Sauna before or after swimming session?

I swim 2km three times a week, alternating between backstroke and freestyle in 40-50 minutes.

Currently, I use the jacuzzi for 10 minutes after swimming and then spend 30 minutes in the dry/steam sauna.

I’m curious if trying sauna and jacuzzi sessions before swimming might be beneficial. Could it help me feel more focused, calm, and make my swimming sessions feel more rewarding and less monotonous?

After. Sauna is dehydrating and fatiguing.

I worked as a lifeguard at an apartment pool and would sometimes find beer cans in the sauna at end of day. Guess they were rehydrating while they were dehydrating LOL.

Definitely sauna after. :blush:

My aquatic centre has a ‘jacuzzi’, a whirlpool big enough for about a dozen people, it’s great to go in for a few minutes after a long swim and position yourself to have the jets hit specific areas - shoulder blades (traps), calves etc. It’s also nice because the act of swimming is solitary, and the shared hot tub can be an opportunity to be more social.

Save the heat for after your swim. If your swim feels monotonous, try mixing it up. Do intervals of different lengths and intensities on different pace times. Include kick and drills. I’m never bored while swimming!