If there’s a silver lining to the coronavirus outbreak, it might be this: We’ve all been trying to take better care of ourselves and prioritize our well-being amidst the stress, anxiety and chaos of the past year. We recently got our hands on the coveted HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket and incorporated it into our wellness regimen. Here’s what happened.
Photography provided by HigherDOSE
First, what exactly is an infrared sauna blanket? The appeal of infrared light therapy isn’t new; for the past several years, wellness devotees have been flocking to spas across the country to enjoy a sweat session and to take advantage of touted benefits like relaxation, detoxification, pain relief, skin purification, improved circulation, cell health support and even calorie burning. A brand that’s beloved by celebrities from Lady Gaga to Bella Hadid and Goop-approved, HigherDOSE got its start as New York City’s premier infrared sauna spa and as of late has been making headlines with its red-hot (get it?) sauna blanket. The portable product lets you enjoy this wellness experience in the comfort of your home — or truly anywhere.
If you haven’t tried an infrared sauna blanket, the idea can be intimidating: Will I feel claustrophobic? Will I get too hot? Will I be lying in a pool of own sweat? How do I even go about doing this? I had all these questions, and I even put off using my HigherDOSE infrared sauna blanket for a few weeks upon receiving it. But after the first time I used it, I was hooked.
Reading the thorough instructions and suggestions helped assuage my fears. The brand offers plenty of tips for how to get started, what to wear, what setting to try and what to expect from your first sweat session. I finally convinced myself to take my maiden HigherDOSE voyage during the dead of winter on one of those days when I just couldn’t seem to get warm. I waited until evening so I could create a Zen zero-distractions environment. And yes, that first time I did feel a bit anxious and a bit claustrophobic. But I lasted a solid 22 minutes, and the results felt amazing. Not only did I finally get warm, but I felt refreshed and my body felt soothed.
Soon, it turned into a daily routine and I got so comfortable that I started drifting off to sleep during my 45-minute HigherDOSE sessions. During times of heightened stress, it has become my go-to meditation session. I dim the lights, put on an episode of a calming podcast and let the infrared sauna blanket work its magic. As infrared therapy has grown in popularity, there has been some skepticism as to its true scientifically proven benefits. But I can tell you this much: HigherDOSE helped get me through the darkest, hardest part of our COVID winter — and I don’t need any scientific evidence to prove that.
