Infrared Sauna Week #5

On Sunday, October 30th I attended my third infrared Sauna appointment this week at Perspire Sauna Studio in Newport Beach.  Bedridden for a week with the Streptococcal Virus, I turned to natural remedies (infrared sauna - pictured above) in addition to antibiotics to ensure that my healing efforts were comprehensive.  Infrared is defined by "dictionary.com" as having a wavelength on the electromagnetic spectrum just greater than that of the red end of the visible light but less than that of microwaves.  Infrared saunas cause heat and radiation effects in the human body, and these produce positive biological changes on the cellular level once the infrared waves are detected by the body’s thermoreceptors located in the skin.  Infrared light waves are capable of altering cells, cell membranes, DNA/proteins and cell fluids (especially water molecules). At the cellular level where altered cell membranes and mitochondrial activity take place, infrared can improve metabolism and create a positive structural change in proteins within bodily tissues, lowering inflammation and increasing the biological function of several systems within the body.  Fascinating science, but on to the aesthetic of the light in the sauna environment. . .

The "selfies" on the left hand side were taken inside the sauna.  No filters were added to those images, no flash was used.  The quadratic ensemble I created of the selfies pictured above on the left side represents the way my camera responded to the infrared light; to the right is a photo taken outside the sauna capturing the visible light inside the glass. Concerning the photo on the right hand side, a photo of the sauna itself, it is clear Perspire Sauna Studio makes an impressive effort in creating an environment of relaxation, yet the saturation level of the visible red light still creates the energy and thrill of a science fiction movie, where infrared-like images are sometimes used fictitiously to represent "6th" senses or to detect mysterious forces or non-empirical objects.  It is difficult to separate my observation of the infrared sauna's visible light from the equally distinct physical observation of the sauna's 140 degree Fahrenheit heat (in which I remained for 40 minutes), however, the ideas that invoked out by aiming to isolate the power of the visible light itself are: action, danger, thermally energetic, warning, power, suspense, and futuristic.  Week five's observation of light and it's affected environment caused the most dramatic effect on thoughts and musings out of all observations thus far, transporting me into the world of science fiction where, quite honestly, I don't camp in my thoughts very often.