Turn Up the Heat: How Sauna Therapy Boosts Metabolism & Lowers Cortisol
Mar 25, 2025
There’s more to heat than sweat.
At R1SE, we often say that recovery isn’t about doing nothing—it’s about doing the right things for your nervous system. And sauna therapy is one of the most powerful tools in our recovery arsenal.
Beyond the post-sweat glow, regular sauna use can help regulate stress, improve sleep, balance hormones, and even boost your metabolism. If that sounds too good to be true—it isn’t. Science says so.
Let’s explore how turning up the heat can help you restore, recharge, and rebuild.
The Science of Heat Exposure
When you enter a sauna, your core temperature rises. Your body begins to sweat to cool itself, your heart rate increases, and your blood vessels dilate. This might feel relaxing, but internally, your systems are training.
This deliberate heat exposure creates a form of hormetic stress—a short, controlled challenge that triggers long-term resilience.
Studies show that sauna bathing stimulates the cardiovascular system, supports detoxification, improves blood flow, and boosts heat shock proteins—which protect cells and promote repair.
It’s not about pampering. It’s performance recovery.
Sauna and Stress: Lowering Cortisol, Increasing Calm
Cortisol is your body’s main stress hormone. And while we need it to function, chronic high cortisol can lead to fatigue, anxiety, weight gain, poor sleep, and immune suppression.
Here’s where sauna therapy shines.
A study led by Podstawski et al. found that four rounds of sauna (12 minutes each, with cold breaks) significantly reduced baseline cortisol levels in participants after just a few sessions. The result? A calmer system. A more balanced mind. A healthier body.
This isn’t just about “feeling relaxed.” It’s about regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which governs how your body responds to stress long-term.
Metabolic Benefits: Burn More Than Calories
You’ve probably heard people say saunas make you “burn calories.” That’s true—but it’s only part of the picture.
Saunas increase your resting metabolic rate, improving insulin sensitivity and boosting growth hormone (GH)—a key hormone for muscle repair, fat burning, and cellular recovery.
One study even found that growth hormone levels increased after repeated sauna exposure, with participants experiencing improved metabolic efficiency and body composition.
In other words: you’re not just sweating—you’re shifting your metabolic engine into a more powerful, efficient gear.
Support for Sleep, Immunity & Mental Health
Heat stress also helps regulate melatonin, aiding sleep quality—especially when sauna use is timed in the evening.
And the benefits go deeper:
• Immune support: Heat exposure promotes white blood cell production
• Mood boost: Sauna increases dopamine and serotonin, the brain’s feel-good chemicals
• Sleep quality: Sauna use pre-bed can lower core temperature post-session, helping you fall asleep faster and sleep deeper
This makes sauna a brilliant complement to breathwork, cold exposure, or physical training. It completes the circle: stress, adaptation, recovery.
Contrast Therapy: Cold + Heat for Maximum Impact
At R1SE, we don’t just use heat—we pair it with cold. Alternating between sauna and cold plunge is called contrast therapy, and it takes the benefits of each to the next level.
Contrast cycling improves:
• Circulation and lymphatic drainage
• Muscle recovery and soreness reduction
• Mental clarity and mood
• Nervous system balance (especially when paired with breath control)
This isn’t about extremes. It’s about using natural tools to regulate and refine the systems that keep you functioning at your best.
How to Get Started
If you’re new to sauna use, start simple:
• Duration: 10–15 minutes is a solid entry point
• Temperature: Aim for 70–90°C
• Hydration: Drink water pre and post session
• Breath: Slow, nasal breathing helps regulate heart rate
• Cold: Add a cold shower or short plunge between rounds if available
Repeat 2–3 times per week for consistent benefits.
Final Thought: Heat with Purpose
The sauna isn’t just a place to chill—it’s a place to transform. When used with intention, heat becomes a tool for restoring balance, accelerating recovery, and regulating your body from the inside out.
At R1SE, we treat sauna as a powerful ally in performance and recovery—not a spa indulgence. It’s part of a system designed to help you shift from chaos to calm and come out stronger every time.
So go ahead—turn up the heat.
Your nervous system will thank you.
If you''re new to R1SE click below to check out our two intro offers. Come to R1SE either 4 times or an unlimited times in 2 weeks and see if we could help you be your best self.
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