Heat
Chinook Glow · Infrared Sauna

Ancient warmth.
Modern science.
100% Canadian basswood.

A private two-person infrared sauna built by SaunaRay in Canada from 100% Canadian basswood — the least allergenic wood in North America — lined with Himalayan salt panels. Deep heat, clean air, and total quiet in 40 minutes.

40
Minute session
30
Minutes active heat
2
Person capacity
$39
Solo session
Scroll
The experience

SaunaRay infrared
100% Canadian basswood

Infrared saunas work differently from traditional steam saunas. Rather than heating the air around you to a high temperature, infrared panels emit radiant heat that penetrates directly into your body — warming you from within at a gentler, more comfortable temperature. Most people find they can stay longer, breathe more easily, and sweat more deeply than in a conventional sauna. The SaunaRay at Chinook Glow is a 2-person infrared unit built from 100% Canadian basswood — hand-selected by SaunaRay four times a year through a three-month selection process. Basswood is the least allergenic wood in North America, grows naturally within 100 miles of the SaunaRay factory, and matures in just seven years, making it a genuinely sustainable choice. Unlike standard lumber industry wood, SaunaRay's basswood is never treated with toxic chemicals or fumigated with insecticides — what matters when you're sitting inside it for 30 minutes breathing deeply.

1
Warm-up — 10 minutes
The sauna pre-heats before you enter. Your body begins to absorb the infrared warmth through the basswood walls and Himalayan salt panels. Core temperature begins to rise gently — your cardiovascular system starts responding within the first few minutes.
2
Active session — 30 minutes
You're fully immersed. Deep sweating begins, circulation increases, muscles relax, and the nervous system begins shifting into a parasympathetic state. The Himalayan salt panels warm and fill the cabin with their amber glow. Many clients describe a profound stillness that's difficult to find elsewhere.
3
After your session — included
A cold towel and complimentary cold water are provided after every session. We recommend resting for a few minutes before returning to your day — your body continues working after the heat ends. Towels are provided.
100% Canadian basswood
SaunaRay hand-selected
2-person capacity
Himalayan salt panels
Far infrared heat
40 min session
Towels included
Cold towel + water
What the heat does

Why infrared is
different from steam

Unlike traditional saunas that heat the air, infrared heat penetrates 4–5 cm into soft tissue and warms your body directly. The result is a deeper sweat at a lower, more comfortable temperature — and a different set of physiological effects.

Cardiovascular response
Within minutes of entering, your heart rate increases and cardiac output rises — mimicking the cardiovascular response of moderate exercise. Blood vessels dilate, circulation increases, and blood pressure may decrease. Regular sauna use has been linked in long-term studies to significant reductions in cardiovascular mortality.
Deep muscle relaxation
Infrared heat penetrates deep into muscle tissue, loosening chronic tension, reducing inflammation, and easing the kind of stiffness that builds from physical activity, desk work, or simply carrying the day. Many clients report that a single session relieves more muscle tension than a conventional massage.
Detoxification through sweat
Deep sweating is one of the body's primary methods for eliminating metabolic waste. Infrared-induced sweat is produced at a lower temperature but in greater volume than conventional heat sweat — supporting the kidneys and lymphatic system in clearing what the body needs to release.
Mood and mental wellbeing
Heat triggers endorphin release and a shift in the autonomic nervous system toward parasympathetic dominance — the rest-and-digest state. Research from UCSF has studied whole-body infrared heat therapy specifically for depression, with promising results in clinical trials. Many regular users report improved mood and reduced anxiety.
Sleep quality
A 2024 review of sauna research found that 83% of regular users reported improved sleep lasting 1–2 nights following sauna use. The body temperature drop after exiting the sauna signals the brain to produce melatonin — the same mechanism behind a warm bath before bed, but significantly more pronounced.
Skin health
Increased circulation brings more blood and nutrients to the skin's surface, supporting cellular renewal. Deep sweating opens pores and clears them naturally. Studies have linked regular sauna use to improved skin tone, reduced inflammation-related skin conditions, and a visible quality often described as a post-sauna glow.
The Himalayan salt panels

Where ancient mineral
meets infrared heat

The SaunaRay at Chinook Glow is lined with Himalayan salt panels — slabs of natural pink salt mined from ancient geological deposits, containing over 84 trace minerals including magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron. When heated by the infrared panels, the salt's warm amber glow fills the cabin and creates an environment that clients consistently describe as noticeably different — calmer, more grounded, and easier to breathe in.

We'll be straight with you about the science: the infrared sauna itself is where the robust clinical research lives. The Himalayan salt adds something genuine — a different quality to the air, a deeply beautiful sensory environment, and the effects associated with negative ion exposure — but we won't overstate the science where it's still developing.

When heated, Himalayan salt releases negative ions — naturally occurring charged particles abundant near waterfalls, ocean surf, and fresh air environments that people consistently associate with feeling calm and clear-headed
The hygroscopic nature of salt — its ability to attract and trap moisture — means airborne particles including dust and allergens are passively drawn to the salt surface, creating a noticeably cleaner breathing environment inside the cabin
The warm amber glow produced by backlit Himalayan salt is a genuine wellness element in itself — soft, non-stimulating light that supports the parasympathetic state the infrared heat is already producing
Research on negative ion exposure — from clinical generators — has found associations with improved mood, reduced anxiety, and better sleep. Salt panels produce ions at lower concentrations, but the sensory experience is widely and consistently reported as meaningfully different
The combination of infrared heat with the salt environment is associated with deeper breathing — many clients notice their breath slows and deepens naturally within the first few minutes, particularly compared to conventional saunas
We're honest about what the salt panels do: they create a genuinely superior sensory experience and may provide mild negative ion and air-quality benefits. The therapeutic heavy lifting — cardiovascular, metabolic, and nervous system effects — comes from the infrared heat itself. Together, they make for a sauna session that clients consistently describe as the best they've experienced.
The science

What decades of research
actually shows

Selected peer-reviewed findings from controlled clinical trials and long-term population studies. Provided for education — individual results vary.

Cardiovascular health · Long-term study
"The KIHD study — 2,315 Finnish men tracked for 20 years — found that sauna use 4–7 times per week was associated with a 66% reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality and a 66% reduction in dementia risk, compared to once-weekly use."
Laukkanen et al., 2015, 2018
JAMA Internal Medicine
Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study
Mental health · Clinical trial
"A UCSF randomised trial combining whole-body infrared heat therapy with cognitive behavioural therapy found that 86.2% of participants no longer met criteria for major depressive disorder at final assessment."
Mason et al., UCSF · 2025
Osher Center for Integrative Health
Weill Institute for Neurosciences
Sleep quality · Global survey
"A global sauna survey published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that 83% of regular sauna users reported improved sleep quality lasting 1–2 nights following each sauna session."
Hussain, Greaves & Cohen, 2019
Complementary Therapies in Medicine
Global Sauna Survey · 2,315 participants
Passive heat therapy · Comprehensive review
"A 2024 comprehensive review of passive heat therapies confirmed significant associations between regular infrared sauna use and improvements in chronic pain, chronic fatigue, depression symptoms, and quality of life measures across multiple conditions."
Laukkanen & Kunutsor, 2024
Temperature: Multidisciplinary Biomedical Journal
Open Access · doi:10.1080/23328940.2023.2300623
Every session includes
$39
Solo · 40 minute session
SaunaRay 2-person 100% Canadian basswood infrared cabin
Himalayan salt panel walls — full cabin
Fresh towels provided
Cold towel after your session
Complimentary cold water
Private room — one booking at a time
Pricing options

Solo, together, or
by the pack.

Book a single session or bring someone with you. The sauna comfortably holds two — at a rate that makes it one of the best-value wellness sessions in southern Alberta.

Single session
Solo
One client · full 40 min cabin
$39
Walk-in price
The full 40-minute session in your own private SaunaRay basswood infrared sauna. Includes towels, cold towel and water. The cabin is yours — no sharing with other bookings.
Shared session
Duo
Two people · same session · same cabin
$69
Both guests included
Bring a partner, friend, or family member. The 2-person SaunaRay basswood cabin is designed for two — both guests share the same 40-minute session at a combined rate that makes it exceptional value.
$9 savings vs two solo sessions
Session packs
Packs
Commit to your routine · save more
$165
5-session pack · saves $30
5-Session Pack: $165 — saves $30 vs walk-in

10-Session Pack: $300 — saves $90 vs walk-in

Valid 12 months from purchase. Non-transferable. Single bookings per session.
Best for regular weekly use
Questions

Everything you want
to know first

Noticeably gentler and more comfortable — most people are surprised by how much more time they can spend inside. A traditional sauna heats the air to 80–100°C, which can feel oppressive and make breathing difficult. Our infrared sauna operates at 50–65°C, but the heat penetrates your body directly, producing a deeper sweat than the air temperature might suggest. Most clients find they can breathe easily, stay the full 40 minutes without discomfort, and exit feeling genuinely relaxed rather than depleted.
Yes — that's genuinely the instruction. Sit, lie back, breathe, and let the heat do its work. Some clients meditate, some listen to music, some simply let their thoughts settle. There's no technique required and nothing to manage. Your body's response to the heat is automatic. Many first-timers are surprised at how difficult it can be to simply do nothing for 30 minutes — and how good they feel when they do.
Honestly — a combination of things with varying levels of scientific support. When heated, the salt produces negative ions, which are associated with improved mood, reduced anxiety, and fresher air — though salt panels produce these at lower concentrations than clinical ionizers. The salt is also hygroscopic, meaning it passively attracts and traps airborne particles, which makes the air inside feel noticeably cleaner. The amber glow itself is a genuine wellness element — soft, warm light that supports the calm state the infrared heat is producing. What we can say clearly is that clients who've used both find the salt sauna meaningfully different. The infrared heat is where the clinical evidence lives. The salt makes it better.
Infrared sauna has an excellent safety profile across published research — it's been studied extensively and the risk of adverse effects in healthy adults is low. We recommend a maximum of once daily if you use it frequently, and staying well hydrated before and after. The research on benefit frequency suggests 3–5 sessions per week for maximum cumulative effects. Our sessions are 40 minutes — 10 minutes warm-up and 30 minutes active heat — which is within standard therapeutic duration for all published trials.
Those who are pregnant, have acute illness or fever, uncontrolled high blood pressure, recent cardiovascular events, or implanted electronic devices should consult their physician before sauna use. If you have a chronic health condition, please speak with your healthcare provider and inform our staff before your session. Sauna is not suitable for children. Always listen to your body — if you feel dizzy, overly uncomfortable, or unwell during a session, exit and inform our staff immediately.
Before: hydrate well — drink at least one glass of water before entering and avoid heavy meals for an hour beforehand. Arrive without heavy lotions or oils on your skin as these can affect how your skin breathes and sweats. After: we provide a cold towel and water immediately following your session. Take a few minutes to cool down gradually rather than rushing into cold air. Rehydrate — you'll have sweated significantly. Many clients find the 30–60 minutes following their session are among the most relaxed they feel all week.
Red light therapy before the sauna is a popular combination — the red light session is gentle and works well as a warm-up. For UV tanning, Health Canada guidelines recommend avoiding infrared sauna use for at least 24 hours following substantial UV exposure, as infrared heat can augment the effects of UV radiation. If you've had a UV tanning session that day, we recommend booking the sauna for a different visit. Our staff are happy to help you sequence your services if you're combining multiple treatments.
Yes — the SaunaRay is a genuine 2-person cabin, comfortable for two adults. The Duo session is $69 for both guests together, which works out to $34.50 per person — significantly better value than two individual bookings. It's a popular option for couples, close friends, or family members who want to share the experience. Just book a Duo session at the desk or mention it when you arrive and we'll accommodate you.

Research references are provided for educational purposes and reflect published peer-reviewed findings. Chinook Glow does not make medical claims. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed. Infrared sauna and Himalayan salt therapy at Chinook Glow are wellness services and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. Health Canada guidelines recommend avoiding UV tanning equipment and infrared saunas on the same day, and avoiding infrared sauna for at least 24 hours following substantial UV or sun exposure. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new wellness modality if you have existing health conditions. Himalayan salt panel health benefit claims reflect reported user experiences and early-stage research — clinical evidence at salt panel concentrations specifically remains limited.