How To Be WellnStrong

92: Infrared Saunas: The Secret to Detox, Energy, and Longevity | Sunlighten Founder Connie Zack

• Jacqueline Genova • Episode 92

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Did you know that regular infrared sauna use can boost heart health, detoxify your body, and even support longevity? Join me as I sit down with Connie Zack, co-founder of Sunlighten Sauna and one of the world's leading experts on infrared light therapy. Connie shares 25 years of experience pioneering infrared technology, offering practical insights and science-backed advice for anyone looking to feel better, live longer, and heal from the inside out. Connie shares how infrared light targets inflammation and boosts immunity, offers tips for maximizing your sauna routine, and breaks down the red, near, mid, and far-infrared wavelengths—what they do and why they matter. She’s a wealth of information! I truly enjoyed this conversation and learned a ton. 

Right now, you can save up to $1,400 on your sauna purchase via the link here! You can also mention the code "wellnstrong" to the Sunlighten team!

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*Unedited Transcript*


Jac: Welcome to the podcast, how to Be Well and Strong. I'm your host, Jacqueline and Genova, and I'm excited to have you join me as I speak with some of the leading figures in the fields of wellness, integrative medicine, and mental health. As we discover what it truly means to be well and strong in both body and mind.

Get ready to be empowered, inspired, and motivated about being an advocate for your own health.

Did you know that regular. Infrared sauna use can boost heart health, detoxify your body, and even support longevity. Join me as I sit down with Connie Zach, co-founder of Sunlight and Sauna, and one of the world's leading experts on infrared light therapy. Connie shares how infrared light targets inflammation and boost immunity, offers tips for maximizing your sauna routine, and breaks down the red, near, mid, and far infrared wavelengths, what they do and why they matter.

She's a wealth of information. I truly enjoyed this conversation and learned a ton. Let's dive in. [00:01:00] Well, to kick things off, Connie, so I know that you and your husband co-founded Sunlight in out of a personal health crisis. Can you walk us through that journey? I've heard snippets here and there, but I'd love to hear, you know, how it really shaped your mission.

And again, I, I love what you're doing, so I'm super excited to dive into this.

Connie: Thank you. Yeah, so a long time ago, over 20 some years ago, my brother had mercury toxicity. And he was diagnosed with mercury toxicity through his dentist because of his mercury fillings leaking into his body. He was really, really sick, young, I mean, just couldn't do anything.

And, uh, it really significantly impacted his life until his dentist diagnosed him and then recommended infrared as a way to sweat out the mercury and do it safely, naturally, in the comfort of his own home. And so he bought an infrared on and it changed his life. And my husband and I, [00:02:00] um, were in, uh, where were we?

We were in St. Louis at the time and we were both working for Proctor and Gamble on the pharmaceutical side. And yeah. And, um, both of us really wanted to make a significant difference in this world and leave the world a healthier place and make an impact. I mean, we both had really big dreams and. We felt like we were doing everything we could with pharmaceuticals as far as helping people.

When we were, when we saw my brother cure himself, like literally cure himself with this technology, we're like, wait a second. There's something here. Nobody knows about this, right? Right. Nobody knows about this. What, what if. You know that this is our destination and this is what we're really supposed to be doing.

We're supposed to bring this, you know, to the forefront and enlighten everybody about infrared. And that's exactly what we started to do. We left our corporate jobs. He, Aaron, left first. I stayed in. [00:03:00] Did two jobs, um, uh, for about, I don't know, six months because we just didn't want to

Jac: Right.

Connie: You know, completely be crazy and we were just half crazy.

Um, and yeah, everybody thought we were, I mean, my friends, my family, I mean, except my, I mean my mom didn't 'cause she believed, but I was really the only person. In fact, my mom came out. It helped us and um, just 'cause it was just crazy at the beginning. It was just really, yeah, it was day by day, you know, struggling.

Jac: I can imagine. Well, you certainly were a pioneer. I mean, now we hear infrared, you know, almost in every other, uh, sentence in the wellness space. I love it. Um, and it's, again, so much emerging research is coming out on it. And even too, Connie, I've found that. You know, the therapies now that so many folks are using, be it infrared or you know, sauna therapy and whatnot, these are ancient therapies.

Right? Right. They have been used for thousands of years. I mean, if you look at the Finnish culture too, like every single family, my understanding, like has a sauna actually in [00:04:00] their home. So it's not like these are new practices. Yeah.

Connie: I, in fact, I heard a, what was the statistic? I just learned it last week.

In Finland there are more saunas. Than cars. Wow. Something like that. Yeah. It's a really powerful statistic and maybe even homes that it's, it was like mind blowing. I mean, there's just so many, it, it is such a, um. A ritual an an ancient ritual. I mean, it's been around for, for so long, and infrared has been around obviously for so long because it comes from the sun.

So I mean, you know, so as long as the sun's been around, infrared's been around,

Jac: absolutely. And that, that leads into my first question, Connie. So for the listener out there who's never even heard of the term infrared, can you do a quick, you know, foundational breakdown of that?

Connie: Yes, and actually a lot, it's a lot of people that I talk to, so I, I'm thrilled to hear you say that it's everywhere.

'cause that just warms my heart. 'cause most people that I talk to don't know what it is. So [00:05:00] infrared comes from the sun. I. And it is part of the sun's light spectrum. The what makes the, the spectrum, and that's one thing that's different about infrared versus traditional heat, is that it has a spectrum of heat.

It's a spectrum within a spectrum. There's four different parts of that spectrum, which we can talk about if you want. That's a little bit deeper into the science, but it does. Those four different parts matter as far as the impact on the body. And then infrared is also light. So it's light energy and our bodies are natural solar panels.

In order for them to be activated and turned on, you need light energy into your body. It's just, it's not, I. A luxury is something you need to have. And forever ago when we were outside all the time, you know our body has got that natural sunlight and that natural infrared into our bodies, but it just doesn't happen anymore.

And then infrared is heat that is absorbed. Into the cells without [00:06:00] like going through the air. Hmm. So that's different than traditional heat. Traditional heat heats the air and temperature really matters because you want to be really, really hot in order to get the benefits with infrared temperature.

Doesn't matter 'cause it's about the energy transfer into your cells and they're absorbed and they start to. Move and vibrate, and I can get into all the science if you want, but that's a, that's a, that's a high level of what infrared is. It's safe, natural, essential for all living things. The majority of the sun's flight spectrum is in the infrared.

I. Category. It just doesn't have any of the UV or other, other rays in it. It's just the healing rays. Mm-hmm.

Jac: Can we go, can we do a deep dive, Connie, just for me, I'm very curious into those four different spectrums.

Connie: Yeah. Yeah. It's fascinating how they work. So if, let's start with far, because far is the foundation of infrared.

That's when we started doing our research forever ago. Um. As far as trying to [00:07:00] understand this wavelength, this special wavelength, we really spent a lot of time understanding the far infrared part of it. I didn't know that I was doing that, but I was doing that. Now that I reflect back of like, oh wow. So this is really the foundation of the infrared spectrum and how it works is it is the, the coolest of the three wavelengths and it is absorbed, it's light, but you feel it and you experience it by heat and the heat.

Gets in this, the infrared gets into your cells and it starts to make them move and change and change the structure. And the magical part is it's really starts to move things around in your body and, uh, develop flow. So the whole flow is increased blood flow, increased oxygenation, increased core temperature.

That's magical because that helps with your immune system. That helps with [00:08:00] esis, that helps make your body stronger. It also helps with weight loss 'cause your body's trying to cool itself down, right? I mean, that's such a magical piece to the whole infrared energy. And as also then. It starts to increase your core temperature, that's when your body starts to sweat.

So the sweat is, you know, an incredible, um, side benefit. Have the experience so far infrared, it's really claim to fame. It's really excellent for, in like all the cardiovascular benefits are the, all of the heart health. There's been tons and tons and tons. In fact, out of all the benefits, cardiovascular is the most studied and most extensive, specifically with the far infrared.

Another, another benefit of far that I, I love so much that's relatively newer. Is a reduced inflammation at the deep part of your body. So it actually activates a gene that controls inflammation. So it you, when you do that, it helps you turn [00:09:00] back the biological clock 'cause inflammation is known as inflammaging and it's the number one cause of aging so far.

Infrared helps. Um, at the deepest level, all of the wavelengths help with inflammation. They just help with the body in different ways. So, um, so I talked about inflammation with pharr. Detoxification is, is critical with, with Pharr and then also there's lots of studies with depression, with pharm for it.

And then, uh, mid, mid-infrared. It's, it's really magic is working together. It's kind of like a sidekick to far infrared. The experience that you receive is a little bit hotter than the experience with far because it's a wavelength is a little bit shorter and it's, it's like claim to fame is, is helping far with weight loss as well as reducing inflammation at the joints and tissues level.

So it's excellent for muscle recovery and we get a lot of athletes that want impulse, which is the one behind me because impulse is the [00:10:00] only product on the market that has. Far infrared, separately, mid-infrared, separately near infrared, separately and red light separately. So we isolate all of the wavelengths.

Wow. But then we also have found a way to blend them all together and pulse them at different frequencies to give six different, um, targeted health benefits. Six different programs. So that's, uh, mid infrared and some other benefits too. And then the two. Other wavelengths near and red are delivered through LEDs.

Mm-hmm. And you do not experience them by heat. So you have two that you're, you feel it's the all light energy from the sun, but two of them are experienced by heat and two are experienced by light. Near infrared is invisible light. And it is so powerful and like it is such a beautiful part of this infrared energy.

It penetrates the skin, uh, on as a superficial level. So it actually [00:11:00] goes through the skin layers and a lot. There's so many benefits, reduced inflammation, but there's tons of benefits associated specifically with the skin, like with cellulite and with, um. With aging and with fine lines and wrinkles, tons of studies with wound healing.

So that's the 1, 1, 1 of the benefits of near. And then red light right next door is, um, visible light and it doesn't go as deep. So originally when we launched impulse. Yeah, that was 2010, so, gosh, 15 years ago. It's crazy. Wow. Um, when we launched Impulse, we launched it with just near infrared because that goes the deepest and that was the most powerful, and all the scientists told us to do that.

So that's what we did. Uh, the, the issue with. That is, it's invisible. And so intellectually, I mean, it was hard enough for people to understand what emper it is, and then I'd get, I throw a light at them and I said, [00:12:00] this is gonna help you, but you can't see it. I mean, people just had a hard time wrapping with their mind around that.

Right? So we added red light later. Um, because you can see it and it does work synergistically with near infrared. And, um, same benefits really. There's only two differences between the two. One is the depth of penetration and the second is the color and one being invisible, one being visible. Fascinating.

So that's a high level. I mean, I could talk, I could talk hours just about far, you know, and same thing with mid, but that's a high level of the four, the four wavelengths.

Jac: Connie, how did you learn all of this? Are you just self-taught? You're, you're a researcher at heart? I can tell

Connie: I am self-taught. Um, it's the same way I learned.

People always ask me, I also studied Spanish, it was my major in college. And people are like, what? Like how did, why, how did you learn so much Spanish? I'm just like, well, I mean, I took it in school in seventh grade, but I taught myself when I was younger. Yeah. So I just kept, I just kept [00:13:00] asking, and I don't know.

I love that. Anyway, so yeah, I, I just, you know, I've asked. A lot of brighter people than me. So I've leaned into the experts. I mean, Dr. Hamlin, who is, I just think absolutely the world of, he is, um, our medical advisory. He is on our medical advisory board, but before he was on our medical advisory board. I mean, I just.

Would read all of his stuff because he's the expert on infrared. He's an expert on photobiomodulation, which is near infrared and red light and has a handbook. It's not a handbook. It's such a wrong word. It is a textbook.

Jac: Yeah.

Connie: You know, of all of the studies, uh, and I mean, it's, it, it's been extensively studied and the impact that it makes on the body is if, if, if this was in a pill.

Jacqueline. I mean, it would be a, you know, well, billion dollar, more than billion dollar, you know, people will be taking it all the time.

Jac: I'm so interested too, Connie, like you came from a pharma background, right? Yeah. [00:14:00]

Connie: How has ironic, right?

Jac: Very ironic. And I mean, how has your stance on, you know, pharma evolved since being in this space?

That's a very broad, ambiguous question, but

Connie: No, that's a great question. I've never really thought about how has it evolved because I, I. My, my feelings in pharma when I was there, I don't really feel like it's changed much. And my feelings were that like there is a need and I still believe that there are times when, you know, you do need to have some type of medicine to treat things there.

I mean. Not everything. I mean, ideally, let's get to the core and let's peel back the onion and let's get to the root. Right? Right. And let's treat, and infrared is a great way to treat so many different things safely and naturally in the comfort of your own home. It's an excellent, it is my, I mean, my favorite, you know, um, hack just on everything.

I mean, it's just so, [00:15:00] it's so great for that. But there are times when you do need to supplement that and. I would never want, and I would never take the position of don't do that. You know, I would never tell somebody, you know, don't go to a doctor. You know, just use my sauna. I mean, I just don't, I just don't feel that way.

I, I do feel that there's, um, I love integrative and functional medicine physicians. I think that they do have that philosophy of peeling back the onion and getting to the root. And as long as that's being approached, then I think that, um. You know, I, I, I don't have anything. I loved my time in pharmaceuticals.

I loved, I learned so much. I loved the people. I, I, I mean, I had amazing, um, mentors and people that I looked, so, so, you know, I just looked up to them so much and so, you know, I feel like it was there to. To give me that foundation of science and um, and to peak and spark my [00:16:00] curiosity, you know, with the science world because when I there, there's such a tipping point, Jacqueline, and when.

My brother went through his journey and then I started doing research on infrared. I'm like, what is this? Just can't really do what it just saw. And I saw all of these studies specifically in the cardiovascular arena that were already out and what, what that movement for me in my brain was. Wait a second.

I'm doing this and I'm trying to, you know, educate and market, you know, and, and sell anti-hypertensives, you know, to people. And the whole, the whole message was about. Side effects and how like you're trying to come up with a dosage that's low enough to do the trick and to lower your blood pressure, but also eliminate as many side effects as possible.

And then I think, wait a second. There's a study, there's a, there's so many studies on blood pressure.

Jac: Yeah.

Connie: And, and cardiovascular health and endothelial lining and strengthening the heart [00:17:00] and helping with CHF and CAD. And um, and I saw. The statistical significant data, which is what I was studying on, to try and bring medications to market and it was, they were all stat sig with, with using infrared.

And like, wait a second. This is, this is getting to the root. Yeah. This is what, this is what I'm really about. Yep, yep, yep. You know, and, um, and so I just, you know, decided to, you know, jump off a cliff and hope I landed okay. I mean, it's crazy. I would not necessarily recommend people's to, to, to mortgage their home and to mortgage their cars and, you know, to.

To go all in. And, um, but that's what we did.

Jac: You took a step of faith and clearly you did well. Um, so if we wouldn't be here, had you not done that, but I, aw, I truly admire you and your journey. I think it's incredible. And what you said about the integrative approach that certainly resonates with me. And I mentioned to you, Connie, prior to, to us starting, I went to Babson College.

Studied economics. [00:18:00] But during my undergraduate years, I actually wrote a thesis as part of this honors program I did. And the premise of my thesis was to advocate for an integrative approach to cancer. Um, and it was actually a year later that we found out my mom's cancer returned to stage four. Um, so it's kind of like ironic in terms of timing, but at that point in time, I already had like.

Explored a lot of these complimentary therapies for cancer, um, many of which my mom actually did. But the more I learned, a, the less I actually knew, right? Mm-hmm. Or I realized I knew, um, but BI realized that it's not one or the other. It's both. Right? And you can still pursue a conventional approach, but as long as you're supporting foundationally what your body needs, again, through complimentary therapies like IVC, hyperbaric infrared sauna therapy, um.

I think that's one of the best things you could do for yourself. And I like to experiment on myself too, Connie. Um, I've done quite a few things, uh, just for my own health, but one thing that I really love infrared light for as [00:19:00] well, and I'm sure you've seen a lot of research on this, is for concussions and traumatic.

Brain injuries. Um, I had several back in college. You're gonna laugh, but none of them were sports related. People are always like, oh no, what did you do? And I'm like, oh, just had a casual fall on ice in Massachusetts in the winter. Um, but through those concussions, I actually learned about the benefits of infrared light when it comes to, oh wow.

Yeah, helping to also mitigate long-term symptoms associated with the TBIs. And to your point about inflammation, reducing inflammation, building mitochondrial function. Yes. So I purchased a red light bulb and anytime I had a little like head bump or whatnot, I'd always get so paranoid, but I would sit in front of that light and call it placebo or not.

But I really did feel an impact after, you know, 10 or 15 minutes just of that infrared, um. Light exposure. So it's super, super interesting.

Connie: So who was it that, uh, that taught? How long ago was, because this was a bad bit ago, right?

Jac: This was in college. My first co Yeah. Yeah. My first concussion was sophomore year of college, which was like [00:20:00] 2015.

Um, yeah. So that was, so who

Connie: was it that taught you, who was it that rec, was it a your doctor?

Jac: Just myself, Connie. I just, again, similar to you, just started doing research, you know, how to improve. How to improve, you know, brain health, um, how to mitigate, you know, PI concussion syndrome. Naturally, I learned a lot about Lion's, Maine mushrooms, which, uh, you know, stimulate BDNF.

So I just, I went down a whole rabbit hole, but one of my main, uh. Treatment, so to speak, was red light therapy.

Connie: Oh my gosh. That is so, what a great story. Isn't that cool? Yeah. And like, I'm so glad that we met and, and that you did that research on your own. I mean, here I am listening to you thinking, okay, I wanna know like, like what doctor, 'cause that's, that's very progressive.

Yeah. You know, um, I mean, I hear that a lot today from doctors, um, like recommending PBM or even recommending, you know, all, all four wavelengths. Right. But. 10 years ago. I, there's, I mean,

Jac: yeah.

Connie: Yeah. It was really, really, really tough. There's a lot so [00:21:00] good for you that you did the research and that you found, I did the information that makes me so happy.

Yeah, there's, and it makes me feel like, like. Like getting up every morning and doing the work that we are doing. Yeah. You know, is, is is touching, you know, more people than I, I realize has touched you and Yeah, no, it has, you didn't even know that.

Jac: It truly has. And also too, I mean, you know, your mission's to help people, but even in the cancer space too, Connie, like, there has also been some recent literature on, um, stacking, I think it's methylene blue.

With red light therapy for cancer. And again, like it's, it's incredibly fascinating and we're just starting to dip our toes into that whole area. But, you know, the opportunity and like the potential that is there, um, it's really exciting. It's really, really exciting.

Connie: It is really exciting and I have seen.

I remember somebody sent me, God, this is years ago. Um, it's, it is, it was not too long, probably after we launched impulse. I mean, that's how long it was. [00:22:00] And, uh, somebody sent me this amazing visual, I'll never forget it, on near infrared, which when you say red light, so just so everybody's listening. Near infrared and red light.

I mean, they're, they're not really interchangeable because near infrared goes deeper. Right. And especially on the brain, near infrared is a better choice because it goes deeper. Usually if you do it right, usually, um, near infrared and red light should be combined. So it shouldn't be one or the other necessarily.

Um, if you only have one for those who are listening, I would do near infrared. Yeah. Especially for chronic things like the stuff you're talking about, because it is more powerful. Than, than red light. But anyway, back to my, my example is somebody sent me a visual of how near infrared light impacts cancerous cells and ha actually can force them to die off.

Hmm. And then regenerate, you know, um. New [00:23:00] cells and I mean, it was this great, it was such a powerful, we can't share that. Right, right, right, right. On our website. Like that's, you know, um, I mean, I, I'm still, you know, it's been, you know, a minute obviously since I was at p and t, but I'm still, my brain is still, I mean, we got so programmed over there on, you know, the lawyers and Yeah.

You know, not saying anything. And so we go, we take everything on our website. We run it through our attorney. I'm sure. We just make sure that, that there is no. Confusion or, or we're not misrepresenting and we're not doing anything that, um, to harm, you know, we're simply doing stuff to educate, but. That doesn't surprise me about the red light because of, because I received that and, and I loved, I, I mean, I can see it in my head.

I loved that it was like a cycle. Yeah. Of what happens when near infrared is exposed to cancerous cells or, or irregular cells in general.

Jac: Right. And it honestly too, Connie, I feel like it's kind of intuitive. Like you don't necessarily need to have a brilliant understanding of how, like the scientific mechanisms of how these things work.

[00:24:00] It's just foundational, right? Yeah. Like, look at the sun. Um, sun is life giving. And again, to the point about like. Making sure you get sun exposure every single morning. I'm a huge advocate of that. And

Connie: when it's, I saw that when it's, it made me so happy when I was on Instagram, I was like, oh, I'm, I'm gonna really like Jack.

I just

Jac: love that morning staple. I'm always outside. First thing I do, I go outside for my 15 minute morning walk, no phone, sunlight, even if it's cloudy. Um, and it really does. People don't realize how much it actually helps in terms of just, you know, creating a solid circadian rhythm and. Melatonin production at night.

Like so many benefits just from stepping outside for five minutes in the morning.

Connie: Yep, yep. That's, it's, um, I always say when, you know, they ask, I get asked about infrared benefits. Sleep is such a great benefit of infrared because of everything you just said because of the melatonin production. 'cause infrared, yeah.

It gets your, your on your circadian rhythm. I mean, whether we, and it doesn't matter. This is a question, probably one of the number one questions I get is, you know, what time of [00:25:00] day should I use infrared? And it doesn't. It's personal preference. Yeah. Do what do you do? What is going to fit in your lifestyle best?

And most importantly, I. Do what's going to lead to a habit. Mm-hmm. It's like your habit, your 15 minute walk. So that's in a morning walk. That's your habit. That's what you wanna do, is you wanna, you wanna find the, the schedule Yes. That you can become routine with and you do it. You know, um, consistently that's what's really important.

But whether you do it in the morning, you do it at night, it's gonna help all of these things. It's just whether you want to start your day Right. You know, with that and or you want to end it. Yeah. It's up to you. That makes sense. Or you can do it in the middle when I, you know, it doesn't matter.

Jac: Yeah. No, I love that.

Speaking of habits, Connie, so one thing I'm super interested in, and I hear a lot of folks talking about this. Again, everyone's different, but people do stack. Therapies, right, or stack supplements when using [00:26:00] Asana, for example. What are some of, I guess, like your favorite protocols or things that you have heard folks like, you know, really, really, uh, advocate for?

I have so many,

Connie: so, um, so many. Well, because one of my favorite benefits from a practical standpoint, 'cause I, I, I am all about. Efficiency and saving time because it's the one thing that the essence of time is the one thing we can't get more of in life. And so every minute that passes by is the last time, you know, we'll experience that minute.

And so I wanna make sure that I live life to the fullest with every minute and, um. And part of what I love so much about sitting in my sunlight and sauna is I can stack other things that I'm doing in my life while I'm in there. So it, it just depends on what's going on in, in, in my [00:27:00] life that I, you know, if I'm reading a book or if I'm really into, I went through a period, I was extremely.

You know, studying breath work and the power of breath work and the different type of breathing exercise and, um, ugh. And like to do that inside the sauna is so powerful. It just, yeah, you just, you, you start to get this. Active cardiovascular conditioning with this passive cardiovascular conditioning, if that makes any sense.

So I always say it's like the perfect marriage of increased, you know, um, increased energy with decreased stress. So it's just this great. Marriage, this great blend that puts you in just this like perfect recipe. And so combining. Sunlighten with sunlight and sauna, with, you know, um, breath work. Another one that's powerful, so [00:28:00] powerful is meditation.

You know, just really going in there and, you know, just taking time and, and meditating on whatever topic or just clearing your head because your brain, that's a thing. See, this is a thing. Let's talk about this for a second. Your, your brain, it changes when you're in there. And so it's, that's why it's such a great place to habit stack.

Yeah. 'cause what happens, it just, if you can just kind of imagine, you get this energy in to your body, and remember I talked about this, flow starts to happen and so it's just like, you know when you run or you walk, this probably happens to you on your walks. Mm-hmm. Where you get this inspiration in your head, your head is clear, you feel lighter and more energized because you're getting this increased blood flow and there's really not.

I mean that's such, I was gonna say, not like more powerful in your body than starting to get movement inside your body, into your cells, getting more blood all over, [00:29:00] getting more oxygen all over that oxygen and blood flow is going to your brain.

Jac: Yeah.

Connie: And that going to your brain starts to unlock a lot of things that is stuck.

That are stuck. And that is, it's just so powerful. And so why not when you're in there, take advantage of it. And so, I mean, I've done everything from. You know, journaling. Um, sometimes I'm sure my sunlight and friends love that when I just become super creative and I start to come up with all these different ideas, you know, because I'll be thinking about, okay, I wanna focus on X, Y, or Z, and you know, so I go in there and so then I come up with all these ideas on X, Y, or Z, and I share them.

Um, it, it, it. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And that's, it's actually, you know, one of the reasons that people live longer is they have a sense of community. They feel a belonging, they feel a connection. And when you're in there with, like, when I'm in there with my kids, when they come in and surprise me and come down and talk to me or my [00:30:00] husband or at our day spa, um, downstairs where I'm in the building that has the day spa right now, and.

They, I love seeing, I was just down there and I love seeing people go in there with friends like girlfriends. Mm-hmm. Oh my gosh. You know that's the best you, your bucket, right? Yeah. Your bucket gets so full. Yeah. And that makes you happier and that makes people healthier. Yeah. Because when you're happier, you're healthier.

And then that's what leads to, you know, living longer. So back to habit second. I'm so sorry, Jacqueline. I'm all over. I love this.

Jac: Connie, I love this. We're very similar. You and I think very much alike on so many different things. I love hearing your thoughts on all of this.

Connie: Okay, so I said, um, meditation, breath work.

Stretching is another one. Um, dry brushing is another one. Um, listening. A lot of people listen, um, to podcasts, you know, um, listen to like calm, calming music. Kinda like cellos. Just something just like super, super calm. [00:31:00] Um, journaling, intention setting. Yoga. I've done yoga. I love doing like tree. Pose or um, just anything with balance that helps you with your balance when you're in there.

'cause it, I just also feel like that helps with the brain. Um, and then there's people that do recommend as far as, that's my, so all those are my kind of thing. There's a lot of people that use castor oil. I haven't tried that yet. Full disclosure. I want to try that. Um, you do. Oh, that's fantastic. Okay.

That's great. Do, um, and like, do you, do you put it a certain place or

Jac: I keep it over my liver, but quite honestly, I mean, more and more research is coming out. I mean, you could really put it anywhere. I mean, I've heard women had, like some, a lot of my followers have used it to shrink cyst, ovarian cyst, interestingly enough.

Um, yeah, I mean, my mom's been dealing with liver tumors, so I always encourage her to sleep with it over her liver every single night. Yeah. Um, you can even, [00:32:00] you know, stack it with some essential oils, but it's just super simple practice again that anyone can do. It takes a table of castor oil and you sleep with it, you know, to your point about, you know, saving time and efficiency, it's like one of the most simple things you could do before your bedtime routine.

Connie: Oh, that's fantastic. I'm gonna, I'm gonna take that from you. You should, you should. Yeah. I'm gonna do that because I've been thinking about it a lot and I always, I don't have it at home, and so when I do my sauna, then I'm like, okay, I wanna, I wanna try it, but, right. But, but I can do it just like you said at night.

That's great. Yeah, absolutely. That's gonna be part of my nighttime routine. Yes. Okay. That's awesome. So, and a lot of people do, um, like activated charcoal, they'll do binders, um, gas, oil, glutathione.

Jac: Yeah.

Connie: So, you know, there's lots of different things that you can do to add on, but I just love the fact that when you're in there, because you're so comfortable, and, and if people are listening, they've never experienced an infrared sauna.

It's a very different experience than a [00:33:00] traditional sauna, because in a traditional sauna, it would be hard, you could have it stacked for a little bit, but it would be hard because you're, I mean, you, it's just, it's really hot and you're, you're. You know, you're, you're focusing on your breathing and all of that.

With infrared, it's. Your, your body is heating and the energy is working inside on your mitochondria and your cells and your water molecules, so it's supercharging your cells from the inside out. And so because of that, your experience is enjoyable and you can stay in there and you can, I mean, it's not something you have to fight to get through, right?

Something that you enjoy, right? So because you can enjoy it, then you can add on all these other things to do while you're in there. Or like writing letters. I saw one of your thing. One of your, what was that for? Was that for dopamine or was that for gratitude? You had something to write a letter, A thank you note to somebody probably.

Yep.

Jac: Yep. Connie, I didn't hear you follow well and strong. I love that. That makes me so happy.

Connie: Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I mean that's like, well, and strong is like the [00:34:00] best name, right? Like, who doesn't wanna be well and strong, right? Yeah. So I'm like, what's, what's, what's she all about? And one of the things she recommends and, um, and I, I love it.

I mean, I, I, I think gratitude is,

Jac: yeah.

Connie: So important. I mean, the, and also while we're on that, that topic, this is my, my, like, one of my newest things. I have a lot of things, but, um,

Jac: Connie, do you have a podcast? Do you have your own podcast? I, you know, you need to start one. Oh, you're so terrible. You, you really do.

Oh, okay. You have a lot of of wonderful things to say and I think people, many people would benefit from it. You're gonna be, you're gonna come back on this show at some point soon, but you should also consider starting your own.

Connie: Okay. I will, I will put that in my brain and I will share that with my team and we'll see what they have to say.

Please do. Um, okay, so what I was gonna say, this is my last thing I'll say about habits, Jackie, but it's really important, especially to this audience who wants to be well and strong. Um, and I think it's so powerful for [00:35:00] women is when you're in there to really not only think about. Sharing gratitude with others, but sharing gratitude with yourself.

Mm-hmm. And giving yourself that love and that care and that mental thank you. And that just that, you know, and also giving yourself that freedom. To make mistakes. You know, I just wrote recently a manifesto and I made sure to include in that, that I also recognize I fall down, you know, and I fall down again and again and again.

Yeah. But I learn. Yes, and I get back up and so you have to give yourself grace of, you know, I mean, I I before, 'cause I have two kids and it's just hard being a parent. How old are your children? Um, 15 and 17. Okay. So I'm, I'm in the, you are in the crux of, uh, teenage life. I'm in the crux life of two teenage boys.

Yes. And I tell you what, [00:36:00] there hasn't any been anything in my life yet that has been, you know, uh, so it's so rewarding, amazing, rewarding, fills my bucket every day, I'm sure. Um, but it's so important, so I take it so seriously. Yeah, right. I wanna do the right thing and make the right choices and. There would be many days.

My whole point is there'd be many days I'd be at my sauna and I would just be sitting there reflecting and thinking, oh, Connie, okay. That was not a good choice. Mm-hmm. That was not a good decision. You probably shouldn't have done, you know, I was just go through that and, and I, and then at the end I was just like, I felt horrible.

Right. Like, why don't I just go through all of that? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I, I should totally do the reverse. Yeah. And, and just acknowledge it, you know, recognize it, own it. Feel it. Yep. Learn from it. Yes. And then like, be graceful to myself and be thankful. It's like, you know what? I am absolutely doing the best I can and at that moment yep.

I made the best decision that, you know, I, I, I, I thought about and sometimes we don't reflect as [00:37:00] fast as we should. Yeah. And that's okay.

Jac: I. Yep. You know, I love that. So, Connie, there was an episode I did with a woman called Joe Hargreaves. I'm gonna send it to you after we stop recording. It's a, it was one of, probably one of my favorite episodes in addition to this one with you.

But we spoke about rumination and how to capture intrusive thoughts. Yeah. Um, and one thing too, Connie, so. A little bit about Well and Strong, I've kind of evolved in my approach. I mentioned I was a huge, you know, enthusiast for integrative medicine. I still am, but I've kind of shifted more towards like a faith-based approach to wellness.

Um, and that's just stemmed from my journey with my mom, you know, over the past few years. But one thing we spoke about in that episode was there's a verse in the Bible that says, you know, forget the things of the past. Look to the future in so many words, and I meditate on that because I feel like as perfectionist, right, we're always ruminating on past decisions, thinking mm-hmm we should have done this or that.

Mm-hmm. Always thinking of like the potential possible outcome that would've happened in another scenario without recognizing that we actually don't [00:38:00] really know what that would've even have been like. Right? Mm-hmm. But in our minds we think, oh, if we just think about it enough, we'll have an answer.

Mm-hmm. Um, so that was just very. Healing for me to hear that and just to meditate on those words. And to your point about, you know, we make the decision that we do at that time with information we have, that's the best decision we can make. And we have to just, you know, trust that and, and trust the timing of that and just move forward.

Mm-hmm. But, um. I love that. And those are really healthy practices, so thank you for sharing those.

Connie: Of course, of course. Thanks for sharing yours. I mean, I, I, I'm taking more away to today. Like, I'm so glad I came, you know, like I'm gonna do cast royal and that's so, so sweet. I mean, like, I'm gonna, you know, talk to my team about a podcast.

I mean, look at what lot the things that Yeah. Impact. I mean, that's amazing. So what a great, um. What, what a great podcast you have.

Jac: Thank you, Connie. One other question too, I did wanna get your thoughts on, in terms of stacking. Mm-hmm. Yeah. There's a lot of folks out there who are like the cold plunge [00:39:00] enthusiasts and whatnot, and I know there's benefits of hot cold therapy, obviously, for helping to stimulate your lymphatic system.

Is that a practice that you yourself like to do, like alternating between sauna and cold plunges, or not as much?

Connie: It is such a loaded question that I'm trying to, I'm trying another episode dedicated to this, so I'm reflecting. Yeah. Can I come back? Yeah. And can we talk about that? Hundred percent. Um, so, so on a serious note, I would like to come back and talk about that in a deeper level.

Yeah. And there's reasons why I'm not gonna share right now. Yeah. Um, but to answer your question, I, I think that whenever you shock the body. There is, I mean, proven benefits, right? Yeah. You're activating your, your, your heat shock proteins. You're creating a state of hormesis, you're making your body stronger.

You know, you're, you're helping with your heart rate availability. I mean, there, there's so many, you're helping muscle recovery, right? There's so many benefits. So I, um. I, I just think then cold is one of those. [00:40:00] Yeah. You know, and to go back and forth, you know, is, is a good, is a good practice for sure. Yeah.

And I'm gonna leave it at that.

Jac: Okay. All right. I'm excited for that. I episode Connie. And I am curious too, do you use your sauna every single day? Like, what is, what is your routine?

Connie: That's a great, great question. I do not use it every day. I do go through times like I just did. 'cause we, um. I don't know if you know this, I dunno if I shared, so Sunlighten was, um, included in a documentary called Longevity Hackers that's streaming right now.

No, that's incredible. Yeah, I know. I'll be watching this weekend. And Longevity Hackers was invited. It was um, up for an award. Wow. At the Beverly Hills Film, film Festival, and the producers who are just magnificent, I just respect them so much. I have so much respect for them. They just poured their heart and soul into this documentary to helping people find ways to live longer, you know, and to increase their longevity.

Anyway, to [00:41:00] get to my point is I was just in Beverly Hills for, because they were, we were invited to walk the red carpet and so exciting. Super exciting and, um, but traveling like that, especially that far, we're in Kansas City and um, and then also just the screening was late at night. Like, I mean, when you just get off your routine.

Yeah. You know, um, when I came back, I think I went, I mean at least five straight days in a row and the sauna's like, oh my gosh, this is the most ice sauna in a row. Yeah. So typically I like. Three to four days a week. Um, is my routine sometimes. Like if I'm gone for the weekend, then I'm off. I'm, you know, but that's generally speaking and um, and I love it.

And the other thing I would say for those listing, 'cause this is a bit, this is a big deal for me, is with the time factor, is it's okay. To only go in for 15 minutes. A lot of studies have been done, like the weigh on studies on cardiovascular health was just 15 [00:42:00] minutes. So you don't feel like if I don't have 30 to 40 minutes, then I can't do it today.

Right. Because then you'll never do it. Right.

Jac: Yeah, that's true. That is so true. Yeah. No, that makes sense. Also too, even with my mom, so my mom Connie, um, when I, prior to my hearing about sunlight in years ago, when I. You know, when her cancer came back right away, I was on it. I was like, we need to get you a sauna.

And we didn't have like a lot of space for a larger one, but I did get her one of those zip up. Um, I'm sure you've heard of Relapse sauna? Mm-hmm. Have you heard of them? Like the little Yeah, so she's, she's had one of those, but that's what she's been using post, um, even PET scans, right? Mm-hmm. Or MRIs, to your point about helping to detox the body from heavy metals.

I mean, there's gadolinium in, you know, the MRI tracer. Um, so there are certain times, right, or even. Detoxing from a flight and helping to ease the radi, the like, the radiation burden. Um, so those are all times where I'm always encouraging her. I'm like, go sweat it out, mom.

Connie: That's awesome. That, yeah. That's, [00:43:00] that's great.

How is she doing now?

Jac: She's okay. She actually had her PET scan on Wednesday. Um, so we're awaiting results for that. She's the reason I started well and strong. Mm-hmm. You know, so like, I know

Connie: I read that I would,

Jac: God brought good from it. Um, but yeah, she's uh. She's a strong lady.

Connie: Very strong lady. Yeah. It sounds like she's a she's a fighter.

Jac: Yeah.

Connie: And she is. She's she's strong.

Jac: She is. I know. I told her the other day, I was like, mom, do you wanna come on the podcast? And she goes, I don't know what I would say. I was like, you could just, you know, we could just sit and chat. She's like, great. I'll consider her in the summer. Um, yeah,

Connie: you should. That I, I would love that would be an, that'd really special.

Jac: Yeah.

Connie: Yes. It would be very special. I am positive that so many people would have take so much away from that. Which is what your goal is. Yeah. Is, you know, to impact and empower people. Absolutely. And that conversation I. And just let it flow.

Jac: Yeah.

Connie: Naturally, you know, and just go back and forth. That would just be fabulous.

Yeah.

Jac: Those are my favorite conversations. Even like these, like I prefer not to really have structured outlines, which is why I feel like you would [00:44:00] do so, so well with your own podcast. 'cause they're just fun, right? They're just opportunities to sit down and meet with folks whom you probably never would ever chat with.

Um. But this has been so fun, Connie. And one other question I did have for you. Yeah. You mentioned there's a certain sauna sitting behind you right now. I know there's a multitude that Sunland offers someone new to the space. How do they go about deciding which one they want? And God willing, when I have space one day in a house, I would love to to get one as well.

But where do they start in determining which one is for them?

Connie: Yeah. So the best thing to do for the somebody who's. Like exactly how you described, I would recommend, um, calling us at Sunlighten, uh, 8 7 7 2 9 2 0 0 2 0 because our team of infrared consultants, they, they. Know all about the different collections and their goal is to find the right fit.

So it isn't [00:45:00] necessarily, you know, for everybody to get impulse behind, you know, which is the one behind me. It's to find the right fit. And we have, um, four different collections and one of my favorite products, and it came to me when we, you were talking about your mom. So I wanna talk to you separately about the solo for your mom.

So the, what the sunlight and solo is, is it's so awesome. That's what we built. So many of, like art. Uh, we did a trial 'cause of course, you know, we came from p and g, like we have to do a clinical trial. It's crazy. I would not recommend doing that. Um, but, but we worked with the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and it was, I mean, it was awesome.

We, we showed a sta uh, statistical significant reduction in blood pressure, increased, increased quality of life scores and removal of tox, such as, um. Arsenic and aluminum. So that's a side. I mean, that's, that's forever ago. Uh, but my point was that that trial. Um, it from UMKC was done [00:46:00] with the sunlight and solo, and it is, it's just, it's super powerful.

It's a light on model. You can put it anywhere. It there is, there's, I've never seen a home that doesn't have space for the sunlight and solo. It is super compact and, um, and very, very powerful. The solo by itself has five heaters and our heaters are patented. Jacqueline, I'm not sure if you know that, but they, they have, what I mean by patented is they have delivered the most amount of infrared into the body.

So think of like your ideal supplement. I. You're taking a supplement for whatever, and what you're trying to get into your body is, you know, turmeric, for example, or whatever the supplement is, and you want, you don't want any fillers, right? You want to have everything absorbed into your body so you're not getting waste.

And it's the same way with infrared, is you want to have like the most amount, and we have 99%, so we have the most on the market and we patented our technology and our materials and our delivery system so that people have peace of [00:47:00] mind. They can't get more far infrared any place else. And that's what the solo delivers.

And then there's also a solo pad that's underneath that we developed years after we developed the solo. So you. You could have the complete immersion and that has four heaters. So you having nine? Nine. Just for perspective nine is a lot of heaters. I mean, our two person one I think has eight. So I mean it's, yeah, it's so powerful and so intense.

And there's a heater at the feet, which I love. 'cause you can actually feel that energy coming into the soles of your feet. And then it just, you, you, it's absorbed all the way up and your head is out. So, um, your, your just comes up to your neck and, and you can just lie there, lie down and breathe in fresh air while you take a sunlight and solo session.

So I love that product, as you can tell so much. Um, so that's, that's our entry level collection, the sunlight and solo system. It also comes with chromotherapy, which is light, um, additional type of light therapy. And then after that it's a [00:48:00] signature, and then after that is amplify. And then impulse is the only one on the market.

Not only the only one in our collection, but the only one that has the four, all four wavelengths separately. Um, as well as programs, six different programs that blend them all together.

Jac: Wow. That's incredible. Connie, I'm beyond impressed with all of your knowledge. Like Oh, oh my gosh. I'm just in awe of you.

Connie: I

Jac: really am. You're so

Connie: sweet. Oh, you're so kind. Thank you so much. They can also go to the website, I forgot. Yeah, we, where can listeners find you? Where, yeah, they can go to sunlighten.com. I'm, you know, we're getting some of the basic stuff, so, um, I'll like everything. Don't worry. Yeah. Okay. So yeah, I gave you the phone number.

They can also go to the website. We're on social, I'm on social. So if you wanna, you know, reach out to me, you can. Um, we'll put all that in the notes. And, um, and then we also, I don't wanna forget, I'm sure we'll put this in the notes, but for anyone listening, um, sunlight would like to pass along a discount, um, for your listeners.

So up to $1,400 off, [00:49:00] depending on which collection you choose. And they just have to mention well and strong so that our consultants know where they found out. So make sure and use well and strong. That name. I just can't emphasize that enough.

Jac: Wonderful. Connie, this has been so much fun. I can't believe we're almost up at the hour because I could, I could sit and talk to you for another few, but I know I too.

I too, I wanna be conscious of your time. We're gonna have another episode. We really are fantastic.

Connie: I'm looking forward to it. We'll include contest therapy. Yes. In the, in the talk. And then we can also include some more like self-care

Jac: stuff. I would love that. I would just love to dive into like Connie's life.

Like what are your daily habits? What is your routine with everything? Just for my own knowledge too. Stay tuned. I'll be back. I love that. But my last question for you, Connie. Yeah. This is always my favorite one to ask, and that is, what does being well and strong mean to you?

Connie: Being well and strong means waking up with a ton of energy and a smile on my face and.

[00:50:00] Just having that sense of radiance throughout my body all day long so that people are like, Hmm, I wonder what she's doing. So it's just that inner confidence and that inner peace and happy thoughts, um, smiles, positive energy. I love that. I feel like if you have that foundation, you can do anything. So true.

You know, it gives you the self-confidence to. Because strength to me is all about believing in yourself. You know, because the decision, anytime you do anything. You kind of made that decision on how successful you're going to be before you start it based on your mindset, right?

Jac: Yep.

Connie: So, and to me that's strength.

Jac: So true. And resilience. And it's resilience. It's funny too, Connie, my symbol for Well and Strong is an olive branch. Mm-hmm. And upon doing further research into it, I realize [00:51:00] that the olive tree is like one of the most resilient plants out there. And resilience was the basis, you know, from which I built this platform too.

So it's been cool to. See all the synergies with meanings and whatnot, but I love that.

Connie: Well, I love what you're doing. Keep doing it. Thank you so much for having me on, and I like really, really, when when Vic tells me we're going on again, I'm gonna be like, I'm gonna do like a little happy dance.

Jac: I'm like,

Connie: yay.

I get to see Jacqueline again. You're

Jac: so sweet. Connie. I do hope to meet you in person one day. If you ever find yourself in Greenville, South Carolina, please let me know. I'd love to give you a tour

Connie: reverse if you're ever in Kansas City.

Jac: Will do.

Connie: Thank you. Thanks, listeners,

Jac: I hope you enjoyed this episode.

If you would like to support the show, please subscribe, leave a rating and review and share it with others. Be sure to visit well and strong.com to access notes from the show and to stay current with new content. I'm so grateful you joined me. Be well and be [00:52:00] strong.

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Jacqueline Genova

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