I Tried Red Light Therapy To Beat The Winter Blues

I’ve used my red light and grounding mat at least 3x a week every night before bed for almost 12 months religiously.

And let me tell you, it works.

The Key Takeaways

• Red light can help beyond Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

• It’s a great tool for muscle recovery, soreness, + reducing inflammation

• The 2 products I’ve put to the test and delivered

_{Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. This is based on my own experiences and research. I’m not a doctor to discuss the benefits of red light therapy in depth, but there are plenty of studies and articles written by reputable organizations and professional journals (see sources).}

You may not know this, but red light therapy is similar to early morning and evening sunlight, which is usually the sunlight you miss out on during shorter winter days^[1] .

So, if you live in a cloudy, northern environment without consistent access to the sun, then red light therapy is a no-brainer – red light therapy can make up for the low amount of natural light available.

What does red light therapy help with?

• Muscle Recovery and Soreness: It’s a ‘non-invasive’ modality that can soothe aching muscles, aid recovery from sports injuries, and accelerate muscle recovery by penetrating deep into tissues, providing relief from soreness and hastening the regeneration process. Giving you the freedom to move with fewer muscle aches.

• Reduces Inflammation: In the body at a cellular level. It's a proactive choice to combat silent inflammation, allowing you to move through life easily and comfortably. Alleviating pain and accelerating muscle recovery.

• Sustained Energy Levels: Modern life can wear out our energy-producing mitochondria, leading to fatigue and sluggishness. Red light therapy can rejuvenate these powerhouses, feeling energized throughout the day. It can also help improve overall ‘awareness,’ balance your circadian rhythm, improve your sleep cycle, and get more restful, deep sleep.

The verdict: Light therapy worked to increase my awareness

Achieving full-body balance and an increased sense of awareness with these two products

I have been using Hooga’s Red Light and Grounding Mat, which has significantly impacted my daily routine. Especially when it's gloomy and rainy outside, and I spend most of my day working indoors, staring at my screen, I look forward to incorporating it into my nightly routine before bed.

This has also made me more conscious of my surroundings and my body. I feel more present, relaxed, and aware. Initially, I was skeptical of being ‘grounded’ and feeling connected, but now I am hooked and can't imagine not having it as part of my daily routine.

Sources:

[1]. (2022). Red Light Therapy; Could It Be An Alternative To The Natural Health Benefits Of Sunlight? Luminous Red.
https://luminousred.com/red-light-therapy-could-it-be-an-alternative-to-the-natural-health-benefits-of-sunlight/

(n.d.). Red Light Therapy. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22114-red-light-therapy

(2023). Using Light For Health. Neural Network. Huberman Lab.
https://www.hubermanlab.com/newsletter/using-light-for-health

Golden. (2023). A Detailed Guide to Red Light Therapy. Better Brain And Body.
https://www.betterbrainandbody.com/post/a-detailed-guide-to-red-light-therapy

Schober. (2023). 7 Benefits of Red Light Therapy. Health.
https://www.health.com/red-light-therapy-benefits-7693320

(n.d.). Hooga Health.
https://hoogahealth.com/pages/learn