"Life with Lypo-C" is a serial feature that focuses on the various people who love to take Lypo-C.
This time, we have sauna producer Mikie Sasano, who loves saunas!

She has attracted media attention as the daughter of Shiki-ji, a mecca for sauna lovers across the country run by her family, and is currently involved in producing sauna and hot spring facilities across the country.

We spoke to Sasano about a variety of topics, from the benefits of saunas from a woman's perspective to how to take Lypo-C in conjunction with a sauna.




Mikie Sasano
Sauna producer. His family home in Shizuoka, "Sauna Shikiji," is a one-of-a-kind "Sauna Mecca." Making use of the characteristics of the region, he produces saunas that stimulate the five senses for hotels, inns, clinics, etc. He proposes sauna experiences that go beyond heat to help you heal.

Mikie Sasano Instagram >>

What is the appeal of saunas from a woman's perspective?

-- Mr. Sasano, you are active as a sauna producer, but what led you to your current job?

Before my current job, I lived overseas and worked in coordination and PR for the food and beverage industry, connecting Japan with the rest of the world.

On the other hand, my parents' Sauna Shiki-ji in Shizuoka had no customers at all at the time and was not popular at all.

Even though I told my mother, "You should do more to promote the sauna to the media!", she didn't know how to promote the sauna.
I wanted to promote it because it's such a great sauna, and because I'm a bit of an otaku myself, I took it upon myself to spread the word about how great saunas are.

Then, a few years later, coupled with the sauna boom, we began to receive calls from the media, including on television, and Sauna Shiki-ji became more well-known. It began to attract many visitors from all over the country as a "sauna mecca."

From there, I was asked to do some producing as well, and now I'm producing hot spring facilities all over the country.



──Saunas are booming these days, but they still seem to be more associated with men than women. Why is that?

I think it's because men and women's bodies are built differently.
Many men believe that a hotter sauna is better and a colder cold bath is better, so they repeat the sauna and cold bath set several times.
This is probably because the male body is structurally better suited to producing pleasure.

However, since women have less muscle mass, repeatedly going from hot to cold can actually make them more tired.

So, what are women looking for? The answer is the five senses.
It is not a simple design that only has hot/cold water, but also has herbal water, aromatic scents,
An approach that appeals to the senses is required, such as beautiful scenery, mellow water baths, and overall relaxation at the facility.

Most of the facility managers are men, so the female perspective tends to be overlooked. That's where I help out.


--The point about "the five senses" makes sense. What are the benefits of saunas from a woman's perspective?

The biggest benefit is that it promotes skin turnover through improved blood circulation, resulting in overwhelmingly beautiful skin. And because you sweat a lot, dullness is removed!

People who don't sweat on a regular basis can have a slightly sluggish appearance, even if the surface of their skin is smooth.
Dull skin is caused by waste products, so by sweating in a sauna, the waste products are eliminated, improving your complexion and making your face look brighter.

I often meet sauna owners, and they all have smooth skin!
Most of the people there are men over 50, and many of them have skin as smooth as a peeled egg. I feel that the older you are, the more effective the sauna becomes.

Sasano's sauna routine

I'll tell you about my sauna routine.
If you don't know how to enjoy a sauna, be sure to check this out.


①Wash your body
First, wash your whole body. It's important not to forget to brush your teeth. In hot environments such as saunas, germs tend to grow in your mouth.


② Blanching
Immerse yourself in hot water for a short time. It's like warming up your body before entering the sauna.


③Sauna
Wrap a wet towel around your face and go into the sauna for about 5 minutes.


④Double cleansing
When you come out of the sauna, while still steaming, double wash your face.
Your pores will be open from the steaming process, so scrub away any dirt or problem areas.


⑤Sauna
After a double cleanse, I head straight back into the sauna, this time for a longer stay.


⑥ Cold bath
After the sauna, head to the cold bath.
Many people don't like cold baths, but it is recommended that you raise both arms when entering a cold bath.
Since your hands do not enter the water bath, it is not too cold and the discomfort is reduced.


⑦ Break
After the cold bath, head to the rest area. Place a wet towel over your eyes, lean back in a chair, and relax. Blocking out visual information allows your brain to rest properly.


This is the basic process, and if you want to make sure it penetrates properly, do steps ⑤ to ⑦ about two times.
If I don't have much time, I sometimes just take a bath in the sauna after the bath.


--Information on double cleansing and how to use a cold bath is very helpful!

The key is to use a sauna when your pores are open and your skin is foggy. "Let's do all the beauty stuff!" That is it.

The idea is that after thoroughly washing the top of your head, which is said to be the source of body odor due to aging, and using a scrub to remove dead skin cells from problem areas, your face and body will be left smooth and shiny, and you'll be ready to head to the sauna for real!

Another common opinion among women is that "cold baths are scary."
If you are one of those people, try raising your arms when entering the water to ease the cold sensation. Try entering the water slowly and relaxing without holding your breath.

-- I think post-bath care is also important. What kind of nutrition do you take?

That's right. After taking a bath, I drink barley tea or a sports drink, and I put 2 to 3 packets of Lypo-C in the drink.



Of course I take Lypo-C after taking a bath, but I also take it before taking a bath.
When you sweat in the sauna, you lose a lot of vitamin C and sodium, so I try to avoid dehydration.

Also, since the sauna has already given me smooth, beautiful skin, I've been taking in additional vitamin C for even more beauty benefits.

Saunas also help prevent illness

 

Earlier I mentioned the beauty benefits, but recently health Saunas are also attracting attention from this perspective."Prevention of illness"It has become clear that this leads to:
 
It has been found that saunas are also effective for women's specific concerns such as aging, PMS, and menopausal symptoms. Because a lot of blood flows through the body, saunas promote blood circulation, which improves metabolism and restores hormone balance.
 
In this way, I believe it is very important to add "vascular movement" to your life.
 
Currently, the efficacy of saunas is Doctor We are conducting research in collaboration with
In the future, we would like to work with the medical industry to convey the appeal of saunas not just as a form of beauty and relaxation, but also as a way to prevent illness.