Aina Beathe is always on the lookout for tools that can improve her daily life. She has three gynecological conditions, hypothyroidism, and fibromyalgia. Now she's embarking on an infrared health journey, testing the IR SaunaPod for pain relief, increased energy, and detox.
– I've always been interested in detox and how we can rid ourselves of toxins. I've experienced firsthand how much holistic health means to my body. Everything around us affects us. I've chosen to forgo many things to be able to treat my body better.
It costs money then and there, but she feels better in the long run.
– I've been "lucky enough" to develop three gynecological conditions, which started in my teenage years: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and adenomyosis. I was treated with hormones, birth control pills, which were supposed to make me better, but instead, I got worse and worse.
WEEK 0 - She developed hormone-disrupting problems
– I developed cysts and nodules in my ovaries. Eventually also hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia. I started investigating if I could help myself with food, and began by removing all hormone-disrupting toxins from the products I use. Now I live toxin-free and organic; a cleaner life.
Holistic health
The health challenges cause a lot of pain and drain her energy and surplus.
– I've managed to reduce the pain and symptoms a lot by focusing on holistic health and diet, but I'm very excited about the effect of using an infrared sauna.
Many symptoms also arise from toxic "overload," which makes her extra curious about the detox properties. She plans to test a Niacin & Sauna Detox during her health journey, but will introduce it a few weeks after starting.
Finally, I have an infrared sauna
Aina Beathe has wanted an IR sauna for many years.
– Finally, I have one, she says, laughing heartily, before continuing.
– I discovered infrared sauna in the wellness department at Drammensbadet. When I read what the sauna could do for health, I thought it was exciting and something I wanted at home, but back then there were no portable solutions for home use. Suddenly one day I saw Radiant Health's at the health food store. I was so happy when I was told that I would get to join the infrared health journey.
She will share her experiences along the way on her Instagram, Natursterk.
Perform better during training
Aina Beathe works daily in a church, with children, where she, among other things, has a children's choir. In addition, she studies natural medicine at Tunsberg Medical School. She hopes that an infrared sauna can help her accomplish the things she wants to do in her daily life, including exercising, which she loves. Or get better recovery after training.
– I exercise three times a week. If not, I stiffen up. I love strength training and lifting, but I've hit a wall three times, and have felt a discouragement of having to start over and over again. Imagine how wonderful it would be to be able to perform more?
Now she is looking forward to starting her health journey.
– I think this can help me a lot.
WEEK 3 - The sauna is pain-relieving and she sleeps better
– The first time I tested my new infrared sauna was such a wonderful experience! I put my hand into the sauna while waiting for it to get warm enough to sit in. When I sat down, I just felt "oh, I've been waiting for this for a long time!"
Relaxing and good sleep
She experienced what she describes as a completely new and different relaxing feeling than anything she had ever felt before.
– Taking a portable infrared home sauna is also completely different from sitting in an infrared sauna in a wellness department. It's more intense and good, which surprised me; that the difference is so great.
During the first sauna session, she did not sweat, even after sitting at 65 degrees for 20 minutes.
– I asked Siw (founder of Radiant Health) and she said it was completely normal.
The second time, however, the sweat poured.
– It was wonderful, exclaims Aina Beathe, adding that she slept really well that night.
Pain-relieving
She has found a routine where she takes an IR sauna in the evening, four to five times a week.
– I've been living my life as usual, but I can't imagine what I did before without an IR sauna, she says smiling.
During the first three weeks, Aina Beathe has especially experienced the pain-relieving effect, and how the IR sauna helps her a lot there and then with pain.
– On days with a lot of pain due to fibromyalgia or menstruation (endometriosis, adenomyosis or PCOS), I am completely dependent on the heat.
She further states that her feet are always cold.
– It's fantastic to have warmth under my feet.
Finding her routines and trying things out
When she prepares for a sauna session, she first takes a mixture of different herbs and algae, including chlorella for the best possible detox. She drinks plenty of water and takes a good shower afterward.
The plan for the next three weeks is to continue with the same routines, but possibly increase to an extra sauna session a week, or two sessions a day. She will try things out a bit.
– I am incredibly grateful and lucky to be part of this health journey. I can't say it enough. I am so pleased.
WEEK 6 – Pain relief, more energy, and detox
After six weeks on her infrared health journey, Aina Beathe greatly enjoys and benefits from her infrared sauna, which is already improving her daily life.
– I've noticed a real change in my metabolism, which has skyrocketed. My training is going much better, and I have more energy than I've had in a long time, she says.
Aina Beathe has been using the sauna more frequently lately, from five to six times a week and some days twice a day.
– I notice that the more often I use it, the more calm I feel. I fall asleep more easily and feel more rested in the morning when I've used it the night before.
Better and faster recovery
She is surprised by how her metabolism has skyrocketed and how well she recovers.
– I don't weigh myself and can't give numbers, but I notice and can see on my body that water weight disappears faster.
Her husband has started using the sauna and also benefits greatly from it.
– He suffers from very bad back pain, and, like me, notices better and faster recovery after training.
Aina Beathe does a lot of strength training, both with her own body weight and with weights.
– I do a small 10-minute workout at home almost every day, squats and situps. Otherwise, I go to the gym twice a week. The plan was actually to go to the gym three to four times a week, but I haven't had time. So I do small sessions at home instead.
Endometriosis, fibromyalgia and pain relief
The health journey with infrared sauna has provided Aina Beathe with good pain relief. The pain she experiences due to endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), adenomyosis, and fibromyalgia, subsides while she is in the sauna.
– They release easier and faster, she says, and shares that the pain from the gynecological conditions is pain in the ovaries and lower abdomen, lower back, and thighs. – The pain pulses. It's like you're holding pliers there, tightly, and twisting. Times 100. When I use the sauna in this case, it releases easier and faster, as if the pain flows down into my legs, and out and away. Little by little.
Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic disease and belongs to the group of soft tissue rheumatism.
– Fibromyalgia is "wandering" pain in the joints. Often my hands can become so stiff that I can't clench my fingers, and my joints swell. Here, it can swell a bit more in the sauna due to the heat, but then it releases after a short time. I am completely dependent on heat to relieve the pain. They become less and less noticeable while I take the sauna, and my joints become softer.
Less brain fog
Aina Beathe actively uses the sauna for better detox, and she says it has helped a lot. She hasn't noticed detox symptoms lately, only at the beginning of her health journey.
– Then I got a bit of a headache and my nose ran during the process, but that subsided after the first two weeks. Now I notice that I feel lighter in my body and need to go to the bathroom more frequently, in a positive way. I feel that I am eliminating more waste products because I have less brain fog now.
Words come easier than before, something she first noticed an improvement in when she started with nutritional supplements, but after she started with infrared sauna, it has become even better.
Real luxury at home
She has found a good sauna routine.
– I drink a large glass of water and take supplements, a detox blend with chlorella and milk thistle, among other things, before sitting in the sauna. I stay for about 50 minutes each time, and the sweat pours.
She drinks a lot of water throughout the session.
– Water is the only thing I crave! Afterward, I replenish with an electrolyte blend with magnesium, as well as adaptogens, which create balance and calm in the body. I feel that this is important for me.
Aina Beathe thoroughly enjoys herself in her sweat tent.
– It feels a bit like a spa – real luxury at home. Pure necessary luxury, she laughs.
WEEK 10 – "It's incredibly nice not to have as much pain as before"
Aina Beathe is always on the lookout for tools for better health. After ten weeks on her infrared health journey, she has found a tool that relieves pain, clears her head, and she feels she gets more done in her daily life, including exercising.
– My everyday life has improved. I use my IR SaunaPod four times a week, for one hour per session.
She feels that being clearer in her head is due to the sauna helping her detox and eliminate waste products from her body.
– I haven't had time to try out the Niacin & Sauna Detox, which I planned to do, but it's still the plan for a later date, she smiles.
Infrared sauna, fibromyalgia, and endometriosis
Living with chronic illness, such as fibromyalgia, three gynecological conditions (Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and adenomyosis) and hypothyroidism, can be demanding. Aina Beathe balances the symptoms by living as toxin-free as possible, exercising, and now taking saunas to be as well as possible.
Common to these diseases is pain. Aina Beathe explains that the biggest difference she notices after regularly using an infrared sauna for 10 weeks is pain relief.
– It's absolutely incredibly lovely not to have pain as often as before. Regarding fibromyalgia, I have less all-over pain. When it comes to gynecological conditions, the pain follows the cycle when I have menstruation, and then I take the sauna as needed for pain relief. It has helped me a lot. I get less pain in my lower back and abdomen.
She says her metabolism has increased, which she notices in her clothes.
– I don't retain as much water in my body the week before my period as I used to.
Recovers better
One of the things she wondered about before starting was whether she would be able to perform better during training. The IR sauna has delivered on that too.
– I can lift more, and I recover better. I'm not sore for as long after training.
One of the things that has surprised her the most is how much she sweats when she sits in the sauna tent. Much more than when she has had an IR sauna at a spa.
– The sweat pours, she says, laughing, adding that it has surprised her how big the difference is from sitting in an infrared sauna at a spa.
– It's not the same at all.
Own spa department
Since the last update, Aina Beathe has attended a health conference in England. She has celebrated May 17th with her family and attended a confirmation, in addition to hectic days at work and training. Now she is looking forward to the summer holidays. The sauna will be well used, especially in autumn and winter.
– I feel worst when it's cold outside. I will be using the sauna weekly going forward, but in autumn and winter, I will live in it.
The infrared health journey has been a positive experience.
– I am so grateful to have been allowed to participate, and it's wonderful to have my own spa department at home, she smiles.
Text: Trine Dahlman
Read an update on Aina's health journey ONE YEAR LATER!
