What Do Professional Athletes Use Saunas For?

Professional athletes push their bodies to the limit every day — and recovery is just as important as training. One recovery tool that athletes worldwide swear by is the sauna, and it’s not just for relaxation. From muscle recovery to performance benefits, saunas play a real role in many elite training routines.

Heat Therapy: More Than Just Sweat

Saunas expose your body to heat, which triggers several physiological responses that can support athletic recovery and performance:

Boosted Circulation & Muscle Recovery

Heat increases blood flow throughout the body. For athletes, this means more oxygen and nutrients reach muscles after tough workouts, helping ease soreness and speed recovery. Sauna sessions may also help flush out metabolic waste products that contribute to delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

Improved Endurance Training

Studies and expert commentary suggest that sauna use — especially in heat acclimation protocols — can help improve endurance performance. Exposure to high heat can trigger adaptations like improved blood volume and heat tolerance, which benefit athletes in demanding conditions.

Relaxation & Stress Relief

After intense training or competition, many athletes use saunas for relaxation. The heat promotes a feeling of calm and can help unwind both physically and mentally before sleep or the next training session. 

How Athletes Integrate Saunas Into Their Routines

Sauna use isn’t random — many athletes intentionally include it in their training schedules for specific effects:

Post-Workout Recovery

Sitting in a sauna after workouts may help muscles relax and reduce tension, especially when paired with proper hydration.

Heat Training Sessions

Some endurance athletes use sauna sessions on rest days or after light exercise to boost heat tolerance — a practice known as heat training. This can translate to improved performance in hot conditions or during prolonged exertion.

Traditional & Infrared Saunas: What Pros Use

There are different types of saunas athletes incorporate into their recovery routines:

• Traditional (Dry) Saunas: These heat the air around you using an electric or wood-burning heater, creating high temperatures and low humidity. They’re commonly seen in Nordic or Finnish-style setups and are available in formats like barrel saunas, cube saunas, and cabin-style backyard units. Many athletes prefer traditional saunas for deep, intense heat sessions that promote heavy sweating and circulation.
  
• Infrared Saunas: Instead of heating the air, infrared saunas use light waves to warm the body directly. They typically operate at lower temperatures but still encourage a deep sweat. These are popular in training facilities and home wellness spaces because sessions can feel more tolerable while still supporting recovery.
  

Both types offer benefits, and many professional athletes choose based on personal preference, training goals, and available space — whether in a performance facility or at home.

Athletes Who Use Saunas

While not all athletes publicly discuss every part of their recovery routine, some have shared their sauna habits. For example, Chicago Bears tight end Marcedes Lewis includes infrared sauna sessions as part of his weekly recovery regimen, pairing heat therapy with cold plunges and other recovery modalities to maintain performance and longevity.

And NBA star Kevin Love has showcased his wellness room, which includes an infrared sauna among other recovery tools, highlighting how professional athletes prioritize holistic recovery. 

Saunas Are a Pro Athlete Ally

Saunas aren’t a substitute for smart training and rest, but they’re a valuable tool many professional athletes use to support:

• Muscle recovery and circulation
  
• Heat tolerance and endurance
  
• Relaxation after intense training
  

Whether you’re training for a marathon, weekend competition, or trying to level up your wellness routine, incorporating sauna sessions — when used safely and with proper hydration — can help you bounce back faster and keep performing at your best. In Canada, companies such as Sauna Depot offers a range of traditional backyard sauna models designed for year-round use, making professional-style recovery more accessible at home.