DiscoverThe Coaching Lab: Health, Wellness & Performance (Brad Cooper, PhD)Science of Saunas: Wellbeing to Elite Performance (Daniel Gagnon, PhD)
Science of Saunas: Wellbeing to Elite Performance (Daniel Gagnon, PhD)

Science of Saunas: Wellbeing to Elite Performance (Daniel Gagnon, PhD)

Update: 2025-12-22
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The use of saunas is exploding in popularity in the US, but they’ve been a standard part of life in other parts of the world. Finland is the best example, with more than one sauna for every 2 people! What is it about the health, wellbeing and high performance benefits that are driving such engagement? Is it a fad? Or is the trend driven by dependable evidence? What frequency, duration and temperature are recommended for better health & wellbeing? How about for athletic performance? What’s the difference between infrared and traditional saunas? Today’s guest, Dr. Daniel Gagnon is a thermal physiologist who has been studying the effects of heat exposure on human health & performance for over 2 decades! He is an associate professor at the University of Montreal and researcher at the Montreal Health Institute. If you’ve been curious about what the evidence is saying about saunas, you’ve come to the right place.

Here are the two studies Dr. Gagnon mentioned during the discussion: 

Meta-analysis 1

Meta-analysis 2

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Science of Saunas: Wellbeing to Elite Performance (Daniel Gagnon, PhD)

Science of Saunas: Wellbeing to Elite Performance (Daniel Gagnon, PhD)

Brad Cooper, PhD (Catalyst Coaching)