Outdoor saunas are perhaps the most traditional of all saunas. In Finland, they were the norm. Outdoor saunas are their own enclosed buildings, separate from the body of the main house. In gyms and spas today, the sauna is usually just one small room of a bigger complex. With outdoor saunas, they are their own freestanding buildings.

Outdoor Saunas and the Pure Sauna Experience

This creates a pure experience for the sauna enthusiast. Imagine placing your sauna in a corner of your garden, or outside by your pool. Even better, imagine using sauna kits or sauna plans to build a sauna deeper into the woods on your land. If you are lucky enough to have a few acres of wooded property, imagine how blissful it would feel to put on your robe and sandals, stroll for five minutes into your woods, and indulge yourself in a sauna.

Relaxation is of prime importance in sauna, so setting matters. The more beautiful the setting, the more intense the sauna experience. In Germany, Sweden, and Finland, where saunas are so popular, entire towns are devoted to the spa experience. Many of them have "Baden" (bathing) in their town name. These spots are usually spectacularly pretty.

The sauna is more than a way to relax. It's a way to boost and maintain good health. Many of your organs, including your kidneys, liver, lungs and skin, work to eliminate waste. It's one of the most important processes to maintaining physical health, and one that is sorely taxed in our time of car pollution, lead paint flakes, and junk food. Saunas improve and encourage these eliminations.