Everyone knows that the right heat works wonders for the body. But creating this heat, and applying it effectively, is both a science and an art. The typical human radiates infrared, or IR, at a wavelength of about 6-8 microns. The challenge, then, is to deliver heat that's tuned to our bodies for the optimum therapeutic effect. Previous attempts have quite gotten it right. Traditional saunas rely upon convection: that is, they heat the air up to a stifling 220 F that's above the boiling point. The hot air heats the skin, which in turn tries to heat deeper within the body. Not only does this overheat the skin, but it creates a suffocating atmosphere that's almost impossible to breathe. It can feel claustrophobic, too. Next came infrared saunas. These were a step in the right direction, but they weren't "tuned" to our bodies. It was up to Cedrus to make it all work right.