In this insightful Q&A, we sit down with Kirsten King, founder of Fluidform Pilates and a passionate advocate for health and wellness. With her background as a movement professional and a mother to three young girls, Kirsten emphasises the importance of holistic well-being. She shares her personal journey with her Sunlighten infrared sauna, discussing why she chose to incorporate it into her routine and how it complements her active lifestyle.
Join us as we explore Kirsten’s experiences and the remarkable benefits of infrared for recovery, sleep, and overall health.
Why did you decide to get a Sunlighten infrared sauna?
Naturally, as a Pilates advocate and movement professional – health and wellness is in my DNA. But it travels beyond this into my family (mum to three young girls), our studio clients and members of our Fluidform at Home community (in 185 countries around the world!). Fluidform looks beyond moving on a mat to provide a voice of education, support and guidance to better the health and happiness of our clients. As the founder, I am constantly learning and exploring ways in which I can better my wellbeing, to share this with our community. I am a big advocate for the power of what we put into our bodies, how we move our bodies and how we nurture our bodies, to achieve optimum health and happiness from the inside.
I was introduced to the Sunlighten brand through a friend and client, which is when I first delved into the benefits of infrared heating. The synergy between infrared heating and functional movement became really clear, really quickly. They are complementary to each other and when you combine the two, the benefits to your muscle recovery, circulation, flexibility and cardiovascular health are unmatched. Investing in a sauna at home has allowed me to maintain a consistent routine to reap the benefits of infrared heating on the mind and body.
How have you started incorporating your sauna into your daily routine?
I aim for two sessions a week in the evenings. My days are very active so this routine has become essential to my recovery process. It has transformed my quality of sleep and energy levels. If my immunity is feeling low or I can feel myself getting sick, I’ll spend 60 minutes in the sauna to support my body’s natural detoxification process and give my immune system a natural kick.
You have been using your Sunlighten infrared sauna for a few months now, have you started noticing an impact on your fitness/recovery due to using your infrared sauna?
One of the incredible things about infrared heating is you begin to notice the benefits and changes to your body after just a few sessions. After a week I noticed an improvement to my circulation, flexibility and reduced muscle soreness after exercising. After a month my sleep had improved, my immune system felt stronger and I was waking up feeling more energised. After 6 months, it’s become a part of my weekly wellness routine – like doing a workout, or taking your supplements! It becomes a non-negotiable.
What are four things you do to rest and recover after an intense training session (hopefully including your Sunlighten sauna session)?
Recovery is essential for me to perform at my best. After a long day of training, teaching, or filming workouts for Fluidform at Home, I try to prioritise a few recovery techniques to release any muscle tightness, realign my body and relax my mind. A magnesium pool dip or magnesium supplements before bed, 40 minutes in my infrared sauna to stimulate the recovery process, active recovery in the form of a walk or deep stretch, and then plenty of water to hydrate and replenish my muscles, joints and skin.
What are some of the common mistakes people make when it comes to recovery?
I think the most common mistake in recovery is not giving yourself enough time. Recovery requires time and considered practises – you can’t rush the process. Spend an extra 20 minutes of deep stretching, enjoy 40 minutes in an infrared sauna, prioritise quality sleep and allow your body to rest.
The second biggest mistake would be disregarding your nutritional needs for recovery. Food is medicine, and plays an important role in our physical recovery process. Your body requires proteins and nutrients to support muscle growth, development and recovery. Whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and wholegrains, paired with protein sources will aid and support your recovery.
The third would be disregarding the importance of mobility and stability work. This is an active form of recovery as it allows the muscles and joints to stretch and release. When we fail to do this, our muscles become tight and our joints stiffen, we start to hold tension in the body which translates to pain, soreness and imbalances. This is common in weight trainers, runners or athletes when we overuse muscles without correct mobilisation and stabilisation of the muscles and joints. We overcompensate in other areas, creating a hunch or bulk in our shoulders, tight hips and sore knees.
What are five things you do each week to ensure you prioritise your health and feel your best?
- Movement is a daily non-negotiable for me. I aim for 20 minutes of Fluidform a day, and have started incorporating weights training and skipping once a week for bone strength and density.
- Sweating helps to support detoxification and muscle recovery – so between my infrared sauna and a hot Pilates class, I aim to sweat 2-3 times per week.
- Food is medicine when it comes to my immunity, digestion, quality of sleep and skin health. I eat a lot of veggies, fruits and whole foods. Breakfast is usually a smoothie or chia pudding to kickstart my digestive system, lunch is often a salad and protein and dinner is an oven traybake of chicken or fish and veggies. I get most of my nutrients and vitamins through my diet, but I supplement with Lypo-spheric vitamin C sachets, magnesium and PEARL marine collagen.
- Magnesium has changed by relationship with sleep and therefore stabilising my energy levels. We have a magnesium pool at home which I try to use all year round (even Winter months!). A magnesium bath once a week and daily magnesium supplements help to support my sleep and muscle recovery.
- Between work and family life, it’s hard to find time in my day to pause and reset, so my morning routine is important to set me up for the day ahead. There are a few rituals I have adopted which I’ve found to improve my energy levels through the day. After some form of movement, I will spend a few minutes dry brushing which generates circulation and supports natural lymphatic drainage. I practise hot and cold therapy in the shower to focus on controlling my breath and reduce any inflammation in the body.
Share with us in one paragraph why you love your Sunlighten and what benefits you’ve noticed from your sauna sessions?
My infrared sauna is my saving grace for someone who lives a highly active and on-the-go lifestyle. It does all the hard work – releasing toxins from the body, stimulating the circulatory system, settling and stabilising the digestive system – while I can reap the mental benefits – focusing on my breath, practising 40 minutes of meditation, or maybe catching up on a podcast or listening to a soothing album.
Our bodies are incredible in that they have the ability to detox, produce collagen, convert foods into energy and fight off diseases, naturally. But when life throws us challenges, stresses or trauma, our bodies work overtime to counteract to stay balanced. Infrared heating supports these processes and natural systems, when we need them most. It’s an all-in-one deluxe beauty treatment, without the chemicals and toxins!
As our conversation with Kirsten King comes to a close, it's clear that her Sunlighten infrared sauna plays a pivotal role in her wellness journey. By prioritising recovery and nurturing her body, Kirsten sets an inspiring example for us all. We hope her insights motivate you to explore ways to enhance your own health and well-being and make sure you check out Fluidform for energising workouts and delicious recipes.
