How Long Should You Stay In a Sauna?

Whether it’s post-workout or as part of a spa day, a sauna session can relax and enhance wellness. The ultimate passive aerobic exercise, sauna time can increase heart rate, body temperature, and cardiac output and provide benefits similar to moderate exercise–all by sitting in the heat and trying not to make eye contact with the stranger across the way.

But how long should you stay in a sauna? This depends on the type of sauna, its temperature, your fitness levels, overall health, and how well hydrated you are. Take it easy and know your limits, suggest the experts.

A sauna can be a treat for those that love the heat and a challenging endurance test for those that don’t. “In my experience, the benefits of the traditional Finnish sauna are profound,” says Michal Cohen-Sagi, founder of longevity and biohacking circuit Vidavii. “It’s one ...