Feeling Stuck? Why Circulation & Detox Matter for Real Wellness
Sometimes you just do not feel “right.” You might be sleeping, but still wake up tired. Or you are working out and eating well, yet you feel achy, puffy, sluggish, or inflamed. Many of our Myrtle Beach clients arrive at Body Lab Studio wondering why they feel this way and, more importantly, what they can do about it.
Your circulatory and lymphatic systems are responsible for moving blood, oxygen, nutrients, fluids, and cellular waste throughout and out of your body. When these systems slow down because of stress, long hours sitting, poor posture, and modern life in general, the result can be:
- Slower metabolism and stubborn weight or inches
- Fluid retention and puffiness
- Persistent low-grade inflammation
- Heaviness, fatigue, and that “stuck” feeling
Gentle infrared heat is a science-supported way to nudge these systems back online without pain, surgery, drugs, or downtime.
The Science: What Is Infrared Heat & How Does It Work?
Infrared heat is part of the light spectrum, invisible to the eye but deeply felt. Unlike traditional saunas that heat the air, infrared technology warms your body directly, raising your core temperature by 2 to 4°F from the inside out. This “inside-out” warming is more than just a cozy feeling. Clinical research shows that passive heat exposure, such as sauna therapy, can create exercise-mimicking cardiovascular responses – including increased heart rate and vasodilation – without replacing the benefits of physical exercise.
In chronic heart failure patients, repeated infrared-style thermal therapy known as Waon therapy has been linked to fewer cardiac events and better outcomes over 5 years (Kihara et al., 2009). Large population studies of sauna users also show lower long-term cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in frequent sauna bathers (Laukkanen et al., 2015).
As your inner core gently warms during an infrared session, several beneficial processes begin:
- Circulation picks up as blood vessels dilate and blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues increase.
- Metabolism ramps up as heart rate and metabolic demand increase in ways that resemble light-to-moderate exercise in some people.
- Inflammation is modulated as repeated thermal therapy improves endothelial function, supports blood vessel health, and can relieve symptoms in certain chronic pain conditions (Akasaki et al., 2006; Chadwick et al., 2025).
Our infrared wellness experiences at Body Lab Studio build on these physiological effects and pair infrared with complementary tools for deeper, more noticeable results.
Boosting Circulation: The Foundation of a Healthier Body
Why Circulation Matters
Healthy circulation is essential for feeling and functioning your best. Your blood delivers oxygen and nutrients and it carries away metabolic waste.
When circulation is sluggish or vessels are stiff, you may notice:
- Slower metabolism and more difficulty managing weight
- Cold or achy hands, feet, or muscles
- Slower digestion and heaviness after eating
- Dull, tired-looking skin with puffiness or more visible cellulite
- Lingering fatigue and slower recovery from stress or workouts
Repeated far-infrared therapy has been shown to:
- Improve endothelial function in people with coronary risk factors after just 2 weeks of daily 15-minute sessions (Akasaki et al., 2006).
- Promote angiogenesis (new capillary formation) and blood flow in ischemic limbs in diabetic mice, even under high-glucose conditions that typically impair vessel repair (Lin et al., 2012).
- Reduce long-term cardiovascular events in heart failure patients when added to standard medical care (Kihara et al., 2009).
For clients who want to actively enhance circulation, our InfraPower treadmills pair low-impact movement with medical-grade infrared heat. This combination increases blood flow while muscles are gently engaged, making it especially effective for lymphatic pumping, joint comfort, and metabolic support.
How Infrared Makes the Difference
Infrared heat encourages vasodilation. In simple terms, your blood vessels gently widen and circulation increases.
This has several practical benefits:
- Better nutrient delivery to tired muscles and organs
- More efficient removal of metabolic waste and inflammatory byproducts
- Enhanced recovery from exercise, injury, and everyday stressors
- Potential improvements in blood pressure and vascular stiffness over time in at-risk individuals
In a randomized controlled crossover study, a single 45-minute infrared sauna session in healthy women produced cardiovascular responses comparable to a 45-minute moderate cycling workout, including increased heart rate and circulatory load (Hussain et al., 2022). This suggests that even while you are resting, your cardiovascular system is getting a gentle but meaningful stimulus.
Clients at Body Lab Studio often describe feeling lighter, looser, and more energized after a session, which mirrors the circulatory effects documented in the research.
Beyond Sweat: How Infrared Therapy Supports Natural Detoxification
The Lymphatic System: Your Built-In Detox Network
Running alongside your circulatory system is your lymphatic system, your body’s own filtration and drainage network.
It helps in:
Increasing blood flow, which supports fluid exchange.
Relaxing fascia, making lymphatic pathways less constricted.
Induced Sweating: Research shows sweat can be an adjunctive route for excreting certain environmental compounds, like BPA (Genuis et al., 2012).
When lymph flow is sluggish because of inactivity, stress, post-surgical scarring, or simply too much sitting, you might see:
- Swelling and puffiness, especially in the belly, legs, or arms
- More frequent or prolonged infections
- Dull, congested skin and more pronounced cellulite
- A generalized feeling of heaviness or stagnation
How Infrared Supports Lymphatic Drainage & Cellular Clean-Up
Lymphatic flow is driven primarily by muscle movement, breathing, and one-way valves in lymph vessels, but it is also influenced by circulation, tissue pliability, and overall fluid dynamics.
In cardiovascular and metabolic studies, far-infrared therapy improved microvascular function and circulation (Akasaki et al., 2006; Lin et al., 2012), which indirectly benefits lymph movement and tissue clearance.
Additionally, induced sweating, whether via sauna or exercise, has been shown to be a meaningful route for excreting certain environmental chemicals. In the BUS (blood, urine, sweat) study, researchers found that bisphenol A (BPA), a common environmental toxin, appeared in sweat samples even when it was low or undetectable in blood and urine (Genuis et al., 2012).
This suggests that sweat can serve as an adjunctive elimination route for some stored compounds, alongside the primary detox organs such as liver, kidneys, and gut.
At Body Lab Studio, we combine infrared heat with lymphatic-focused tools to strengthen this clean-up effect. As your body warms from the inside out, lymphatic drainage techniques further encourage fluid movement and waste clearance, which many clients feel as de-bloating, de-puffing, and an overall sense of lightness.
The Benefits Multiply When Body Lab Studio Specialties Are Added
Body Rollers and LPG Endermologie
POLY Red Light Therapy
VacuTherm Treadmills (Infrared plus Low-Impact Fitness)
EMS and RF Sculpting
Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) and radiofrequency (RF) technologies can tighten, tone, and refine tissue contours. When circulation and detox pathways are already supported by infrared and lymphatic work, these sculpting approaches may integrate more smoothly into an overall body-composition and tissue-health plan.
Get Your Glow Back: How Myrtle Beach Clients Notice Results
From Stagnation to Lightness
Our clients consistently tell us that after infrared-based sessions they feel:
- Less puffiness and more natural contour
- More steady energy rather than afternoon crashes
- Clothes fitting more comfortably as fluid shifts and inches drop
- Deeper relaxation and better sleep quality
- Brighter, smoother, more hydrated-looking skin
RESET Member Review: “Skin Livelier and Tones Toned Down!”
“It feels like my body was not bogged down by inflammation and toxins. I always felt good the day of the session, but continued to improve throughout the week. Skin is more lively and toned down.”
In clinical research, structured heat therapy has shown benefits in conditions marked by pain, fatigue, and autonomic dysregulation such as fibromyalgia, where participants report reductions in pain and symptom severity after a course of sessions (Chadwick et al., 2025). The lived experience of our clients mirrors these findings. Results may be subtle after a single visit, but meaningful changes such as less pain, less puffiness, and more ease often show up after a few consistent sessions.
Customized Infrared & Detox Programs at Body Lab Studio
No two clients are the same. Your health history, stress levels, goals, and schedule all matter. That is why our Myrtle Beach infrared and detox programs are fully personalized.
We thoughtfully combine:
- Infrared Wellness Pods for deep, gentle core warming and muscle relaxation. It can also be paired with optional light resistance band movement, creating a passive-active hybrid session that further stimulates lymphatic flow without high joint load.
- VacuTherm Treadmills to pair infrared with low-impact circulation boosting
- Body Rollers and LPG Endermologie for targeted lymphatic drainage and smoothing
- POLY Red Light Therapy to support cellular health, collagen, and inflammation balance
- Laser lipo pads as a preparatory step to help mobilize stored fat before lymphatic drainage and rolling therapies, supporting smoother elimination rather than acting as a standalone fat-loss treatment.
- EMS and RF sculpting can support muscle engagement, skin firmness, and contour refinement in appropriately screened clients.
These technologies are not appropriate for everyone and require health screening, particularly for individuals with metal implants, pacemakers, recent surgery, or certain medical conditions.
We will work with you to design a protocol that feels doable and aligned with your goals, whether that is de-bloating, body reshaping, athletic recovery, stress relief, or age-defying skin.
Addressing Common Questions About Infrared Heat & Detox
Do I Have to Sweat Buckets for This to Work?
No. Sweating is a normal byproduct of infrared sessions and is one avenue for excreting some compounds, but the deeper benefits come from what is happening inside. These benefits include improved blood flow, vascular function, tissue oxygenation, and support for lymphatic movement.
The Mayo Clinic notes that infrared saunas drive physiological responses similar to moderate exercise, such as sweating and increased heart rate, although more research is still emerging on specific health conditions (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2023).
Research on far-infrared therapy has shown cardiovascular and vascular improvements even with modest, comfortable increases in temperature (Akasaki et al., 2006; Lin et al., 2012).
Will Infrared Therapy Work Even If I Am Not Athletic or “Fit”?
Yes. Many of the key studies on infrared and sauna therapy have focused on people with cardiovascular disease, metabolic issues, or chronic pain, populations that often cannot tolerate intense exercise.
In chronic heart failure, for example, daily Waon therapy improved prognosis and reduced cardiac events (Kihara et al., 2009). In patients with coronary risk factors, repeated far-infrared sauna sessions improved blood vessel function in just 2 weeks (Akasaki et al., 2006).
Heat-based protocols have also reduced pain and symptom burden in fibromyalgia (Chadwick et al., 2025). At Body Lab Studio, sessions are always customized to your comfort, health status, and experience level.
How Often Should I Come?
Research protocols typically use multiple sessions per week over 2 to 12 weeks, such as 5 to 7 sessions per week for 2 weeks in vascular studies, or repeated treatments over several weeks in chronic pain research. In real life, consistency is more important than perfection.
Many of our infrared clients feel a difference with weekly visits, while others choose more frequent sessions initially as part of a RESET-style phase before transitioning to maintenance. We will help you find a schedule that fits your lifestyle and goals.
Our Calm, Science-Driven Approach
Wellness can feel noisy and confusing. At Body Lab Studio, we keep things grounded in clarity and evidence.
- We explain the “why,” not just the “what,” behind every service.
- We choose non-invasive, science-informed modalities such as infrared, red light, lymphatic tools, and sculpting technologies based on published data and real-world outcomes, not fads.
- We focus on realistic, measurable changes such as less puffiness, more energy, improved skin quality, better comfort in your clothes, and greater ease in your body.
Are You Ready to Reset Your Circulation & Detox in Myrtle Beach?
If you have been feeling puffy, tired, or stuck in your body, it may be time to support your circulation and detox systems in a deeper, more strategic way.
A customized infrared wellness session at Body Lab Studio can be the starting point for:
- Easier, more comfortable movement
- Calmer, brighter, more resilient skin
- Less inflammation and fluid retention
- A renewed sense of energy, lightness, and confidence
Explore our signature RESET Membership, book an infrared wellness session, or schedule a consultation with one of our Body Lab Studio experts in Myrtle Beach. You deserve wellness that actually works, for your real life, for the long term, and from the inside out.
- Akasaki, Y., Miyata, M., Eto, H., Shirasawa, T., Hamada, N., Ikeda, Y., Shibata, R., Ouchi, N., Murohara, T., & Tei, C. (2006). Repeated thermal therapy improves impaired vascular endothelial function in patients with coronary risk factors. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 48(7), 1386–1391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2006.06.055
- Chadwick, A. L., Shi, C., McMillan, M., Miller, J., Hu, J., & Geiger, P. C. (2025). The impact of a heat therapy intervention on pain and fibromyalgia symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia: A pilot study. Frontiers in Pain Research, 6, 1526491. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpain.2025.1526491/full
- Genuis, S. J., Beesoon, S., Lobo, R. A., & Birkholz, D. (2012). Human excretion of bisphenol A: Blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2012, 185731. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3255175/
- Hussain, J. N., Cohen, M. M., Mantri, N., O’Malley, C. J., & Greaves, R. F. (2022). Infrared sauna as exercise-mimetic? Physiological responses to infrared sauna vs exercise in healthy women: A randomized controlled crossover trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 68, 102798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102798
- Kihara, T., Miyata, M., Fukudome, T., Ikeda, Y., Shinsato, T., Kubozono, T., Ikoma, A., Hamasaki, S., & Tei, C. (2009). Waon therapy improves the prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure. Journal of Cardiology, 53(2), 214–218. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19304125/
- Laukkanen, T., Laukkanen, J. A., & Kunutsor, S. K. (2015). Association between sauna bathing and fatal cardiovascular and all-cause mortality events. JAMA Internal Medicine, 175(4), 542–548. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25705824/
- Lin, C. C., Chang, C. F., Lai, Y. L., Chen, T. W., Lee, P. C., & Tei, C. (2012). Far infrared therapy promotes ischemia-induced angiogenesis in diabetic mice and restores high glucose-suppressed endothelial progenitor cell functions. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 11, 99. https://cardiab.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2840-11-99
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2023). Do infrared saunas have any health benefits? Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/infrared-sauna/faq-20057954
- Nowacka, A., Śniegocki, M., Smuczyński, W., & Ziółkowska, E. (2025). Therapeutic potential of infrared and related light therapies in metabolic diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(11), 5134. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/11/5134
- Zhang, Y., Li, X., Wang, H., et al. (2025). Graphene-based far-infrared therapy promotes adipose thermogenesis and improves energy metabolism in diet-induced obese mice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(5), 2225. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11900916/
