When Mark Norwood found himself in the emergency room eight times in 12 months, he knew something had to change.
The former educator was battling multiple sclerosis and three herniated discs in his cervical spine. Traditional pain management wasn't working, and the medications offered only temporary relief.
The answer came from an unexpected source: a close friend of his wife, Mia, was undergoing cancer treatment. Her doctor recommended infrared sauna therapy to manage chemotherapy-related pain.
"It was a complete game changer for her," recalls Mia.
When she strongly suggested Mark try it, there was just one problem — there were no infrared sauna studios in Long Beach.
Mark eventually found a facility in Anaheim, about 40 minutes away. "Fifteen minutes into my first sauna session, everything changed," he remembers. "My muscles relaxed, my nerves quieted down, and I was pain-free for the next three days." He signed up for an unlimited membership and made the drive for two years, but the commute itself became counterproductive. "I'd leave home in pain, get there, have this wonderful therapy, then sit in traffic. By the time I got home, I was stiff and sore again."
During his second disability leave, Mark and Mia began discussing alternatives. That's when the idea for Radiance Infrared Sauna & Salt Lounge was born. The couple began to lay the groundwork in 2022. They finally opened their doors in summer 2025.
"We didn't set out to be in the sauna business," Mark admits. "This came out of pure necessity. But as we worked through the process, we kept reminding each other that this was something the community really needed."
Radiance offers infrared sauna therapy, halotherapy (salt therapy), and more recently, compression therapy. The couple plans to continue expanding the modalities offered at their wellness center.
The couple's educational backgrounds — Mia is also a former teacher — serve them well as they explain their services to curious clients. Infrared saunas use invisible infrared waves to heat the body directly, rather than heating the air like traditional saunas. This promotes pain relief, improved circulation, reduced inflammation and detoxification.
Their salt lounge releases tiny salt particles into the air to cleanse the lungs and improve breathing, benefiting those with asthma, allergies and skin conditions like eczema.
"We've had pediatricians recommend our halotherapy to parents," Mia notes. "One mother brought in her five-month-old baby with respiratory issues this week because her doctor specifically suggested finding salt therapy."
But perhaps the most unexpected aspect of Radiance has been the emotional impact. Mia recalls two particularly moving moments — both involving caregivers who broke down crying in the salt room. One woman was dealing with the stress of scheduling her mother's medical appointments.
“She walked into the salt room, took a deep breath, and just started crying. She said, 'It's something about this room — I just feel so at peace.'”
Another woman brought her daughter who has autism. She cried too, overwhelmed that she'd found a place where her child could just relax.
As someone who cares for her mother and a husband who lives with chronic pain, Mia understands the toll that stress takes on caregivers.
"Even as the owner, I caught myself not taking time to use our own services," Mia admits. "I had to remind myself: if I'm encouraging others to prioritize self-care, I have to do it too."
Their advice for the new year?
"Take action," Mia emphasizes. "Most people understand they need to take care of themselves, but actually doing it is what's often missing. Be open to alternatives beyond your annual doctor visit. Make wellness a priority and then follow through — even if it's just forty-five minutes, three days a week."
For more information, or to book a session at Radiance Infrared Sauna & Salt Lounge, visit their wellness center at 4512 Atlantic Ave or their website at radianceinfrared.com