Surviving Northwest winters: sun off a beach

We've just endured nearly two days of heavy, heavy rain, with enough wind to knock out my power for a few hours.

I moved back to Bainbridge Island after 30 years teaching and living in the Midwest and the Atlantic seaboard. I had forgotten about the winter rains here, forgotten about the fact that we are so far north that we have much less daylight during the winter months than our relatives "back East." We don't wish for white Christmases, we hope that the power doesn't go out during a windstorm.

Many Northwesterners spend the winters in the sun belt. But my work is here. I thought I'd made a huge mistake moving back to wet winters until my brother told me about infrared sauna. I bought one three years ago--it sits in a small spare bedroom with an Apollo full-spectrum light hanging on the door, and I sit in the sauna every day for 35 minutes, reading and soaking up the equivalent of a harmless sun on a Hawaiian beach (as a matter of fact, I just towelled off). I'm addicted to it.

There's a new joke going around: "What do Northwesterners call two days of rain in a row?" (read MORE to find the joke's answer).

My answer: Who cares? I have a sauna that uses about as much energy as a hundred-watt light bulb, I get an awful lot of reading done, and I'm not bothered by SADD, as I was when I first moved back.

Here's why (an excerpt from my manufacturer's web site):

The sun is our principal source of infrared heat. As the sun's rays hit the surface of the earth, what we perceive as heat is in fact far infrared heat waves. Infrared heat is essential for all forms of life. Remember the feeling as you lay on the sun-warmed beach soaking up the rays? This is infrared heat in action. Unfortunately you are also receiving the damaging ultra-violet rays.

The invisible and very safe far infrared heat produced by infrared saunas is able to penetrate well below the skin, which enables the body to sweat at temperatures of 110 - 130 F (much lower temperatures than conventional saunas).

How It Works In The Human Body
The human body absorbs infrared quickly and easily. The water molecules in the body begin to vibrate which causes a heat reaction through resonant absorption. When the temperature under the skin increases, our capillaries expand which promotes increased blood circulation. This response has a positive effect on metabolism.

World Wide Clinical Reports
Over the past 25 years, Japanese and Chinese researchers and clinicians have completed extensive research on infrared treatments and report many provocative findings. These findings support the health benefits of infrared therapy as a vital method of healing.

In Germany, physicians in an independently developed forum have used whole-body infrared therapy for over 80 years.

Infrared is being used as a valuable whole body healing modality in many countries at this time. Unfortunately the majority of the population is still unaware of this essential tool for health and quality of life.

Far Infrared (FIR)

Reported Health Benefits:

Reduces fatigue and stress
Removes toxins and wastes
Improves the immune system
Relieves pain and joint stiffness
Burns calories, controls weight
Improves skin quality and tone
Increases blood circulation
Strengthens the cardiovascular system

And the list goes on.

For more information about infrared saunas, email hold@drizzle.com.

Oh! Answer to the joke: "The Weekend." Ha, ha.