There’s nothing quite like the bliss you feel while an experienced masseuse works their magic, easing tension throughout the body and supporting healing through myofascial release.

Massage therapy has its place in any self-care regimen, whether you’re an athlete trying to speed up recovery or simply trying to let go of all the stress you’ve been holding onto. Maybe you just want to spoil yourself with an hour of relaxation.

Whatever the case, the things you do before and after your massage make a big difference in the impact this therapy has on your body and mind. So, should you sauna before or after massage? There are pros and cons to both, and we’ll get to the bottom of this debate today.

Some say that you should sauna before your massage as it loosens your muscles up and gets them ready for the deep tissue work that’s coming. Others say you should sweat out those toxins that are released with sauna after massage.

Learn more about the link between massage and sauna below. If you’re serious about reaping all the benefits this dynamic duo has to offer, invest in your home and health today at Nordica Sauna. 

Whether you need an outdoor sauna for sale or indoor sauna for sale, we have the top brands at the lowest prices online with exceptional support every step of the way!

Benefits of Combining Massage and Sauna

Be it an infrared sauna vs dry sauna, all types of saunas share similar wellness benefits for the body and mind. On the other hand, massage therapy is so much more than a relaxing way to spoil yourself. This too offers tangible healing for your physical and mental state.

As you can imagine, combining them amplifies benefits in a way that wouldn’t be possible on their own. You may already be aware of this if you’re interested in combining sauna and massage, but if not, let’s take a closer look at the synergy between massage and sauna. 

Enhanced Muscle Relaxation

Both sauna and massage therapies are known for their abilities to relax tight, tense muscles - be it the result of a grueling workout or simply pent-up stress.

The heat from a sauna encourages muscles to release stored tension and become more pliable. Massage works by actively releasing that same type of tension through manual manipulation. 

On their own, each of these techniques can leave your body feeling completely rejuvenated. But when combined? That relaxation is supercharged to a level that you’ve never felt before. 

Improved Circulation and Detoxification

Your body’s circulatory system plays an important role in removing harmful toxins from the body while also bringing nutrients everywhere they’re needed throughout the body. Both the sauna and massage work to enhance your body’s circulation.

Increased blood flow from the sauna temperature and the physical manipulation in massage encourage nutrient delivery to damaged tissues, supporting cellular repair and recovery. 

This can help flush out toxins while reducing soreness and fatigue. Of course, the order in which you use the two therapies matters - more on that in a moment.

Better Flexibility and Joint Health

Those dealing with joint problems or something more serious like arthritis are always looking for ways to live a pain-free life without the limitations these conditions place on them. Massage and sauna are a dynamic duo for restoring flexibility and vitality.

The heat in a sauna helps muscles become more elastic and joints more pliable, so you can push through stiffness or a limited range of motion without pain. Meanwhile, massage’s targeted pressure and movement support joint lubrication and connective tissue health.

The end result is better mobility and reduced discomfort. But should you sauna before or after massage? First, let’s talk about whether you should even use the sauna the same day you have a massage scheduled.

Can You Do Massage and Sauna Therapy on the Same Day?

It’s clear that combining sauna and massage can have profound effects on your body and mind, but is it safe to do both in the same day? Absolutely! In fact, many spa and wellness centers offer packages that include both treatments because of how complementary they are.

Sauna sessions prepare the body for deeper relaxation and improve circulation, which can make massage therapy more effective. Likewise, a brief sauna session after a massage can extend relaxation, soothe muscles further, and support the body's natural detoxification process.

This begs the question, though - which should you do first? 

Should You Sauna Before or After Massage?

We said from the start there are pros and cons to using a sauna before or after your massage. Ultimately, there is no right or wrong answer - but we prefer to sauna after massage, and we’ll show you why below. 

Benefits of Using the Sauna Before Massage

You could definitely make the case for starting with a sauna session before a massage. The heat increases blood flow, softens muscle tissue, and primes the body for deeper, more effective massage work. 

The massage therapist will be able to dig deeper into the areas you feel the most tension in without needing to spend as much time on initial muscle warm-ups. In other words, they’ll be able to work their magic right away and give you more bang for your buck.

Moreover, the sauna’s heat helps open pores and supports detoxification, amplifying the cleansing effects of massage as the body’s lymphatic system is stimulated.

Benefits of Using the Sauna After Massage

Now, why would you want to sauna after massage instead? The biggest reason we advocate for this approach is that you can rely on the sauna to help you sweat out all those toxins that are now floating around after your massage. Let us explain.

Deep tissue work pushes toxins out of the muscles to support your body’s natural recovery process. This is why you often see epsom salt baths recommended after a massage, as it’ll draw those impurities out of the body through the skin.

The sauna does the same thing through your body’s natural detoxification system: sweating. This is just one reason we love hopping in the sauna after a massage, though. It also brings more oxygen and nutrients to the tissues to speed up the healing process even further.

For some, this approach feels like a final step in fully relaxing, as the warmth of the sauna creates a calm space to rest after the physical manipulation of massage.

Which Approach is Right For You?

So, should you sauna before or after massage? You can see there are pros and cons to each approach. We encourage you to try both and see which delivers a better experience. 

But what about both - is there ever a world where using the sauna before AND after is safe and beneficial? While we typically don’t recommend two-a-day sessions in the sauna, some have reported that this works wonders.

You would just need to adjust the duration of each session to make sure it’s shorter. You’d want to just use that pre-massage sauna session to warm the body up rather than work up a sweat. Then, you could use the second session as a means of releasing toxins.

More Tips on Making the Most of Sauna and Massage

At this point, you should have a clear understanding of whether you should sauna before or after massage. But the timing of your sauna session is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to maximizing its benefits. Here are some more tips to make the most of this dynamic duo.

Understanding Different Sauna Styles

There are so many different types of sauna on the market today - infrared vs steam sauna, indoor vs outdoor sauna, barrel sauna vs square sauna to name a few. While they all share the commonality of providing relaxing heat therapy, their benefits are a bit more nuanced.

Traditional steam saunas offer higher humidity and skin benefits, whereas dry saunas are a bit more targeted to physical and mental wellness. The infrared sauna style in particular has become really popular recently, though. It’s clear to see why.

These saunas operate at lower temperatures since they heat the body directly rather than heating the air around you. This means you get the same effect without having to subject yourself to such harsh temperatures. Translation - a more comfortable sauna experience.

If you’re looking to bring the benefits of sauna into your home you’ll need to do your due diligence. Think about your budget, the space you have available, where you want to install it, and who you plan to share the experience with. Read our sauna buying guide for more insights.

Ideal Sauna Temperature and Duration

Temperature plays an important role in how the sauna impacts your body and mind. More heat isn’t always better, though. Keep sauna temperatures around 150°F to 170°F in traditional saunas and between 110°F to 130°F for infrared saunas.

As far as duration goes, how long should you stay in sauna? We recommend shorter sessions at first, especially if you’re using the sauna before a massage. The goal is just to warm your muscles, after all. Save the longer detox session for post-massage.

You can always listen to your body as a good gauge of when you have had enough, but 10-20 minutes is an excellent starting point. 30-40 minutes tends to be the maximum recommended duration for most sauna users.

Hydration Before and After Sauna and Massage

We cannot emphasize the importance of hydration enough, especially when combining massage and sauna. There are a few things to consider here - first and foremost, a massage is going to introduce a bunch of toxins into your body. You need to drink plenty of water to excrete these.

But on the other hand, a sauna is going to make you sweat a ton. This is great for helping get those toxins out of your body, but you need to replenish that moisture you lost through sweat with rehydration strategies.

All of this is to say you need to drink plenty of water before and after you sauna and/or get a massage. Better yet, infuse your water with electrolytes for even better hydration. 

Timing for Maximum Effect

Even once you determine you’re going to sauna before or after massage, you may not feel confident in exactly when to time the session. Does it really matter? Definitely!

The closer you can get the two in relation to each other, the better. Use the sauna right before your massage so your muscles are still warm when you lie down on the table. Then, get home and hop in the sauna ASAP so you can sweat out all those toxins. 

Frequency of Combining Sauna and Massage

In a perfect world, you’d be able to get a massage and sauna every day - it just feels so good. But that’s not practical, financially feasible, or safe for that matter. There needs to be a recovery window between massages. 

We typically see 2-3 days recommended, meaning a massage 1-2 times a week is more than enough. As far as how often to sauna, you have a bit more free reign. You can aim for 3-4 sessions a week. Anytime you get a massage, we recommend you follow up with the sauna.

Final Thoughts on Choosing to Sauna Before or After Massage

In closing, choosing whether to sauna before or after massage will be entirely up to you. As we’ve explored above, you could make the case for using a sauna before massage and afterward. 

Try both and see which you prefer, or ask your massage therapist which they recommend for the specific type of massage therapy you’re getting along with your unique goals.

Our blog has more resources on using a sauna while fasting, using a sauna for a cold, are infrared saunas safe, red light therapy vs infrared sauna, and are infrared saunas worth it.

But whether you’re looking for a traditional sauna for sale, infrared sauna for sale, hybrid sauna for sale, barrel sauna for sale, or anything in between, Nordica Sauna is your trusted provider. We carry all the top sauna brands at the lowest sauna prices online. That includes:

• Auroom sauna
• Dundalk Leisure Craft saunas
• Finnmark sauna
• SaunaLife saunas
• Golden Designs saunas
• Sunray sauna
• Almost Heaven sauna

That’s right - with our price-matching policy, you’re able to get the best infrared sauna for home at a price that fits your budget! We even offer free shipping and financing to help you feel more comfortable making this investment in your health and home.

You can filter your search by sauna sizes as well, whether you’re looking for something just for you or a sauna that can accommodate all your loved ones. Here are our most popular sizes:

• 1 person sauna for sale
• 2 person sauna for sale
• 3 person sauna for sale
• 4 person sauna for sale
• 5 person sauna for sale
• 6 person sauna for sale
• 8 person sauna for sale

If you’re not sure where to start, consider getting in touch for a personalized recommendation. We’re passionate about helping you create a spa-like experience from the comfort of your own home. Don’t be shy.

You can also try our sauna quiz below and take the next step towards reaping all the benefits of sauna massage. Transform your home into a personal wellness oasis today!