices that help you reconnect with your body and mind. For me, sauna has become that space. A place to reset, to reflect, to breathe, and sometimes even just to be.
Whether you’re managing stress, dealing with ADHD or chronic tension, supporting recovery, or simply craving peace in a noisy world — the sauna can be a powerful tool. And no, you don’t need to book a retreat to experience it. Even short sessions, a couple times a week, can make a real difference.
More content is coming soon — including a deeper dive into infrared saunas and why they’re especially powerful for detox and chronic conditions. But for now, I hope this post encourages you to pause, warm up, and take care.
You deserve that.
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