Dry Saunas

Dry saunas, or traditional Swedish saunas as they are often called, are not as well known in the United States as they are in Europe. When most Americans picture a sauna, they imagine a steam-filled room full of people sweating profusely. Dry saunas do not use steam. This makes a person's experience in the sauna entirely different than what most imagine.

Several different heating sources can be used in dry saunas. Advances in technology have led to the development of saunas that employ radiant heat, a heat that is transmitted by invisible waves of light. It actually heats objects rather than the air between objects. This reduces humidity, allowing a person to enjoy the benefits of the sauna without sweating as much as he or she would in a wet sauna.

Benefits of Dry Saunas

While dry saunas can help in the detoxification process, they are not as effective as steam saunas in this regard. However, they are superior when it comes to helping people lose weight. A person can burn 300 calories in a 20-minute session. This trait has also made dry saunas popular in the worlds of wrestling and boxing, where "making weight" is essential.

Companies offer kits that help people build personal dry saunas. They can be constructed in the bathroom, or a sauna hut or cottage can be built outside. Even portable dry saunas are available, so if a person moves or travels, he can take the sauna with him and keep up with his relaxation regimen.