TL;DR

Traditional saunas heat the air to 80-100°C using electric heaters or wood fire, and you sweat from the external heat. Infrared saunas heat your body directly with infrared light at lower air temperatures (40-65°C), producing a deep sweat with less discomfort. Both deliver cardiovascular, recovery, and mental health benefits. Infrared saunas are easier to install, use less power, heat up faster, and are more practical for home use. VERVE sells the Mysa Mirage range — full-spectrum infrared saunas in 1-4 person sizes.

How Traditional Saunas Work

A traditional sauna (sometimes called a Finnish sauna) heats the air inside the cabin using an electric element or wood-burning stove. Rocks sit on top of the heater and radiate heat. Pouring water on the rocks creates steam, which increases humidity and perceived temperature.

• Air temperature: 80-100°C (some go higher)
• Humidity: 10-20% (dry sauna) or higher when water is added to stones
• Heating method: Convection — the air heats your body
• Heat-up time: 30-60 minutes to reach full temperature
• Session duration: 15-20 minutes (shorter due to extreme heat)

How Infrared Saunas Work

An infrared sauna uses infrared light panels to heat your body directly, without significantly heating the air. The infrared wavelengths penetrate your skin and warm you from the inside out — similar to how sunlight warms you even on a cool day.

• Air temperature: 40-65°C (up to 70°C in the Mysa Mirage)
• Humidity: Very low (no steam mechanism)
• Heating method: Radiant infrared light — heats your body, not the air
• Heat-up time: 10-20 minutes (the Mysa Mirage reaches 40°C in 10 minutes)
• Session duration: 20-40 minutes (longer sessions are comfortable at lower air temps)

Head-to-Head Comparison

Health Benefits

Both sauna types deliver similar core benefits because both achieve the same thing — raising your core body temperature and inducing a deep sweat. The research supports:

• Cardiovascular improvements: Both types increase heart rate and improve vascular function. The landmark Finnish studies on cardiovascular benefits used traditional saunas, but infrared studies have shown comparable results.
• Muscle recovery: Heat from either source increases blood flow and reduces muscle tension. Both help with DOMS.
• Pain relief: Infrared has slightly more research support here, particularly for chronic pain conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia). Near-infrared wavelengths penetrate deeper into tissue.
• Stress reduction: Both trigger endorphin release and parasympathetic activation.
• Sleep improvement: Both. The post-sauna drop in core body temperature signals your body to sleep.

The one area where infrared may have an edge is deep tissue penetration. Full-spectrum infrared saunas emit near, mid, and far infrared wavelengths, each penetrating to different tissue depths. Traditional saunas only heat via surface convection.

Comfort and Tolerance

This is where infrared has a clear advantage for most people. Traditional saunas at 80-100°C are intense — many people find them uncomfortable, especially those new to sauna use, those with respiratory sensitivity, or anyone who simply doesn't enjoy extreme heat.

Infrared saunas at 45-60°C feel significantly more comfortable while still producing a thorough sweat. You can read, listen to music (the Mysa Mirage has built-in JVC Bluetooth speakers), or simply relax without feeling like you're being baked.

This comfort difference means infrared users tend to use their sauna more consistently — and consistency is what drives long-term health benefits.

Installation and Space

Traditional saunas require:

• Significant ventilation (heat and steam need to escape safely)
• Waterproofing (moisture from steam)
• High-amperage electrical connection for the heating element
• Often requires professional installation
• Usually built into a dedicated room or outdoor structure

Infrared saunas are far simpler:

• No steam means no waterproofing or special ventilation needed
• The 1-person and 2-person Mysa Mirage models plug into a standard 10A household outlet
• The 3-person and 4-person models need a 15A dedicated circuit
• Freestanding — place in a spare room, garage, or covered outdoor area
• DIY assembly in approximately 2 hours (two people recommended)

Running Costs

Infrared saunas use significantly less electricity:

• Infrared: Lower wattage heaters + shorter heat-up time + lower operating temperature = lower energy consumption. A typical session costs a few dollars.
• Traditional: Higher wattage heaters + longer heat-up time (30-60 min) + maintaining 80-100°C for the duration = substantially higher energy use.

Maintenance

Traditional saunas need more upkeep — wood treatment, stone replacement, ventilation cleaning, and moisture management. Infrared saunas have no moisture issues, no stones, and the heater panels are solid-state with no moving parts. Wipe down the bench and glass after use and that's essentially it.

The Mysa Mirage: VERVE's Full-Spectrum Infrared Range

VERVE sells infrared only — the Mysa Mirage series — because it's the better option for the vast majority of home and facility use cases. Key features across all models:

• Full-spectrum infrared (near, mid, far) with EvenGlow Panel Design
• Tourmaline-infused carbon heaters for balanced, even warmth
• Premium Canadian hemlock timber
• Dark tinted 8mm tempered glass
• WiFi touch control with SmartLife app for remote preheat and scheduling
• 2x JVC Bluetooth speakers with aux
• Starlight LED ceiling with 7 chromotherapy colour modes
• Low EMF (5-25 mG at heater surface)
• SilentHeat — whisper-quiet, no fans or buzzing
• FastHeat — 40°C in 10 minutes

Available sizes:

• 1 Person: 900x900x1900mm, 160kg, standard 10A plug
• 2 Person: 1200x1050x1900mm, 200kg, standard 10A plug
• 3 Person: 1500x1200x1900mm, 245kg, 15A dedicated circuit
• 4 Person: 1800x1200x1900mm, 291kg, 15A dedicated circuit

Check current pricing at vervefitness.com.au.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an infrared sauna as effective as a traditional sauna?

Yes — for the core benefits (cardiovascular health, recovery, stress reduction, and sleep). Both raise core body temperature and induce sweating. Infrared may have an edge for deep tissue pain relief due to the penetrating nature of infrared wavelengths.

Do you sweat as much in an infrared sauna?

Yes. Despite the lower air temperature, infrared saunas produce a deep, thorough sweat because the heat penetrates your body directly rather than just heating the air around you. Many users report sweating more in infrared than traditional saunas.

Can I put an infrared sauna in my house?

Yes — that's the main advantage. No special ventilation, waterproofing, or construction needed. The smaller Mysa Mirage models plug into a standard household power outlet. Place it in a spare room, garage, basement, or covered outdoor area.

Which sauna type is safer?

Infrared operates at lower temperatures (40-65°C vs 80-100°C), which reduces the risk of burns, heat exhaustion, and dehydration. Both are safe for healthy adults when used responsibly. People with cardiovascular conditions should consult their doctor before using either type.

Why doesn't VERVE sell traditional saunas?

Infrared saunas are easier to install, cheaper to run, more comfortable for most users, and deliver equivalent health benefits. For the home and small facility market that VERVE serves, infrared is simply the better product category.