The Heat Is On: How/Why To Sauna Like a Pro 🔥

This Ides of March, sweating and Not-Caesar salad is my Roman Empire

RUNNING FOR PRECEDENCE

Flashing back to a relic of wellness history: the Presidential Fitness Test, where many children of the 80s learned to hate running and sit-ups in equal measure.  It proved to be less of a test of our physical fitness and more a barometer of shame and an exercise in emotional resilience that many of us failed.  (But really, I’m over it.)  Phasing out tests like this and taking a more critical look at measures like BMI shows how far we’ve come in understanding that fitness is NOT one-size-fits-all.  However, taking the test today with room for caveats can still provide some meaningful health data that can help you optimize your fitness plan.  Give it a shot, and file under fun + humbling, which incidentally makes “fumbling”- a bit too on-the-nose these days when we’re talking Presidential Fitness…

PUTTING ON THE SCHVITZ

HOT off the runways from Europe, the latest wellness trend is competitive sauna, an event where wigged and costumed teams of heat seekers create a marathon of 3-minute intervals across 18 different sauna experiences.  Good silly fun, but there are real benefits at the core of this ancient practice of sitting in a sweat.  Raising the internal body temperature can help relieve stress, improve mood, and is shown to offer cardiovascular and cognitive benefits.   Taking it a step further, behold the rise of Sauna Aufguss, a hybrid of group sauna and absurdist theater led by a “Sauna Meister” that must be seen to be fully appreciated.  Think black lights, music, costumes (sweat proof), towel-twirling and some snowball magic tricks all in the name of creating a ritual-like experience out of a sauna session.  If you have a few minutes, please watch this incredibly weird and fascinating peek at the show.

In other trend news, word on the street is that cabbage is having a moment.  This is a good example of where it’s best not to mix trends- keep your sauna time at a reasonable distance from your cabbage time.  😷🫢 

HERE’S A TIP, MAKE THE CHANGE

If group sweating is not your thing, there are ways to enjoy these benefits in your own home.  A wise lady already showed you how to create a private cold plunge experience, so why not round it out with deliberate heat exposure to experience the full cycle known as contrast bathing?  You may be skeptical as to how to create enough heat to get the benefits you reap in a 180 degree dry sauna, but you can properly raise the body temp with a good soak.  Try a bath of 100-104 degrees (use a meat thermometer to measure) for 15-20 minutes, followed by a 30-second blast of cold shower water. Rinse and repeat.

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HEY BIG SPENDER

(Here’s where starting next week, only paid subscribers will get access to my product reccs, discounts and additional content)

Keeping in the contrast bathing theme, Recoverie NYC in Brooklyn offers infrared sauna AND cold plunging- get 10% off your first visit by mentioning All Too Well when you book. Or turn the sweat up to eleven at home and on the road with the infrared blanket that everyone is talking about from the sauna gurus at Higher Dose, and get 15% off sitewide (except bundles and full saunas) using the code ERICA15.

TOSSED SALADS AND SCRAMBLED EGGS

Another perk for paid subscribers is the occasional recipe from my kitchen to yours.  At restaurants I lean pescetarian with an occasional meaty morsel (I have an affinity for steak tartare, please comment with your reccs!), but I cook at home frequently and it’s heavily plant-centric and health-forward.  Yet still delicious, IMHO.  For the days you need a time-out from takeout or want to add some easy healthy dishes to the rotation, I’ll give you great weeknight dinners, soups, interesting salads, snacks, and lots of flexibility to customize, add extra protein (I live with a dude, this is well-covered ground), and experiment with ingredients that may be new to you. 

HEARTS OF PALM SALAD
Prep time 10-15 minutes, easily doubled for a group, and a great light side to balance a heavy Taco Tuesday or other fiesta-ish meal.  Hearts of palm are a good low-calorie source of fiber, and pumpkin seeds deliver on magnesium, antioxidants and healthy fats.

Serves 4 as a salad course or 6-8 as a side dish  

Ingredients:
2 cans hearts of palm, drained, cut each lengthwise and chop into 1/2" chunks
1 pint cherry or other tiny tomatoes, cut in half
¼ small  red onion, very thinly sliced and cut down to 1" long
3 Tablespoons raw pumpkin seed (pepitas)
2 Tablespoons fresh Mexican oregano (can substitute fresh thyme, or use 1 tsp of dried herbs)
Optional: Handful of fresh arugula, Little Gem lettuce leaves, diced avocado

Dressing:
¼ cup good quality extra virgin olive oil (psst: in a future issue I will help you stock your pantry with the best staples)
2 Tablespoons white vinegar
Lime juice to taste
Salt & pepper to taste

1. Toast seeds in a pan over medium heat with a small amount of high heat oil (avocado)
2. Whisk dressing ingredients together and season to taste
3. Mix all ingredients in bowl and toss with dressing just before serving
4. Serve in a bowl or plate it on top of the lettuce leaves for more presentation

Option: Make it a protein-packed entree with a can of drained tuna (safe caught)

special guest star at Fiesta-themed brunch

GOOD VIBRATIONS

Music fans of smooth 80s and Yacht Rock lost a captain this week. RIP Eric Carmen, who achieved superstardom with All By Myself and Hungry Eyes but don’t snooze on this anthem from ‘88.  Turn the radio up and enjoy the weekend.   

Be well, and also have fun,

xo

Erica 

And please consider upgrading to a paid subscription to support my work!

The heat is ON.