Infrared Sauna now available. Book solo or with friends

Not What You Might Expect

Infrared sauna is different from a traditional sauna, and that difference matters

Most people picture a traditional Finnish sauna: a small timber room heated to 80–100°C, dry or steam, and air so hot it is difficult to breathe comfortably. You tolerate it for fifteen minutes, feel like you might pass out, and get out.

An infrared sauna works differently. Instead of heating the air around you to extreme temperatures, it uses infrared light waves to warm your body directly, from the inside out. The cabin temperature sits at a comfortable 45–60°C: warm enough to make you sweat deeply, but not so intense that most people find it uncomfortable. Sessions typically last 30–45 minutes, and many people find they can genuinely relax rather than simply endure it.

Traditional Sauna

Heats the air

Temperatures of 80–100°C heat the surrounding air first. The body absorbs heat indirectly. Many people find it difficult to breathe comfortably at these temperatures, and sessions are typically short.

Infrared Sauna

Heats your body directly
Infrared light waves penetrate the skin and warm the body directly at lower cabin temperatures, around 45–60°C. The result is a deeper sweat at a temperature most people find much easier to tolerate for longer sessions.a

The practical difference is that an infrared session is more accessible: easier for people who find intense heat unpleasant, for those managing health conditions, and to anyone who simply wants to use a sauna as a regular part of their wellness routine rather than an occasional test of endurance.

What It Does

Why people keep coming back

The research on infrared sauna is still developing, and individual results vary. What we can say is what our patients tell us they experience, and what the published evidence suggests about consistent use over time.

Muscle tension release

Heat increases blood flow to muscles, which helps tight tissue soften and release. People carrying chronic tension in the neck, shoulders, or lower back often feel a noticeable shift after a session.

Circulation support

Your heart rate rises moderately during a sauna session, similar to a light walk. This increases blood flow through the body, which supports cardiovascular health and speeds tissue recovery.

Stress reduction

Sustained heat exposure triggers a parasympathetic response in the nervous system. For many people, this is the most immediate and reliable effect: they come out calmer than they went in.

Improved sleep

The core body temperature drop that follows a sauna session signals to the body that it is time to sleep. Regular evening sauna use is associated with better sleep onset and quality.

Post-exercise recovery

Athletes and active people use sauna as part of their recovery routine. The increased circulation helps clear metabolic waste from muscles, reducing soreness after training.

Skin and detoxification

Sweating is one of the body’s primary detox pathways. Deep sweating in infrared sauna helps clear pores and supports the skin. Many people notice an improvement in skin tone and clarity with regular use.

The Research

The cardiovascular evidence is compelling

A long-term Finnish study tracking 2,315 middle-aged men over more than 20 years found a consistent relationship between sauna frequency and cardiovascular outcomes. The figures below are from that published research.

29%

Lower risk of cardiovascular death in people who used a sauna 2–3 times per week, compared to once-weekly users

50%

Lower risk of fatal coronary heart disease in the 4–7 times per week group, compared to once per week

40%

Reduction in all-cause mortality risk associated with high-frequency sauna use in the same long-term cohort study

Source: Laukkanen et al. (2018), BMC Medicine. bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com | A separate review of clinical trials also found infrared sauna sessions five times a week over 2–4 weeks were associated with improved heart function in people with heart failure. Speak with your GP before starting if you have an existing heart condition.

Better Together

Sauna and chiropractic work well in combination

Many of our patients book a sauna session alongside their chiropractic adjustment. There is a practical logic to it: your muscles are looser and your nervous system is calmer going into the adjustment, which can make the work more effective and the results longer-lasting.

You can book a sauna session on its own too. You do not need to be a chiropractic patient. But if you are coming in for an adjustment, it is worth considering a session before or after.

  • Warm muscles respond better to chiropractic adjustment
  • Post-adjustment sauna helps the body maintain the changes made during care
  • The combination addresses both structural alignment and soft tissue tension
  • A single visit covers both. No separate booking at a separate facility.

Everything You Need to Know

Practical details

Pricing

$20 per session

A single infrared sauna session is $20. You do not need to be an existing chiropractic patient to book. Sessions can be purchased at reception on the day, or ask when you call to confirm your booking.

Capacity

Fits up to three people

The sauna has two reclining lounges and a central chair, so it comfortably seats three. Come with a partner, a friend, or book the room for yourself. Towels are provided.

What to Wear

Whatever is comfortable

Most people wear gym wear or swimwear. Lightweight natural fibres like cotton or linen are ideal. We provide towels for both comfort and modesty. There is no strict dress code. Wear what allows you to relax.

How to Book

Call or book online

Call us on (08) 8323 9755 or use the contact form to request a sauna session. We will confirm a time that works. Sessions are available during our regular clinic hours and can be paired with a chiropractic appointment in a single visit.

Who Uses Our Sauna

You do not need a specific reason to book

We welcome people at every stage of life and with every kind of goal. Here are the four groups who make up most of our sauna bookings.

Active people recovering

Runners, cyclists, and weekend athletes who use sauna as a deliberate recovery tool after training. It helps with muscle soreness and speeds up the body’s natural repair.

People managing stress

Many of our bookings come from people who simply need 45 minutes of genuine quiet. No phone, no tasks, no demands. The parasympathetic response that heat induces is real and reliable.

New parents

New parents who have barely had five consecutive minutes alone since the baby arrived. A sauna session is a low-barrier way to invest in their own wellbeing without leaving town.

Chiropractic patients

Existing patients who book a sauna before or after their adjustment, using the visit to address both structural alignment and the soft tissue tension around it.

What Our Patients Say

Loved by McLaren Vale families.

Questions

Common questions before booking

Do I need to book in advance, or can I just turn up?
We recommend calling ahead to confirm availability, particularly if you want to pair a sauna session with a chiropractic appointment on the same visit. Walk-ins are welcome when the room is free, but calling first means we can guarantee a time and have the cabin ready for you.
We recommend speaking with your midwife or GP before using the sauna during pregnancy. Current guidance advises caution with heat exposure in the first trimester in particular. If your maternity care provider is comfortable with it, lower temperature sessions later in pregnancy are generally considered lower risk, but this is a conversation to have with your clinician rather than a blanket rule we can apply for you.
The research on cardiovascular and recovery benefits points to consistent use (two to four times per week) as the threshold where meaningful physiological effects accumulate. For stress reduction and muscle relaxation, you will notice something after a single session. For longer-term benefits, regularity matters more than any single session. The sauna is here whenever you want it, and at $20 a session it is a realistic thing to build into your week.
If you have a heart condition, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or are on medications that affect blood pressure or circulation, speak with your GP before using the sauna. The same applies if you are immunocompromised, have a fever, or have had a recent surgery. For most healthy adults, infrared sauna at moderate temperatures is well-tolerated. If you are unsure, call us and we will talk through your situation honestly.
Absolutely. The sauna is available as a standalone service. You do not need to be a chiropractic patient, and you do not need to book a chiropractic appointment on the same visit. Call or book online, and we will get you in.

$20 a session. No referral needed.

Book on its own, or pair it with your adjustment. Available during regular clinic hours in McLaren Vale. Call us to confirm a time.