Want to feel invigorated, madly alive and have great conversation. Get thee to an outdoor sauna where you can run from 100 degree temperatures to an icy lake or sea, writes Emer Sexton

Are there proven benefits to taking a sauna? I find it good for arthritis, but I have been told that it can be bad for your health if you have heart troubles.

A sauna does more than build up a sweat. It can be a lifesaver, research says. Middle-aged men who take frequent saunas are less likely to die from heart conditions than those who do not, scientists have found.