Drink water beforehand, eat something light an hour or two before rather than just before, arrive ten minutes early, and plan to do nothing much afterwards.
The day of
- Hydrate from the morning, not from the glass you drink on arrival. You cannot catch up in five minutes.
- Eat lightly, an hour or two ahead. A heavy meal just before is uncomfortable; arriving hungry makes lightheadedness more likely.
- No alcohol. Not beforehand, and ideally not straight afterwards.
- Go easy on caffeine. It works against the settling-down part.
- Come with clean skin if a facial is part of the visit.
Infrared Sauna is one of five treatments at Floatwell Cambridge, 500 m from the station — about infrared sauna →
What to bring
Nothing. Towels and toiletries are provided and there is a shower. Bring swimwear if you would rather wear something, and a change of clothes if you are going somewhere afterwards.
When you arrive
Come about ten minutes early. The session time is treatment time, not arrival time, and the first few minutes of a rushed session are spent catching your breath. Someone will show you the room, the shower and the controls.
In the cabin
Sit or lie however is comfortable. Expect to feel nothing much for the first five minutes, then to start sweating properly somewhere around ten. If you feel lightheaded, dizzy or simply bored, come out — stepping out and going back in is completely normal and nobody is marking you down for it.
Afterwards
Shower, then sit down for a few minutes before you get dressed. You will keep sweating gently for ten or fifteen minutes, which catches people out. Drink more water than you expect to need. Avoid a hard training session for the rest of the day.
What to tell us first
Pregnancy, heart conditions, blood pressure problems, diabetes, or any medication affecting heat regulation or blood pressure. Say so when you book rather than on arrival — it is better for everyone if the conversation happens before you have travelled.
If you have hated saunas before
Say that too. Most people who could not tolerate a traditional sauna manage infrared comfortably, because the air is 30 degrees cooler. It is a genuinely different experience.