Sauna Fix Manual
Sauna Fix® • Near Infrared Sauna Guide
How to Take a Safe, Comfortable, and Effective Sauna
Sauna Fix® makes near infrared sauna therapy convenient at home. For the most complete experience, use the lamp with a Sauna Fix® radiant tent, protective glasses, an absorbent towel or rug, and a consistent hydration routine.
The key is to begin gradually, maintain a safe distance from the bulbs, rotate regularly, stay hydrated, and stop immediately if your body signals that the session is too intense.
No long preheat required Begin with 15–20 minutes Stay 18–24 inches away Rotate every few minutes Wear infrared eye protection Hydrate before and after
Start slowly: Do not begin with a session longer than 20 minutes. Increase duration only after you know how your body responds.
Basic sauna sequence
- Hydrate and prepare the skin
- Inspect the lamp and bulbs
- Put on protective glasses
- Begin 18–24 inches from the bulbs
- Rotate every few minutes
- Wipe sweat as needed
- Cool down, shower, rehydrate, and rest
Watch the video
How to Hang Your Sauna Fix Lamps
Best time of day
Choose a time that supports your energy and sleep routine
Many people prefer sauna sessions in the morning to feel warm, alert, and energized for the day. Others prefer an evening session to relax before bed.
Avoid taking a sauna immediately after a large meal. Wait at least one to two hours after eating so digestion and heat exposure are not competing for the body's resources.
The most useful time is the time you can use consistently without feeling rushed, overly full, dehydrated, or exhausted.
Popular timing options
- Morning for an energizing routine
- After light exercise and rehydration
- Evening for relaxation
- At least 1–2 hours after eating
- Not after alcohol
- Not when already dehydrated or overheated
Session length
Build heat tolerance gradually
| Experience level | Suggested duration | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| First sessions | 10–15 minutes | Use a conservative starting point if you are heat-sensitive, deconditioned, or new to sweating. |
| Typical beginner | 15–20 minutes | Remain within a comfortable distance and stop before feeling depleted. |
| First few weeks | Up to 30 minutes | Increase only if hydration, breathing, heart rate, and recovery remain comfortable. |
| Experienced user | 30–60 minutes | Longer sessions should be built gradually and adjusted to health, heat tolerance, and recovery. |
Frequency: Some experienced users sauna once or twice daily, but beginners should begin less often and increase only as tolerated.
Before the sauna
Prepare your body, skin, and equipment
1
Hydrate
Drink approximately 8 ounces of water before the session.
2
Wait after eating
Allow at least one to two hours after a meal.
3
Dry brush if desired
Gentle dry brushing removes loose surface skin and prepares the skin for perspiration.
4
Remove jewelry
Metal can become hot and may burn the skin.
5
Wear minimal clothing
Use the sauna nude or in lightweight natural-fiber clothing based on privacy and comfort.
6
Prepare towels
Place an absorbent towel or bamboo fleece layer beneath you and keep another towel nearby for sweat.
7
Inspect the bulbs
Check for cloudiness, unusual orange discoloration, cracks, looseness, or damage.
8
Put on protective glasses
Use near infrared and blue-light protective eyewear before turning toward the bulbs.
No long preheat
Begin the session when the Sauna Fix® lamp is turned on
Sauna Fix® incandescent heat lamp bulbs begin producing radiant heat immediately. When using a radiant tent, you do not need to wait for the entire enclosure to reach its maximum air temperature before beginning.
Enter or position yourself safely, turn on the lamp, and allow the tent temperature to continue rising during the session.
Immediate heat does not mean unlimited exposure. Maintain distance, rotate regularly, and stop if the heat feels sharp, overwhelming, or difficult to tolerate.
During the sauna
Maintain distance, rotate, and monitor your body's response
- Keep your body approximately 18–24 inches from the bulbs.
- Wear near infrared and blue-light protective glasses.
- Do not stare directly into the illuminated bulbs.
- Rotate approximately 90 degrees every few minutes.
- Expose the front, right side, back, and left side in sequence.
- Wipe perspiration from the skin as needed.
- Keep a towel or absorbent rug beneath you.
- Open the tent or increase distance if the heat becomes uncomfortable.
- Stop immediately if you feel faint, confused, nauseated, breathless, or unusually weak.
Why rotate?
Rotating creates more balanced radiant exposure and supports the side-to-side blood-shunting effect associated with Sauna Fix® near infrared sessions.
It also reduces the risk of overheating one area by keeping it directly in front of the bulbs for too long.
Hydration and sweating
Do not assume that lack of sweat means you are not overheating
Some people sweat heavily within minutes, while others may take longer to develop an efficient sweating response.
A person who does not sweat well can still overheat. Red skin, rapid breathing, dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness, or a racing heartbeat are warning signs to stop the session.
Drink water before and after the session. For longer or heavier-sweating sessions, electrolyte replacement may also be appropriate.
Stop immediately if you develop trouble breathing, severe flushing, faintness, confusion, chest discomfort, unusual weakness, or any symptom that feels unsafe.
After the sauna
Cool down, rinse, rehydrate, and rest
1
Exit slowly
Stand carefully and avoid sudden movement if you feel lightheaded.
2
Shower
Rinse perspiration from the skin with warm water.
3
Cool gradually
Finish with cooler water if comfortable. Avoid abrupt extreme cold if you feel weak, dizzy, or medically fragile.
4
Rehydrate
Drink approximately 8–16 ounces of water after the session.
5
Rest
Sit or lie down for approximately 10 minutes before resuming normal activity.
6
Dry the sauna area
Remove damp towels or rugs, wipe moisture, and allow the tent and accessories to air out.
Ozonated shower option
Use your ozonated shower according to its operating instructions
Customers who use an ozonated shower may choose a cooler rinse after the sauna. Follow the shower system's instructions and use a temperature that feels safe and comfortable.
Do not force an extreme cold exposure immediately after intense heat if you feel dizzy, weak, short of breath, or unstable.
Bulb and electrical safety
Inspect the lamp before every session
Keep Away from Water
Never use the lamp in or near water. Keep cords, plugs, bulbs, and fixtures dry.
Do Not Overtighten Bulbs
Screw bulbs in only until secure. Excess force can damage the glass or socket.
Confirm Bulbs Are Secure
Do not operate the lamp with a loose or improperly seated bulb.
Watch for Cloudiness
A bulb that becomes cloudy, unusually orange, cracked, or distorted should be turned off and replaced.
Use All Guards
Never operate the lamp without the protective guards correctly installed.
Move Only When Cool
Turn off, unplug, and allow the fixture to cool before moving or adjusting it.
If a bulb changes appearance, flickers, sparks, cracks, or makes a popping sound, turn the lamp off and unplug it immediately.
Who should use extra caution
Heat exposure may require supervision or medical guidance
Use extra caution if you are very heat-sensitive or have a condition that affects circulation, sweating, temperature regulation, breathing, blood pressure, or sensation.
Discuss sauna use with a qualified clinician if you have
- Multiple sclerosis
- Diabetes
- Heart or circulation conditions
- Respiratory disease
- Low blood pressure or fainting history
- Reduced sensation or neuropathy
- Pregnancy
- A condition affecting sweating or temperature regulation
Use added supervision if you
- Are new to sauna therapy
- Are highly heat-sensitive
- Take medications that alter sweating or alertness
- Have previously used medications associated with impaired temperature regulation
- Have difficulty exiting the tent independently
- Have a history of dizziness or fainting
Medication effects vary. Ask a pharmacist or clinician whether any current medication may alter sweating, blood pressure, hydration, alertness, or heat tolerance.
Children and sauna
Do not use Sauna Fix® with children under age six
Sauna therapy is not recommended for children under six years of age. Young children have less-developed temperature regulation and may overheat quickly.
Older children should use a sauna only with close adult supervision, shorter sessions, lower heat exposure, adequate hydration, and medical approval when appropriate.
Never combine sauna and alcohol
Alcohol increases dehydration and reduces judgment
Do not use the sauna after drinking alcohol or while impaired. Alcohol can increase dehydration, lower blood pressure, reduce heat awareness, and make it harder to recognize danger signs.
Sauna and alcohol do not mix. Wait until you are fully sober and normally hydrated.
Personalizing your routine
Adjust session length to your health, sweating pattern, and recovery
The ideal sauna duration is individual. Heat tolerance can vary with hydration, mineral balance, cardiovascular fitness, medications, stress, sleep, room temperature, and the ability to sweat.
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis may provide additional information about mineral patterns, metabolic rate, and stress response that can help guide a broader wellness program. It should be used alongside symptoms, medical history, and professional guidance rather than as the only factor determining sauna duration.
Quick safety checklist
Before turning on the Sauna Fix®
- The lamp, plug, cord, switch, sockets, and guards appear undamaged.
- All bulbs are the correct voltage and are seated securely without overtightening.
- No bulb appears cloudy, unusually orange, cracked, or damaged.
- The lamp is dry and positioned away from water.
- The tent floor is dry and free from trip hazards.
- Protective glasses are ready.
- Water and towels are nearby but safely away from electrical components.
- You have not consumed alcohol.
- You are not already dehydrated, feverish, dizzy, or overheated.
- You can exit the sauna quickly if needed.
Frequently asked questions
How to Take a Sauna FAQ
What is Sauna Fix®?
Sauna Fix® is a near infrared radiant heat lamp system designed for convenient home sauna use, either alone or with a compatible radiant sauna tent.
Can I use the lamp without a radiant tent?
Yes. The lamp can be used without a tent, but a radiant tent retains heat and creates a more complete enclosed sauna experience.
What time of day is best?
Morning and evening are both popular. Choose a time when you are hydrated and at least one to two hours past a meal.
How long should a beginner sauna?
Begin with approximately 10–20 minutes. Do not start with a session longer than 20 minutes.
How long can an experienced user sauna?
Some experienced users gradually work up to 30–60 minutes, depending on health, hydration, heat tolerance, sweating, and recovery.
How often can I use the sauna?
Begin with a few sessions per week or once daily as tolerated. Some experienced users sauna once or twice daily, but frequency should be adjusted to recovery and health.
Do I need to preheat the tent?
No long preheat is required. The incandescent bulbs begin producing radiant heat immediately, and the tent continues warming during the session.
How far should I stay from the bulbs?
Begin approximately 18–24 inches away and increase distance if the heat feels too intense.
Why should I rotate?
Rotating every few minutes balances radiant exposure and supports the side-to-side blood-shunting effect.
Should I wear protective glasses?
Yes. Wear near infrared and blue-light protective glasses and avoid staring directly into illuminated bulbs.
Should I dry brush first?
Dry brushing is optional. Gentle brushing can remove loose surface skin and prepare the skin for perspiration.
What should I drink before and after?
A common starting point is approximately 8 ounces of water before and 8–16 ounces after the session. Longer, heavier-sweating sessions may require more fluid and electrolytes.
What should I do after the sauna?
Cool down gradually, shower, rehydrate, rest for approximately 10 minutes, and dry the sauna area.
Can I finish with cold water?
Yes, if it feels comfortable. Avoid sudden extreme cold if you feel dizzy, weak, unstable, or medically fragile.
Can I use an ozonated shower?
Yes. Follow the shower system's operating instructions and choose a water temperature that feels safe.
What should I do if a bulb becomes cloudy or orange?
Turn off and unplug the lamp, allow it to cool, and replace the affected bulb before using the lamp again.
What if I turn very red or have trouble breathing?
Turn off the sauna and exit immediately. Sit or lie down safely, cool gradually, and seek medical attention if symptoms are severe or do not resolve.
Can I sauna if I do not sweat easily?
Use extra caution. You can overheat even without heavy sweating. Begin with a short session and stop at the first sign of overheating.
Who should use extra caution?
People with heart, circulation, respiratory, neurological, blood-pressure, temperature-regulation, or sweating concerns should seek individualized guidance before sauna use.
Can children use Sauna Fix®?
Sauna use is not recommended for children under six. Older children require close adult supervision and shorter, lower-intensity sessions.
Can I wear jewelry?
No. Remove metal jewelry because it can become hot and burn the skin.
Can I sauna after drinking alcohol?
No. Alcohol increases dehydration, impairs judgment, and can worsen blood-pressure and overheating risks.
What maintenance is needed after use?
Wipe moisture, remove damp towels and rugs, allow the tent to air out, and inspect the bulbs, cord, switch, sockets, and guards regularly.
Stop the session immediately if you feel faint, confused, nauseated, unusually weak, short of breath, or develop chest discomfort, severe headache, or a racing heartbeat.
Updated August 10, 2026
By Eileen Durfee, inventor with 10 U.S. and 6 international patents and designer of the Sauna Fix® system. Founder of Nuco Enterprise Solutions LLC.
Educational notice: This manual is for general education and safe operation of the Sauna Fix® system. Sauna Fix® products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. Individual experiences vary. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before beginning sauna use, especially if you are pregnant, take medications, or have a condition affected by heat exposure.
Explore More
More from Eileen Durfee
The complete Near Infrared Therapy guide on EileenDurfee.com
