Is the sauna good or bad for muscle growth?

[brentnstacey]

I'm 37 years old and have been lifting for a few years. I've grown accustomed to spending 10-15 minutes in the Sauna after an intense workout. My primary goal is muscle growth. I need to know if I'm hurting muscle growth by entering the sauna after my workout.

[loveee]

Only if there's spiders in there scabbing at your skin. Then you might be out for a while. If not, no it's fine.

[rand18m]

Many use that or hot epson salt baths for recovery! Standard recommendation!

[John Prophet]

The argument against a sauna directly after a workout would be along these lines. If you did a good hard workout you caused muscle damage. In general youd want to cool down, rather than further heat up, those damaged muscles. Thats why you put ice on an sprain directly afterwards...you only put heat on it maybe the next day etc.

Personally id guess the ultimate would be a good cold shower right after the workout. The sauna would be perfect on non workout days.

As usual, opinions differ and so do other factors. It could be that the sauna right after a workout helps promote blood flow and healing in the muscles you worked yesterday etc

[IronCharles]

Just stay out of the ones in Thailand. I hear they can really kill your gains!

[-=FLEX=-]

Just stay out of the ones in Thailand. I hear they can really kill your gains!

Literally.....



















zyzz

[Getsum]

No comment on the saunas but contrast showers work well for me.

http://articles.elitefts.com/article.../power-shower/

[rand18m]

Just stay out of the ones in Thailand. I hear they can really kill your gains!

Op listen to this^, experience should be heeded!

[bigtallox]

I need to know if I'm hurting muscle growth by entering the sauna after my workout.

Not directly, but you're hurting your recovery time ( if you train hard ). Heat after an intense session will spread inflamation and cause you to take longer to recover. An ice bath is the way to go after hard training.

[billb7581]

I usually take a quick soak in my hot tub several hours after working out, is this bad?

[muscleshakes]

I'm 37 years old and have been lifting for a few years. I've grown accustomed to spending 10-15 minutes in thing Sauna after an intense workout. My primary goal is muscle growth. I need to know if I'm hurting muscle growth by entering the sauna after my workout.

I would like to hear what peoples opinion is on this. I love going to the gym and sometimes I have the chance to make it a workout night but I just worked out 3 days in a row and I know Im better off if I wait and pass tonight then hit Chest tomorrow and Legs the next day and skip the next and then Saturday finish off with Biceps and Triceps. I dont always do everything the same order I just make sure I hit every thing at least once a week some times I will do back and traps twice or every 5 days or so bc I have been doing that for 5 weeks and made great gains and actually fixed an injury or more like improved a weak spot. My question is if I have free time but I dont want to lift weights 9bc I know a day off would be better for growth) would going sitting in the dry sauna for about 20-25 minutes help me, hurt me or make no difference at all as far as muscles recouping? I know mentally and physically I feel awesome when I get in my truck and drive home after a sauna day. I drink A LOT of WATER....and usually throw gatorade mix powder in a 32 ounce bottle I carry with me on sauna days. So will the dry sauna help me at all?

[muscleshakes]

Not directly, but you're hurting your recovery time ( if you train hard ). Heat after an intense session will spread inflamation and cause you to take longer to recover. An ice bath is the way to go after hard training.

who is the heck is going to go home and sit in a tub of ice lol. I mean the body should be smart enough and strong enough that after we lift weights 20 minutes of some sweating and heat shouldnt hurt. I did ask b/c I was curious on peoples opinions but there are lot of people bodybuilders even bulking cutting etc that love the dry sauna. For me I know it makes me feel good maybe its more mental but I do it after almost every time I lift and I really was asking on for a day like today....Im taking an off day bc of what Ive done last 3 of 4 days and have planned out what Im doing the next 3 of 4. So today I want to sit in sauna and chill. Am I just wasting time other than feeling good or does it help muscles at all or just help my largest organ my skin? Im not worried about the hydration thing Im water logged all the time.

[dazlittle]

Will have to let my forces friends know they are wasting their time lifting in Kuwait as its never below 35 degrees and there are zero ice baths available!!

[michail71]

I would like to hear what peoples opinion is on this. I love going to the gym and sometimes I have the chance to make it a workout night but I just worked out 3 days in a row and I know Im better off if I wait and pass tonight then hit Chest tomorrow and Legs the next day and skip the next and then Saturday finish off with Biceps and Triceps. I dont always do everything the same order I just make sure I hit every thing at least once a week some times I will do back and traps twice or every 5 days or so bc I have been doing that for 5 weeks and made great gains and actually fixed an injury or more like improved a weak spot. My question is if I have free time but I dont want to lift weights 9bc I know a day off would be better for growth) would going sitting in the dry sauna for about 20-25 minutes help me, hurt me or make no difference at all as far as muscles recouping? I know mentally and physically I feel awesome when I get in my truck and drive home after a sauna day. I drink A LOT of WATER....and usually throw gatorade mix powder in a 32 ounce bottle I carry with me on sauna days. So will the dry sauna help me at all?

I'm only going by memory but when the body overheats from exercise there are compounds that are produced that limit the ability to produce energy. It's sort of a built in thermal protection system. IMHO, I don't think normal weight lifting usually thermally taxes the body to quite that extent. It may be more of an issue with sports and conditioning type work or other activities that leave you drenched in sweat. Especially if there is a quick turnaround time before the next activity.

I'll take a cold shower after conditioning work to aid in recovery so that I'm ready for the next training session. It sucks at first but it is rather energizing.

[socoguy78]

I've started using a dry Sauna at my University and I feel great after my work out. From what I've read on medical websites, there's increased blood flow to the muscles and joints and the sweat helps carry out toxins that were produced while weight lifting. Afterwards, it says to get into cold water to reclose the skin's pores and bring the blood back to the body's inner core. But I am not sure if this is for cold weather. Also the websites say that it helps remove lactic acid from the damaged muscles.

[ElrondHubbard]

A nice epsom salt bath is da bomb for sore muscles after a workout. I usually do that the day after a workout, though, not immediately after.

[Tmax55]

If you get your testicles too hot it's bad for muscle growth if you are natty. If you aren't natty it doesn't matter.

I avoid hot tubs and saunas for that reason. It may not be valid (they may not get hot enough), but I avoid them for that reason alone.

[christopherwgri]

Absolutely.. Relax enjoy yourself. If you really wanted to, you could even bring your protein shake in with you and sip on it while you chill directly after a workout if your truly concerned.

[mmobley]

I use a sauna for 20 minutes after most of my workout. I don't know why it would hurt anything.

[freelatics]

I'm 37 years old and have been lifting for a few years. I've grown accustomed to spending 10-15 minutes in the Sauna after an intense workout. My primary goal is muscle growth. I need to know if I'm hurting muscle growth by entering the sauna after my workout.

neither just fill the lost fluid loose, it dose not affects your muscle in any way, but it dose your nerves and skin and that in positive way.

[DCSpartan]

Good lord people, its 10 minutes in the sauna, not the Marathon los Sables.

OP, you will be fine. A good sweat after a workout helps me as well.

[FreeFitnessGuru]

Sauna can dramatically increase HGH - just google hgh sauna & you will find the info

1600% I saw in one report - but you have to stay in there 2-3 hours at a time

10-20 minutes is pointless

You need to drink lots of water - like 3 litres per hour & come out for a cold shower every 10 minutes or so

[Goku671]

doubt it makes a difference

[bjjpapi]

I'm 37 years old and have been lifting for a few years. I've grown accustomed to spending 10-15 minutes in the Sauna after an intense workout. My primary goal is muscle growth. I need to know if I'm hurting muscle growth by entering the sauna after my workout.

I’m 37 and just started working out again back in February after many years of “this is the year for me”. I thought I was hurting my gains by going in the sauna at my gym because I wasnt feeling sore at all after hard lifting days and strenuous workouts. I didn’t even get very sore at all the first week I started working out.

For the past week I’ve been lifting but haven’t been going in the sauna and I’ve been sore for days after a workout, I actually like feeling a little sore, it tells me I had a good workout. I was also afraid that the sauna was hurting progress with my workouts.

I googled HGH and Sauna and read all the articles that popped up on the first page. I was quickly reminded of the reasons why I started using the sauna last year and will be starting up my marathon sauna sessions again. 2X30 mins in sauna that’s usually at least 180F with a 10-15 minute dip in the pool for cool down in between, I also cool down at the very end with a cold shower. I usually go in right after working out and do it at least 3 times a week. I drink tons of water while I’m in there and my heart rate goes up to 150. On days when I feel like I can handle it, and have the time, I push it to two 45 minute sessions.

Here is an article describing some of the benefits

wilderlyman dot com/7-sauna-benefits

[tanksoldier]

Well, the thread is only 3 years old... but it’s an interesting discussion.

Everything I’ve seen says that heat after the workout is either beneficial or of no benefit but with no ill effect.

IMO it keeps the blood flowing longer, helping recovery and removing toxins generated by the workout. I use a hot tub, not a sauna, but same idea.