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 10 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.