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Posts Tagged ‘sauna’

Most of us are interested in going to gyms, saunas and spas in order to ensure that we live a healthy life.  However, we find that it is very difficult to spare sufficient time nowadays for these activities when they are located at different places. Thus we would like to have these facilities at home. You can get the following advantages for your mind and body by having sauna facilities at home:

•    The heat inside the sauna helps cleanse the body by inducing sweat that will leave your skin smooth and clean
•    The process of cleansing as above induces thirst thereby cleansing the body inside.
•    It promotes weight loss because the body burns calories in the process of sweating and cleansing.

A saunas is great stress reliever and it is great to have it at home and use it in the home environment. By having a home sauna you save a lot of time that gets otherwise wasted.  You get more time to get yourself rejuvenated and refreshed thereby ensuring that you are fit enough for the next days’ hectic schedule.

In home saunas will be enjoyed by the entire family as well as friends. Often friends organize sauna evenings in order to relieve some stress and catch up with the latest news and gossip. Home saunas come in various sizes and  2 to 6 people can be accommodated in a home sauna, depending upon it’s size.  If you have allotted bigger space you could have a home sauna that can accommodate a larger number of people. The availability of time, money and skill levels in carpentry will decide whether you should purchase a fully built sauna or construct the sauna yourself. 

If you have heart disease/ BP, if you are pregnant and if you take drowsiness causing drugs you should always have somebody accompanying you; otherwise it could be life-threatening. Children can use home saunas only under the supervision of elders and should not activate it; otherwise it could be dangerous.

In order to access the door from outside ensure that your home sauna doors open outwards; the door should not get locked accidentally and hence avoid providing any automatic locks; providing alarm button will help in case an emergency situation occurs.

The discovery of steam bath or sauna was first in Finland.The traditional Finnish sauna is a very important part of their way of life. Saunas are not a luxury for the Finns, it is something they use everyday.

The sauna culture in Finland is almost well established. You will find built-in-sauna in almost every residence in Finland.The sauna has now been adopted in every corner of the world.

People’s perception of saunas, its customs, and etiquettes vary immensely from country to country. The reason that saunas have become so popular recently is because more and more people are realizing their benefits. Apart from stress reduction and relaxation, people now know the other benefits that saunas provide.

An orthodox Finnish sauna gives exhaustive purification to the body. It is also deemed to be the best natural treatment for the skin. It not only cleanses but also regenerates the activity of the skin from inside out.
In addition, the Finnish sauna provides a great cardiovascular work out.It is also an immune system developer and provides refreshment for the mind.

Essentially the finnish sauna is a hot air bath in warm and very low humid condition. Many people find that they sweat excessively while bathing. Therefore, new comers will atleast take 2 – 6 weeks time to get adopted. This sweating will actually help you become habituated to the hot and dry environment of the traditional Finnish dry sauna.

In a sauna the lighting is shady and the people usually prefer to sit in the sauna in silence and relaxed mood. A sauna’s temperature is usually kept between 80 and 110 degrees Celsius.

Some traditional sauna bathers make for themselves what is called a vihta, where they bind fresh birch branches together with their leaves and tie it around themselves and the other bathers in the sauna. It is believed that usage of vihta improves blood circulation and also it has pleasing birch odour which helps in relaxation.

Unfortunately, using a sauna is not for everybody. The traditional hot temperature leads to increase in cardiovascular activity. As a result, people who have heart disease or other heart-related health issues should not use saunas.

Adding to it, its is better for people with high blood pressure to check with their doctor before taking the sauna bath. A hot dry sauna should also not be used by the elderly, pregnant women, and children.

You should also avoid a sauna after a strenuous work out. Be sure you have given you body enough time to cool down before relaxing in the heat of a sauna bath. As long as you have taken these precautions under consideration and you are healthy enough, you should feel free to try a relaxing sauna bath.

The said benefits of the Finnish home sauna are authentic, emotional and physical. Post sauna experience makes you feel and look better. Your body will function very efficiently and most importantly you will be more relaxed.

Many enthusiasts claim that sauna health benefits include relief from arthritis, headaches, colds, hangovers and many other ailments.

Many claims are true, but there are also many exaggerated claims. Still, there appears to be some evidence that suggests there are real health benefits you can gain from “sweating it out” in a sauna.

Sweating & Health

We live in a very sedentary age and many people just don’t sweat enough. That only highlights the importance of taking saunas and steam baths.

Like eating and breathing, sweating is very important for good health. Yes, it’s that important.

Without sweating, your skin pores become clogged up by stuff like artificial environments, antiperspirants, smog, etc.

Many health and wellness professionals agree that heavy sweating in a sauna will help rid your body of harmful waste material.

I’ve even read that some physicians recommend home saunas to supplement kidney machines because sweating is such an effective detoxifier.

Depending on the individual, about a liter of sweat can be excreted during a 15-minute sauna.

Heat Effects On Various Systems & Organs

Kidneys. During sweating, blood is sent away from your kidneys and toward your body’s surface. This can help unburden your kidneys and help purge toxins through sweating.

Liver. Congestion of blood in your liver is reduced while you take a sauna. This may strengthen your liver’s detoxification ability.

Cardiovascular System. During a sauna, both your pulse and stroke volume increase. Surface vessels dilate as blood is shunted from your internal organs to the surface.

Repeated sauna use may help decrease elevated blood pressure by enhancing elasticity of your arteries, removing toxins from your kidneys and helping to reduce excessive sympathetic nervous system activity.

Immune System. Heating your body several degrees may increase white blood cell activity and snuff out heat sensitive microorganisms.

Nervous System. Using a sauna inhibits your sympathetic nervous system while strengthening your parasympathetic nervous system. This means a sauna has a strong calming effect on your nervous system.

Detoxification – An important sauna health benefit

You’ve probably read that saunas are good for detoxification.

First of all, heating your body several degrees dramatically increases circulation.

According to Dr. Lawrence Wilson, this helps remove toxins from hard to reach places like bones, sinuses, and teeth.

Many kinds of bacteria are heat sensitive, so a sauna’s heat can weaken or kill some of them.

Also, cells damaged by toxic metals and chemicals are weaker than healthy cells. Exposure to some intense heat may be a death sentence for those weaker cells.

Sweating

Sweating is a great method for removing toxins.

Substances that are eliminated through your kidneys may be eliminated through your skin instead. In this way, sweating helps unburden your kidneys.

In case you’re wondering, sweating from exercise is not the same as sweating in a sauna (or steam room).

First of all, saunas conserve your body’s energy by providing an external source of heat. This leaves energy for detoxification.

Second, sweating caused by exercise activates your sympathetic nervous system. This reduces the activity of eliminative organs (liver, kidneys, colon).

Parasympathetic Nervous System Enhancement

Stress from any source increases sympathetic nervous system activity.

For the best detoxification results, your body should be as parasympathetic (or relaxed) as possible. Why?

Parasympathetic activity activates your liver, kidneys, and other organs to help eliminate toxins.

Deep Tissue Penetration

Infrared saunas in particular heat tissues from the inside. Some researchers believe this inside-out heating helps facilitate detoxification at deeper tissue levels.

Conclusion

I hope this article helped shed more light about the subject of sauna health benefits.

If you have any health conditions, please consult your doctor before using saunas on a regular basis.

Read more about sauna benefits and how to use a sauna

If you want to set up an outdoor sauna, there are some things you’ll need to consider before you start shopping.

You can buy an outdoor sauna kit made to endure different weather elements.

Before you give thought to placing a sauna outdoors, you should check local building codes first. You might need to get a permit.

Now, here are some questions you should answer before you set up an outdoor sauna…

What’s your style?

There are many different designs and styles to choose from…

For example, do you want a cabin look? Or maybe a barrel-shaped sauna?

Do you want a contemporary style?

How big do you need your sauna to be?

Will guests use it or just members in the household?

Do you want a shower and changing area attached?

You can buy a sauna that includes both.

This will be very convenient if the sauna will be part of your entertainment plans.

If your sauna will be close to a pool, you can even use it as a pool house.

In terms of your sauna heat, you’ll need to think about available power options.

For example, if electricity will be unavailable, you’ll need to have a wood sauna heater or gas heater instead of the more popular electric heater or infrared heaters.

Do you want the ability to have your sauna outside or inside?

You can purchase a pre-built modular sauna kit that can be set up inside or outside your house.

If you really want to add something special to your experiences, plan your sauna placement with the course of the sun and the moon in mind.

If you position your sauna correctly, through a window you may be able to catch the sun light if you take a sauna during the day and watch the moon and stars in the evening.

Once everything is set up, an outdoor sauna could be your little ‘escape’ away from home without having to travel to enjoy it.

Terrence Banks has an infrared sauna site where you can read more about buying an outdoor sauna

We have all heard about the wonders that staying for a few hours in a sauna can provide for the tired person. While there are many ways that you can enjoy these benefits of soaking the steam into your body the best way is probably to build sauna room units. You will be able to find different companies that will provide you with various sized pre-cut sauna rooms.

Some of these companies will also help you with the assembling of the sauna room that you need. You can also find various manuals and articles that will detail the process of how to build sauna rooms in your homes. A few of these materials can be found on the internet and in other cases you can find books on building saunas at your local library and book shops.

The best way to build sauna rooms is to look for a good location for  the sauna. You can find the various items that you need for the sauna from companies that supply water resistant wood.

To build sauna rooms the best type of wood that you can buy and place inside of the sauna is that of Cedar wood. This wood is resistant to water by nature as well as stain resistant also. You will also be able to clean the sauna once you gave finished using it.

Additionally you will need to locate stones that have the ability to withstand the constant heating and cooling that is needed in a sauna. Therefore when you are buying these sauna stones to place in your sauna stove you should buy good quality Finnish stones. When you about to build sauna needs to have a place set in the center for the sauna stones.

The ceiling of the sauna should be sufficiently high so that the hot temperatures will not press too much on you. You can create this roof level aprox 7 to 8 ft about the floor of the sauna. You will have to ensure that when you are about to build sauna shed that any metallic pieces are not showing or protruding outside into the sauna itself.

For the various inhabitants of the sauna you will need to provide long and wide benches. These benches should be connected to the walls in a way which you won’t have any issues with the benches moving aside.

While it is true that you can create a great sauna in your home, you could take the stress out of it by buying a ready to assemble sauna instead of seeing if you can build sauna rooms with the bit and pieces that you may have.

Find out more about how to build a sauna at www.hotsaunaforyou.com.

Many people love the idea of sitting in a sauna and letting the heat drain away their tiredness and rejuvenate their body. Unfortunately, many people either don’t have the time or the money to make regular trips to a professional sauna. That’s why it’s becoming increasingly common for people to buy a portable sauna for use at home. This way they can enjoy this healthy, relaxing experience without breaking the bank. Portable saunas generally cost several thousand dollars less than permanent models.

There’s more than one kind of portable sauna to choose from. First of all, there’s the totally portable cabinet style unit which folds down. These products are produced from a fabric that looks sort of like a well insulated tent. There’s no need for new plumbing or electrical wiring. Just plug it into a normal wall socket. You sit on a chair that’s designed to collapse easily when you’re finished. Your head and hands will protrude from slits that are designed for this purpose. After you’re done, it folds up into a small package, like a box.

Some kinds of portable saunas are dome shaped or resemble a blanket or bag. You lie down and enclose yourself in either a stiff plastic dome or a special sauna blanket. Your body is completely enclosed, with the exception of your head. These models are very easy to store away when you’re done. The downside, though, is that you are unable to move your arms, so you’re basically immobile during the process.

Then there are the pre-built portable saunas. These are actually portable only in the sense that they don’t require permanent installation. Their source of heat is known as far infrared. It’s different in that it heats only people and objects without warming the air. They feature a control panel that lets you adjust the temperature and set a timer.

As soon as it’s plugged in, the special panels inside begin to produce heat. It might seem hazardous to be sitting so near to a heating source, but it’s really perfectly safe. The heating panels are just warm to the touch, not hot. Infrared actually works best when the heating source is close to the body.

A portable home sauna does have a few drawbacks. The saunas that are really portable just can’t produce the level of a heat that a regular sauna can. Because their walls are so thin, there isn’t enough insulation to prevent some heat from escaping. You’ll get more heat with a pre-built sauna. However, some people find that the small enclosed space makes them claustrophobic. But if you don’t want the expense and hassle of installing a permanent sauna in your home, portables are a very good option.

It’s easier than ever to enjoy the benefits of a sauna in the comfort of your own home. Nowadays, there’s a wide range of portable home saunas that can be found just about anywhere. All you have to do is take one home and plug it in.

The home sauna is becoming much more popular these days, and it’s not hard to figure out why. There are lots of healthy reasons to enjoy a sauna. One of these is the acceleration of the heart rate. Therefore, your blood is able to more efficiently move oxygen and nutrients throughout your system.

The perspiration caused by the heat of the sauna helps to open your pores. This sets in motion the detoxification of your body’s organs. Toxins are expelled, along with the harmful effects of alcohol and nicotine in your system.

The penetration of heat right into your body can result in fat stores and cellulite being loosened. Some people believe that they can lose weight by using a sauna. However, the loss is usually only temporary and will quickly be regained once the body’s fluids are restored.

Your skin will also reap some benefits from being exposed to the heat of a sauna. When your heart speeds up, it is better able to deliver oxygen and nutrients that are critical to the health of your skin. You should notice a healthier glow to your skin and fewer blemishes with regular sauna use.

The higher temperature that you experience due to the heat of the sauna also helps to produce more white blood cells. They are important to help you fight off infections and kill bacteria. People with various kinds of health conditions find they can relieve their symptoms by using a sauna on a regular basis.

Infrared saunas give you even more health benefits. The infrared light heats your body directly, not the air around you. Therefore, there won’t be any harmful effects to your respiratory system. You won’t be inhaling heated air into your lungs like you would in a traditional sauna.

Some of these home sauna units are just big enough for one person, while others can accommodate four or more people at a time. They can be easily installed anywhere in your home where you have enough room. Indeed, some saunas can be located indoors or out.

With an infrared sauna, you’ll use about 90 percent less energy than you would with a regular sauna. Another advantage is that they heat up much more quickly. There’s really no easier way to enjoy the health benefits of a sauna right at home.

Saunas and steam baths originated in Finland.The Finnish traditional saunas is a significant part of the Finnish culture. Finns consider saunas not as a treat, but as an essential part of their lifestyle.

The sauna culture in Finland is almost well established. In fact every apartment/residence there has well built saunasThe sauna has now been adopted in every corner of the world.

Cultures from all over the world have caught on and enjoy the benefits of using saunas, although how they are perceived, their customs, and the etiquette involved in using saunas vary greatly. In recent times saunas have become very popular worldwide because of the numerous benefits offered. Apart from relaxation and stress reduction people have started to become aware of the other health benefits that saunas offer.

Using a traditional Finnish sauna has a cleansing effect on the body. Some people consider it the best natural skin treatment. it thoroughly cleanses the skin and leaves the skin feeling rejuvenated. Furthermore, Finnish sauna is a good work-out for your cardiovascular system.It is also an immune system developer and provides refreshment for the mind.

Essentially the finnish sauna is a hot air bath in warm and very low humid condition. So steam bathers sweat a lot. Many people find that they sweat excessively while bathing. You may find that you have to use a sauna regularly for 2 to 6 weeks to become adapted to it. This sweating will help you become accustomed to the relaxing process of dry heat bathing.

There is usually only dim lighting which lends to providing you with a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. A sauna’s temperature is usually kept between 80 and 110 degrees Celsius.

Furthermore, it is a common practice among sauna bathers to make a vihta, which means that they bind together fresh birch branches with leaves and belt themselves and their fellow sauna bathers with it. It is considered that employment of vihta betters blood circulation and also it has enthralling birch odour whichaids in relaxation.

Although steam bathing is advantages, it is always necessary to take precautions. The hot air temperature in a sauna does lead to an increase in cardiovascular activity. As a result, people who have heart disease or other heart-related health issues should not use saunas.

Adding to it, its is better for people with high blood pressure to check with their doctor before taking the sauna bath. Steam bathing is normally not recommended for elderly, pregnant woman and small children.

You have to be careful if you have been working out; your body must be cool before it is exposed to the hot temperature of the sauna bath. As long as you have taken these precautions under consideration and you are healthy enough, you should feel free to try a relaxing sauna bath.

The said benefits of the Finnish home sauna are authentic, emotional and physical. Post sauna experience makes you feel and look better.You will find that your body works more efficiently and, maybe more importantly, a hot sauna will make you feel more relaxed and mentally at ease.

It takes careful planning to build a sauna from scratch.

Here’s an overview of the steps:

• buy or design your plans

• find/buy the wood

• accurately measure and cut the wood or have a professional do it for you

• assemble all the pieces, including a heater, bench and door

Choose A Location

Location is an important consideration when building a sauna. It’s the main thing that will influence your sauna design. For example,

• Will you convert an existing room?

• Will it be freestanding?

• Do you want it inside or outside your house?

• Will it be in the city or country?

When the location is chosen, you have to decide what kind of sauna heater you’re going to use.

Depending on your chosen location, you may not have much of a choice.

Choosing A Sauna Heater

Electric sauna heaters are the most popular choice. You’ll need access to electricity if you want to use one.

If you plan to build a sauna in the country, a wood sauna heater may be your only option.

You can also buy a gas sauna heater, but they are more expensive.

Professional installation will be required and the sauna will need to be ventilated. Gas heaters also require more clearance than an electric heater.

Before making any final decisions, find out what the local building codes are. For example, there may be an ordinance for your community that restricts the use of a wood burning sauna heater.

Sauna Construction

If you want to convert an existing room into a home made sauna, you’ll have to take protective measures against the moisture that’ll come from the sauna. The room will need to be properly insulated and include a vapor barrier to guard against possible damage.

You’ll have to find-and-buy or special order the wood you’re going to use, then you’ll have to carefully measure and cut it (or have a pro handle that part).

Unless you purchase tongue-and-groove lumber, you’ll have to use a special tool to make tongue-and-groove joints in the sides of the wood for strength and tight seals.

Of course you also need a sauna door. Manufacturers sell them in different shapes and sizes.

You can also buy a bench for your sauna or you can build your own.

It is doable, but if you’re not skilled with your hands building your own sauna is no small task.

Learn more about saunas and buying a home sauna

Saunas have been around since antiquity and are still very popular today. What is it that makes the sauna such a timeless pleasure?

Saunas are designed to provide either moist or dry heat.A typical sauna session may be a social gathering in which bathers undress and sit or lie down in temperatures greater than 80 °C. The opening of the pores and sweating make it possible for impurities to easily be removed from the body. If water is poured on the hot stones, steam is produced which makes the sauna moist. The sauna is loved not only for it’s relaxing properties, but also for improving the immune system and helping detoxify the body.

Sauna is an ancient Finnish word that describes the traditional Finnish bath. Stones were heated to very high temperatures and water was poured over them in order to create heat and moisture in the form of steam.The temperature would increase so dramatically that people removed their clothing.

Eventually the sauna was improved with the addition of a metal woodstove and chimney. Although the temperature was generally set somewhere between 70 and 80 °C, a traditional Finnish sauna could sometimes get as hot as 90 °C. Steam vapor was also generated by spraying water onto the heated stones. The steam vapor and high heat caused bathers to sweat a great deal.

Often the Finns would use a ‘vihta’, a bundle of birch branches with fresh leaves, to gently swat themselves and other bathers to improve the experience. The vihta was used by bathers to gently swipe the skin in order to stimulate the pores, enhance cell production and improve blood circulation. Another benefit of the vihta was that it gave off a very pleasant scent that stimulated relaxation in the same manner that many of today’s aromatherapy products work. In fact, the vihta is still used by some individuals in the sauna.

As previously noted, a sauna is a wonderful and effective way to relieve stress. It accomplishes this in two basic ways. One obvious way is psychological; the heat and steam have a highly relaxing effect. When the sauna heats your skin, it helps to detoxify your body by making it sweat out more harmful toxins than you would have without its aid. Removing these chemicals helps your body fight stress and feel healthier

The opening of the pores also makes it easier to remove toxins from the body. Toxins travel through your sweat glands and are released with your perspiration. As noted earlier, a sauna creates a high amount of perspiration and therefore is excellent for detoxification

The Finns keep the rich history of the home sauna alive today by making it a part of their daily ritual. In Finland, saunas are considered to be a natural and effective way of refreshing both the mind and spirit. Then and now, the sauna remains a key component to healthy living in Finland. Families often bathed together in home saunas, and in the past Finnish women often gave birth in saunas.

Finnish migration to other parts of the world aided in the dissemination of information about saunas, how they were made and used and their many benefits. This enabled individuals from other cultures to learn about saunas and use them, and it paved the way for future advancements such as electric sauna stoves and far infrared saunas, which became very popular. Today, the sauna is recognized and enjoyed globally, and continues to be enhanced both aesthetically and functionally.