Week 12 – Bringing the Heat Back: Infrared Therapy
I am heading into the 12 week mark of this 52 week habit transformation, and honestly, I am blown away by how I am feeling. My energy, vitality, and cognitive function have all shifted in ways I never expected. But perhaps the biggest transformation has been in my stress response. I’m not stressing about things the way I used to. I don’t hold onto stuff like before. My body feels like life itself, fluid, flowing, clear. And that’s showing up everywhere.
Things are moving through me with ease and efficiency, and I can feel that same flow happening in my life. I never truly connected the dots until now, but it’s become crystal clear: when I am blocked on the inside, I am blocked on the outside. When my inner world is aligned, my outer world follows.
Over the last 12 weeks, I’ve been focused on healthset, and the transformation has been nothing short of incredible. Originally, I planned to break this year long journey into quarters, focusing on the four pillars. Healthset, Mindset, Heartset, and Soulset individually. But what I have noticed is that they are all so beautifully intertwined. You can’t shift one without shifting the others. They dance together.
Starting with the physical has been monumental. I have the energy, the excitement, and the discipline to dive into the deeper stuff, the habits that will help me become a stronger, more resilient version of myself. The version of me that defines success on my terms.
This Week’s Ritual: Infrared Therapy (a.k.a. The Sauna Blanket)
As I wrap up the physical phase of this experiment, I am revisiting one of the tools that truly helped me thrive last year: infrared sauna therapy. We invested in a sauna blanket, and for months, I was using it three times a week. I loved it. My body loved it.
Then life happened, full time work, study, responsibilities, and it slipped to the back burner. But not anymore. This is one of the habits I intentionally brought back into my 12 month plan. And let me tell you, it’s a game changer.
Infrared therapy has become more than just a wellness trend for me, it’s a deeply grounding and supportive practice that helps me reset both physically and emotionally. One of the biggest benefits is detoxification. The deep, gentle heat promotes a powerful sweat, which supports the body’s natural ability to eliminate toxins. But it goes beyond that, it’s like a release of built up tension and emotional residue. I often walk out of my session feeling lighter, clearer, and more at peace.
The increased circulation that comes from the infrared heat also supports healing and energy production. I noticed a huge difference in my joints with reduced soreness and stiffness, especially in the hips and legs where I tend to hold tension.
It also has a surprising effect on metabolism. Because the heart rate rises during a session, it gives a gentle cardiovascular boost, supporting calorie burn and energy production. And as an added bonus I found that I got great benefits with my skin. my complexion always looked brighter and more vibrant after a few consistent weeks. There’s something magical about sweating from the inside out. It’s like you’re rinsing your internal window so the light can shine through.
But beyond the long list of benefits, which is also backed by science. What matters most to me is what this ritual represents. Its a moment to pause, connect with myself, and prioritise deep care. This habit has reminded me that healing doesn’t always come through doing more. Sometimes, it’s about getting still, tuning in, and allowing the body to lead.
This habit helped me process emotions physically, not just mentally. I sweat out what no longer serves me, and I make space for what I want to welcome in. It’s going in the calendar, three times a week. One of those sessions will be on the weekend, right after our walk, when I can really immerse in the joy of it. On nights when my husband uses it, I’ll cook dinner. On two nights when I use it, he’ll cook.
This has to become a priority in our life. We make time for what matters. This week is about reconnecting with my physical self, listening closely, and trusting that sometimes the most powerful healing starts not in the mind, but in the body.
