Your Jjimjilbang GuideBenefits and Taboos! 10 Things to Know Before You Go

As Korean culture spreads, many people have a basic understanding of what a hanjeungmak is. Hanjeungmak is a traditional Korean sauna therapy that uses high temperatures to induce sweating and open up pores. Hanjeungmak facilities are typically built with natural materials like loess, rock salt, charcoal, jade, or herbs, which release far-infrared rays and negative ions to promote circulation. Once inside the hanjeungmak room, you can find a spot and relax.

In Korea, hanjeungmak are places where friends and family gather and enjoy snacks, similar to Taiwan's saunas. They offer comprehensive facilities for bathing, entertainment, relaxation, and even overnight stays. In Taiwan, hanjeungmak are generally smaller, operating as "SPA venues" where you can add on massage and stress-relief treatments for full body and mind relaxation.

Jjimjilbangs offer numerous health benefits. The high temperatures, far-infrared rays, and negative ions in a jjimjilbang expand blood vessels, improve circulation, and promote deep sweating to eliminate toxins and waste from the body, leading to healthier skin. Additionally, jjimjilbangs help alleviate stress and fatigue, with their heat therapy effectively soothing muscle aches. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners also recognize their ability to dispel wind, cold, and dampness, and to promote qi and blood circulation. This is particularly beneficial for individuals with phlegm-dampness body types who often experience fatigue, heavy limbs, and edema, as it helps remove excess dampness and prevent its accumulation.

• Improved Circulation: High temperatures help expand blood vessels and enhance internal circulation.
• Detoxification through Sweating: Deep sweating helps eliminate toxins from the body.
• Skin Rejuvenation: Effectively opens pores to expel deep-seated dirt and bodily waste, leading to healthier skin. Furthermore, herbal steam can moisturize the skin, making it finer and smoother.
• Stress Relief: The unique far-infrared negative ions and tranquil atmosphere of a jjimjilbang help reduce tension and promote mental relaxation.
• Fatigue Alleviation: Jjimjilbangs can be considered a form of "heat therapy," offering relief for muscle soreness and chronic fatigue.
• Dispelling Wind, Cold, and Dampness: Many Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners acknowledge jjimjilbangs' ability to dispel wind, cold, and dampness, and to promote qi and blood circulation. This is especially effective for those prone to fatigue, heavy limbs, and edema, as individuals with a phlegm-dampness body type tend to have higher internal dampness, which jjimjilbangs help evaporate and reduce.

Sauna therapy uses high temperatures and various effects to offer a range of benefits for different needs, including physical and mental relaxation, metabolism boost, and discomfort relief. It's suitable for many groups, especially those with high work stress, poor circulation, or slow metabolism.

• For those with high work stress who need to relax: Sauna therapy helps relieve stress and release tension, making it ideal for busy individuals or those experiencing significant mental pressure.
• For those who often feel fatigued or have cold hands and feet: Sauna therapy promotes circulation and raises body temperature, which can help improve cold extremities and alleviate fatigue.
• For those with slower metabolism: Sauna therapy can boost metabolism and aid in expelling toxins and waste, making it suitable for anyone looking to enhance their body's vitality.
• For those with mild edema: The high-temperature environment of sauna therapy helps eliminate excess water from the body, reducing swelling.
• For those who need to improve skin condition: Sauna therapy helps open pores and remove oil and dirt, improving issues like acne and dullness.
• For those who need to relieve muscle or joint pain: For individuals with post-exercise muscle tightness, stiff joints, or mild pain, sauna therapy is an excellent form of heat therapy.

Jjimjilbangs, with their high-temperature environments, may pose risks for certain groups:

• Pregnant individuals: Developing embryos are highly sensitive to temperature. Attempting a jjimjilbang session could adversely affect the fetus.
• Individuals with high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease: High temperatures can strain the heart, increasing risks for those with hypertension, heart disease, or arrhythmia.
• Diabetic individuals: Excessive sweating can disrupt blood sugar balance, making jjimjilbangs unsafe for diabetics.
• Individuals with low blood pressure or anemia: Jjimjilbangs can further lower blood pressure, potentially causing dizziness or fainting.
• Individuals with weakened immune systems or general frailty: Those with weaker constitutions may not tolerate high temperatures well and could experience discomfort.
• Individuals with serious illnesses: Patients with conditions such as cancer, fever, colds, infectious skin diseases, asthma, or tuberculosis should avoid jjimjilbangs to prevent worsening their condition.
• Individuals with colds, fever, or infectious diseases: When the body is fighting an illness, jjimjilbangs are not recommended as they could exacerbate symptoms.
• Individuals with skin lesions or skin conditions: Jjimjilbangs may cause stinging or worsen existing skin conditions.
• Individuals who have consumed alcohol: Jjimjilbangs after drinking alcohol can lead to abnormal blood pressure, dehydration, or loss of consciousness and should be avoided.
• Young children: Children have a faster metabolism and higher skin permeability, making them prone to excessive fluid loss and dehydration in a jjimjilbang. It is recommended that individuals be at least 16 years old before experiencing a jjimjilbang.
• Elderly individuals: Jjimjilbangs cause significant sweating, which can affect electrolyte balance. Elderly individuals have lower tolerance for such fluctuations, potentially leading to other health risks.
• Individuals who have recently undergone surgery: The body has not fully recovered after surgery, making jjimjilbangs unsuitable.

Here's how a visit to Litestone Sauna works:

1. Book your appointment in advance.
2. Check in at the counter upon arrival.
3. Staff will explain the sauna's benefits and how to use it.
4. Change into your sauna attire.
5. Staff will guide you through the sauna steps (as pictured).
6. Enter the sauna room and enjoy a 40-minute session.
7. After your session, change into a fresh set of sauna attire.
8. Head to the relaxation area to cool down for 30 minutes and rehydrate.
9. Post-sauna, your pores and hair cuticles are open, making it an ideal time for facial and hair treatments. Litestone also provides hair care products for guests.

To ensure a safe and comfortable sauna experience, please note the following:

• Avoid saunas when sick or unwell: If you have a fever, cold, low blood pressure, or cardiovascular disease, you should avoid saunas.
• Avoid saunas on an empty or overly full stomach: An empty stomach can lead to low blood sugar, while being too full may cause discomfort. It's recommended to have a light meal 1-2 hours before your sauna.
• Stay hydrated: You will sweat a lot during a sauna, so it's advisable to drink some water beforehand, but avoid excessive amounts to prevent discomfort.
• Do not use the sauna after drinking alcohol: Alcohol can affect your body's temperature regulation and may increase the strain on your body in a high-temperature environment.

When using the sauna, you need to gradually adjust to the room temperature; we recommend staying for 20-30 minutes at a time. Adjust the duration based on the room temperature and your personal tolerance. If you feel unwell, such as dizziness, chest tightness, or thirst, leave immediately and rest. Drink water as needed during the session, and stay quiet and relaxed, avoiding strenuous movements to prevent dizziness or falls.

After a session in the sweat lodge, it's important to keep a few things in mind due to the significant amount of perspiration:

• Hydrate generously: You lose a lot of fluids and electrolytes during a sweat lodge session. We recommend drinking plenty of warm water or electrolyte drinks to replenish lost hydration.
• Avoid cold beverages: Your pores remain open after a sweat lodge session, and drinking ice water might irritate your stomach or cause discomfort.
• Do not shower immediately: Because your pores are open after a sweat lodge session, exposure to dampness or cold air can lead to chills. We suggest waiting 2 to 4 hours before showering or washing your hair. This is why 光之石能量汗蒸會館 (Light Stone Energy Sweat Lodge) specifically opens earlier, at 11 AM, hoping guests can enjoy their sweat lodge session earlier and then rest.

For example, a session at Litestone Sauna costs around $600 for 40 minutes. Many saunas offer first-time trial prices; Litestone, for instance, charges $499 on weekdays and $599 on weekends for a trial session.

Many people visit saunas regularly, so some venues offer package deals. At Litestone, purchasing multiple sauna vouchers at once brings the price down to $386-$491 per session, with the discount increasing with the number of vouchers bought.

For a jjimjilbang experience, we highly recommend Lightstone Litestone Jjimjilbang in Taipei, just a one-minute walk from Nanjing Sanmin MRT Station. It's the only jjimjilbang in Taipei right next to an MRT station, featuring two jjimjilbang rooms, a lounge area, and changing rooms.

Lightstone Litestone Energy Jjimjilbang specializes in wellness services. After your jjimjilbang session, you can enhance your relaxation with a professional massage. The entire jjimjilbang experience consists of a 40-minute session followed by 30 minutes of cooling down. The jjimjilbang rooms feature tourmaline floor tiles, which use far-infrared light to generate negative ions for optimal therapeutic effects.