The inside of the new sauna is 150 degrees warmer than the outside air this week.
Parks and Rec opened a new poolside sauna on Feb. 3. No reservation is required to use the facility, though you will need to have access to either a Parks and Rec membership or a single-day pass.
The freestanding sauna seats four people (though it more comfortably seats three), and availability is based on first-come, first-served. Sauna time is limited to 20 minutes, and it is recommended that 15 to 20 minutes is the sweet spot for sauna use.
The wooden structure can withstand temperatures as high as 190 degrees and is heated by a top-of-the-line Harvia heater. The structure is constructed using thermal-treated pine for durability and sits nicely on the Parks and Rec pool deck.
The department received a state grant that covered the entire cost, and it was assembled by volunteers and Parks and Rec employees.
Parks and Rec posted some rules of use on their website, so be sure to check those out before you hop in for a nice sweat.
Keep your clothes on (no nudity) and be sure to sit or lie on a towel to best protect the wood seating. Users need to shower before using the facility.
Children under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Due to their inability to regulate body temperature well, children under 6 years old are prohibited from using the facility, and kids between 6 and 14 can only use the sauna for a maximum of 10 minutes at a time.
No food, drinks, shoes, lotions, oils or scents are permitted within the unit. Parks and Rec also implores users to remain hydrated before and after sauna use, as excess sweat can lead to dehydration.
Sauna bathing has been linked with several health benefits. According to a 2015 study from Harvard Medical School, people who use saunas tend to have longer lives and fewer heart problems.
Dr. Thomas H. Lee is a cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He is also an adjunct lecturer at Harvard.
“The cardiovascular effects of sauna have been well documented in the past,” he said in 2015. “It lowers blood pressure, and there is every reason to believe that its effects are good for blood vessels.”
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