Saunas - Relax at Home

Saunas have a history that spans the ages. It is believed that most ancient cultures used some form of the sauna. The cleansing and healing power of the steam and heat led these peoples to use saunas in religious rites and ceremonies. The Native American sweat lodge is a precursor to today's modern sauna.

In Europe, the tradition of the sauna has survived for over 1,000 years. Its transition from a spiritual pastime to a recreational one took place much earlier than it did in North America. The Scandinavian nations have the strongest tie to saunas. Finnish and Swedish saunas represent the two basic categories that saunas fall into. The Finns popularized the steam (also called wet) sauna, while the Swedes brought the dry sauna to the fore.

Wet Saunas vs. Dry Saunas

The choice between wet and dry saunas often depends on one's preference. Some people simply don't enjoy copious amounts of sweat. For them, the dry sauna is the way to go. However, each style does have very particular benefits.

Dry saunas use radiant heat to warm the cabin, bath, shower, hut, or cottage. Radiant heat has the ability to heat objects in a given space without heating the air between them. This limits humidity and sweat levels. It also makes dry saunas better for weight loss than wet saunas. Even though wet saunas often feel hotter, dry saunas are heated to higher temperatures. This causes calories to burn quickly. Wet saunas are perfect for detoxification. The sweat induced by the steam and humidity flushes harmful toxins out of the body. Both types of sauna have their supporters and detractors, so it is important to give each a try before settling on one style.

Personal Saunas

Most people don't ever really picture themselves buying a sauna. However, as more people visit public saunas at clubs and gyms, they are coming to realize all of the benefits a sauna provides. This has led more and more people to look into owning a sauna of their own.

There are a number of types and styles of personal saunas. Each year, more models are put on the market, so most people can find something in their price range. This may be a sauna bath or shower, or it may be a fully constructed outside sauna cottage.

Using Kits to Build Saunas

Building a sauna can actually be a very simple, very fast process. Sauna kits produced by a variety of manufacturers come ready to assemble. There are detailed instructions on how to handle each part of the process. Most kits will also provide a number to contact if one should run into any problems.

There are kits designed for most types of saunas. They allow people many of the same options they would have if purchasing a pre-made sauna. Permanent or portable saunas are available. They can be found with the latest in heating sources and a full range of wood designs. Some kits provide accessories such as glass doors and extended benches that allow people to fully recline in their saunas.