If you’ve heard the buzz about red light therapy, infrared saunas, or photobiomodulation but still feel unsure about what any of it means, welcome. You’re not alone. At SaunaSpace, we meet thousands of people every year who are just beginning their journey into light and heat therapy. Many are burned out by conventional medicine, looking for natural ways to heal. Others are curious biohackers or wellness seekers who’ve tried everything—and are still searching for something that works. Wherever you fall on that spectrum, this post is for you.

This is your complete beginner’s guide: a full orientation to light therapy, sauna culture, and what makes SaunaSpace completely different from anything else out there.

Here’s what we’ll explore:

• How It All Began: One man’s healing journey and the birth of SaunaSpace
• Sauna, Evolved: The difference between traditional and infrared heat
• Not All Infrared Is Equal: Why far-infrared comes up short
• Red Light vs. FireLight®: The truth about LED panels
• What It Does: A full-body cascade of healing, detox, and renewal
• Yes, You’ll Sweat: How FireLight unlocks deep, cellular detox
• The EMF Problem: Why shielding matters for real healing
• Built with Intention: Why clean materials matter during detox
• See the Difference: How SaunaSpace compares to other saunas
• Our Culture of Care: A company that lives its healing values
• Start Your Journey: Where to begin with SaunaSpace

 

Let’s begin with the story.

From Pain to Purpose: How SaunaSpace Began

In 2008, Brian Richards was struggling. He felt chronically fatigued, mentally foggy, and hormonally out of balance. As someone trained in chemistry and organic synthesis, he approached the problem with curiosity and rigor. But despite his research skills, conventional medicine had little to offer beyond prescriptions and vague reassurances.

Determined to find a better way, Brian began exploring the body’s natural healing mechanisms. That’s when he encountered the ancient tradition of sauna and emerging research on the power of near-infrared light. Intrigued, he built a simple incandescent sauna in his basement.

The results were swift and surprising. His energy began to return, but so did other things he hadn’t even connected to his core symptoms: deeper sleep, clearer skin, better mood, and a sense of lightness he hadn’t felt in years. It was a cascade of benefits his body seemed ready for.

What began as a personal experiment became something bigger. Brian founded SaunaSpace with a clear purpose: to create clean, effective light therapy tools that blend scientific precision with natural design. Tools that are built for the body, made with intention, and rooted in the belief that healing should be both powerful and beautiful.

Sauna 101: What’s the Difference Between Traditional and Infrared?

Saunas have been used for centuries across many cultures, from the smoke saunas of Finland to the sweat lodges of North America, as spaces for purification, renewal, and communal healing. At their core, saunas use heat to activate the body’s own detox and repair systems. But how that heat is delivered makes all the difference.

Traditional saunas heat the air around you, usually with wood-burning stoves, electric coils, or steam. The ambient temperature can soar to 180 degrees Fahrenheit or more, making the environment feel heavy and intense. For some, that heat is invigorating. For many others, it’s overwhelming. Breathing in hot, dense air can feel suffocating, like you’re gasping between breaths just to stay in the room. The cardiovascular load is high. Sessions are often cut short out of discomfort rather than completion.

Infrared saunas take a completely different approach. Rather than heating the air, they use targeted wavelengths of light to warm the body directly. This means you can receive deep, cellular heat at a much lower room temperature—typically between 110 and 140 degrees. The result is a more comfortable, longer-lasting, and far more accessible experience.

With SaunaSpace, there’s no waiting for the room to preheat. You simply step in and begin. Because the heat works from the inside out, you’ll sweat deeply without feeling overwhelmed. You’ll breathe easily. Your body stays relaxed, even as your core temperature rises and your detox systems are activated. It’s sauna, reimagined for the way we live now.

SaunaSpace vs. Far-Infrared Saunas: The Full Picture

Far-infrared saunas are everywhere. You’ll find them in gyms, wellness centers, spas, and all over online marketplaces. They’ve become the default in the “infrared sauna” category, largely because they’re cheap to manufacture and easy to ship. Most are mass-produced overseas using generic designs and synthetic components, which helps drive the price down—but also creates real problems for quality, safety, and effectiveness.

These saunas rely on carbon or ceramic panels that emit far-infrared (FIR) wavelengths—long-wave radiation that primarily heats the surface of the body. While this can create a sweat response, it doesn’t penetrate very deeply. That matters. Many toxins today, especially persistent pollutants like plastics, heavy metals, and synthetic estrogens, get stored in deep tissue and fat layers. Reaching them requires light that can go further. Near-infrared light penetrates more deeply and stimulates mitochondrial repair at the cellular level, something far-infrared simply can’t do.

Far-infrared saunas also come with some logistical and structural drawbacks. Most require 45 to 60 minutes to preheat, which limits their use and increases power consumption. The air inside often feels stuffy and stagnant. Many units are built from soft woods like hemlock or cedar, which tend to trap moisture and are prone to mold growth, especially if not dried thoroughly after use. Combined with glue-based panels, plastic off-gassing, and exposed electronics, these spaces can become more toxic than therapeutic over time.

Some manufacturers have tried to “upgrade” their saunas by adding red LED light strips to mimic near-infrared therapy. But LEDs are fundamentally different from incandescent bulbs. They flicker rapidly, emit narrow, artificial peaks of light, and lack the warming spectrum that allows for true cellular recovery. These panels are not true photobiomodulation. They’re marketing patches.

SaunaSpace takes a different path. Our FireLight® bulbs are precision-engineered to emit a smooth, continuous spectrum that peaks in the red and near-infrared zones—the most healing wavelengths of sunlight. You get deep, radiant heat and targeted light therapy in one seamless experience. No preheating. No toxic materials. No gimmicks. Just real light, real warmth, and real healing.

What About Red Light Therapy, Is That the Same?

Not exactly.

When people talk about “red light therapy,” they’re usually referring to LED panels—flat devices covered with tiny red and near-infrared lights. These are popular in wellness spaces, and they can be helpful for some localized benefits, like reducing inflammation in a sore joint or supporting skin health.

But LED panels have limitations, some of which people only discover after using them for a while.

First, the light they emit is very narrow. It only hits a few specific wavelengths, not the full, rich spectrum your body naturally responds to. Second, that light is pulsed and flickering, even if you can’t see it. Over time, this can strain your eyes and nervous system, especially if you're using it regularly. Most LED panels also emit something called electromagnetic fields (EMFs), which can subtly interfere with how your body heals and regulates itself.

There’s also the issue of durability. LED panels tend to lose power over time. They look like they’re still working, but the actual light output fades, and most people never realize it’s happening.

FireLight® bulbs are different. They use incandescent light, which produces a smooth, continuous spectrum that includes both red and near-infrared. There’s no flicker. No EMFs. No digital strain. Just warm, natural light that your body understands.

And because they also produce gentle heat, you’re getting both light therapy and the deep detox benefits of sauna, at the same time, in the same session. This is what makes SaunaSpace so unique. It’s not just red light therapy. It’s full-body, full-spectrum healing.

The Benefits of Near-Infrared Sauna Therapy

Near-infrared sauna therapy brings together two of the most powerful healing forces we know: light and heat.

Red and near-infrared light stimulate your mitochondria—your cells’ energy engines—boosting ATP production, reducing inflammation, and initiating deep repair. At the same time, full-body heat increases circulation, supports lymphatic flow, and activates detox pathways that modern life so often suppresses.

Together, light and heat don’t just manage symptoms. They help your body remember how to heal.

Detoxification is the benefit that draws most people in, and for good reason. Mold, heavy metals, plastics, and synthetic estrogens often get stored in fat, tissues, and organs, where they quietly disrupt every system. Near-infrared light penetrates deep into these layers, helping to gently release what your body has been holding. Full-body sweating completes the process, making this one of the most effective detox tools available.

As toxins clear and inflammation subsides, other shifts begin to unfold.

People report faster recovery from injury, flare-ups, and fatigue. Healing and recovery accelerate, and immune function becomes more balanced—neither sluggish nor overactive. Many users notice fewer infections, more energy, and fewer autoimmune flare-ups.

Skin rejuvenation is often one of the first visible changes. Sessions leave the skin glowing, smoother, and more resilient. At the same time, the nervous system begins to unwind. Stress melts away. Sleep deepens.

Over time, pain lessens. Hormones stabilize. Moods lift. Many report relief from chronic conditions, improved emotional balance, and a greater sense of calm and regulation. Focus sharpens. Mental fog clears. Cognition improves, not in a jarring, stimulatory way, but through natural clarity returning.

As the body gets stronger, people often notice unexpected side effects: enhanced physical performance, more efficient metabolism, gradual weight loss, and a renewed sense of vitality that simply feels like being more alive. The longer you use the sauna, the more it supports true longevity, not just in years, but in quality of life.

These aren’t isolated effects. They’re deeply interconnected. That’s why the benefits feel like a cascade. One unlocks the next.

And beyond the physical, there’s something else that happens. A deeper quiet. A presence. A reconnection to the part of you that doesn’t need fixing—just light.

We explore that dimension in our Spiritual Benefits Portal.

In one of the most cited long-term sauna studies, researchers in Finland [1] found that frequent sauna use significantly reduced the risk of heart disease, stroke, and even all-cause mortality. The more often people used the sauna, the better their outcomes.

For many, SaunaSpace becomes the single most important investment they’ve made in their health. Not because it targets one issue, but because it helps everything work better.

Do You Really Sweat in an Infrared Sauna?

Yes. You really sweat. And it’s not just surface-level—it’s a deep, cellular release that most people have never felt before.

One of the biggest misconceptions about infrared saunas, especially among people who’ve only used LED red light panels, is that they don’t make you sweat. That may be true for devices that only emit light without heat. But with SaunaSpace, it’s different. Because your body is being heated directly—from the inside out—you begin to sweat more efficiently and more deeply than you would in a traditional sauna.

And it’s not the same kind of sweat.

Traditional saunas produce surface-level sweating caused by hot air around the body. With near-infrared therapy, the light penetrates deeply into tissues and gently raises your core temperature. You may not start sweating immediately, but when you do, it unfolds in layers.

First comes the light, watery sweat. Then something denser. Oilier. Smelling like metal or chemicals or nothing at all—but unmistakably different. Many people describe it as a kind of emotional purging too, like shedding something stagnant that’s been stored in the body for years.

And yes, it’s why your towel might smell weird after a session. (We talk more about that in our extremely popular article, Smelly Towels and the Science of Real Detox.)

This isn’t just about moisture leaving your skin. It’s your body exhaling years of toxic buildup: heavy metals, plastics, mold residues, synthetic estrogens. You might feel lighter afterward. Clearer. You may sleep more deeply that night. Over time, the benefits stack up. You’re not just sweating—you’re transforming.

And because the ambient temperature is lower and the air stays comfortable, you’re able to stay present in the process. You’re not gasping. You’re breathing. You’re resting inside the rhythm of your body’s natural detox.

EMFs and Healing: Why They Matter

Most people don’t realize that many saunas and red light therapy devices emit something called EMFs—short for electromagnetic fields. These are invisible waves of energy produced by electrical wiring, electronics, and wireless technologies.

That might sound abstract, but your body is highly sensitive to its electrical environment. Your cells communicate through tiny electrical signals. Your brain, heart, and nervous system all operate on delicate bioelectrical rhythms. When those rhythms are constantly disrupted by chaotic external signals, like flicker or EMFs, it can interfere with your body’s ability to rest, repair, and detox.

Ironically, most infrared saunas and red light panels emit high amounts of EMFs. They may promise healing, but under the surface, they’re stressing the system.

That’s why we do things differently.

Every SaunaSpace product is carefully engineered to be EMF-shielded and grounded. We test and verify every unit to ensure that it operates below the threshold of biological impact. There’s no flicker. No pulsing. No invisible noise in the background of your healing.

You feel the difference, sometimes right away. A deeper calm. A more restful state. Less jitter, more flow. And over time, it adds up.

When the body feels safe, it can finally let go.

Handcrafted in the USA: The Power of Clean Materials

Most saunas on the market are mass-produced in overseas factories using laminated wood, synthetic adhesives, and plastic components. They may look fine in a photo, but the moment you turn on the heat, you know something's off. The air smells like chemicals. The surfaces feel artificial. And you’re left wondering whether this “wellness tool” is actually making you well.

At SaunaSpace, we build everything differently.

Each product is handcrafted in our Missouri workshop using the highest-quality, cleanest materials available—because what surrounds your body during a sauna session matters. You’re in a healing state. You’re breathing deeply. You’re sweating. That environment needs to support your body, not challenge it.

We use sustainably harvested basswood, a hypoallergenic hardwood long respected in herbal traditions. It’s free from oils and resins, naturally calming to the senses, and subtly sweet with a soft, honey-like scent. Our covers are made from organic, undyed cotton. Our hardware is medical-grade stainless steel. There are no synthetic glues. No composite panels. No shortcuts.

Every joint is precision-fit. Every surface is hand-sanded smooth. These aren’t just therapeutic devices—they’re works of craftsmanship, made to be lived with and loved.

Yes, they cost more. And yes, they’re worth it. Because what you bring into your healing space becomes part of the healing. And because the people building these tools care deeply about every single detail, just like you care about your health.

How SaunaSpace Compares

At this point, you may be wondering: how does SaunaSpace really stack up against all the other options out there?

We’ve put together a simple side-by-side comparison to help make the differences clear. Whether you’re looking at traditional saunas, far-infrared panels, or red light therapy devices, this chart highlights what truly sets SaunaSpace apart.

As you can see, most saunas require long preheat times, emit EMFs, or use materials that can off-gas when heated. Many LED devices offer limited light therapy benefits but no heat. And very few tools combine both deep thermal detox and true full-spectrum photobiomodulation in one.

SaunaSpace does. And it does so using clean, natural materials—handcrafted with care—so that the experience is as safe and nourishing as it is effective.

A Company That Lives Its Values

At SaunaSpace, wellness isn’t something we sell. It’s something we live.

Our headquarters in Missouri is more than a workshop, it’s a space designed to reflect the same principles we build into every product: clarity, integrity, rhythm, and care. There’s a dedicated wellness studio with FireLight saunas, cold plunges, and sound therapy lounges where our team can restore and reset. Everyone works under natural, full-spectrum Glow lights instead of harsh overheads. We hold New Moon ceremonies to pause and reflect. Breathwork and yoga aren’t scheduled “perks”—they’re part of the rhythm of the workday.

And that’s not an accident. Our Chief Wellness Officer, Mila Rae, helps shape our culture from the inside out, guiding everything from team rituals to product development with a deep understanding of what real healing requires. She ensures that well-being isn’t an afterthought. It’s the foundation.

We also follow the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), which prioritizes autonomy, purpose, and clarity over hierarchy. Every member of the team—from craftspeople to engineers to customer care—is trusted to bring their full intelligence and heart to the work.

This philosophy shows up in the details. In the way our saunas are built. In how we speak to our customers. In the feeling you get when you step inside a FireLight Sauna and sense that nothing about it was rushed or compromised.

We don’t cut corners. We don’t pretend to be something we’re not. And we’ll never stop refining what we make, because the people who use our products aren’t just customers. They’re part of a movement toward deeper, more natural healing.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re new to near-infrared sauna therapy, we know this is a lot to take in. But you don’t have to know everything to begin. Your body already knows what to do. All you need is the right light—and a space that helps you return to balance.

Here are a few good places to start:

Watch the Videos

These short explainer videos on our FireLight Spectrum page walk you through the science of how light and heat each contribute to healing. They're quick, visual, and surprisingly beautiful.

Design Your Own Sauna

Use our Sauna Builder to create a setup that fits your space, lifestyle, and wellness goals, whether that’s a full-body cabin or a single therapy panel.

Explore the Blog

Curious about detox, EMFs, or how to use your sauna day-to-day? Brian’s blog, The Wavelength, is full of helpful, accessible posts that go deeper without overwhelming you.

Reach Out Anytime

Have questions? Our Customer Care team is here to help — real people who care deeply and know their stuff. No pressure. Just guidance. Wherever you are in your healing journey, this is a powerful place to begin. Welcome to SaunaSpace.

References

[1] Laukkanen T, Khan H, Zaccardi F, Laukkanen JA. Association between sauna bathing and fatal cardiovascular and all-cause mortality events. JAMA Intern Med. 2015 Apr;175(4):542-8. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8187. PMID: 25705824.