home sauna

The Hot Sauna For a Healthy Mind, Body and Spirit

2009-07-02T20:01:00.000-07:00

The sauna is revered far and wide for the good feelings it gives its users, but a relaxing, reinvigorating sauna bath can do far more than simply clear the cluttered mind and elevate the burdened spirit. Indeed, the benefits to the body are absolutely amazing.

Reacting naturally to the heat of a sauna bath, surface blood vessels expand, bringing an abundant flow of blood to the skin. The hot skin quickly warms the blood, carrying the heat deeper into the body. Through perspiration, acid and waste residues are extracted from the blood, boosting the kidneys’ capabilities to filter out impurities.

After a few sessions in the sauna, pores that have been closed for far too long may open up, expelling old cosmetics, blackheads and acne-producing bacteria. Dead skin cells may loosen up, allowing for them to be washed off later. Teenagers will like how the sauna helps to keep their skin cleaner and clearer, and adults will appreciate looking and feeling healthier and more youthful.

Greater blood flow benefits the body’s muscles through the reduction of lactic acid. Athletes often use the sauna to relax their sore, tense and tired muscles and alleviate stiffness in their joints. Increased circulation also promotes the healing of skin cuts, as the stronger blood flow brings more red and white blood cells to the areas where they are needed.

Not to be ignored are the sauna’s proven abilities to help relieve tension headaches, backaches, colds, sinus congestion, arthritis, rheumatism, minor respiratory ailments, and sleeping difficulties.

For individuals caught up in the tremendous pressure and extreme stresses of 21st century society, the sauna offers peace, pleasure and plenty of other perks and privileges, not the least of which are the indisputable health benefits.
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Opening the Sauna Door to Better Health

2009-07-02T19:59:00.000-07:00

You may think of a home sauna as being little more than a luxury, an object that offers pleasure and comfort but is ultimately inessential to your well-being. However, the results of decades of research may just convince you of what sauna enthusiasts have believed for centuries – that regular sauna bathing offers significant, perhaps even life-saving, health benefits.

A chief objective of any sauna bath is to make you perspire, and perspiration is a natural, necessary function of the human body. It’s a means by which the body can rid itself of extra heat and water and eliminate harmful toxins that have, over time, built up inside it.

As Dr. Sherry A. Rogers notes in her book, Detoxify or Die, “The bottom line is that sweat is the only proven method for getting the most dangerous toxins out of the body.”

Researchers in Japan have concluded that perspiration induced by far infrared sauna use contains as much as 300 percent more toxins than sweat expelled during exercise. Included among these toxins are mercury, lead, cadmium and aluminium.

The health benefits of sauna bathing, however, go beyond aiding detoxification. As your body increases sweat production to cool itself during a hot sauna bath, your heart increases blood circulation. Heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate all increase, while diastolic blood pressure decreases, helping to improve overall cardiovascular fitness.

Sauna bathing may also contribute to healthy weight loss. A letter in a 1981 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association asserted that “a moderately conditioned person can easily ‘sweat off’ 500 grams in a sauna, consuming nearly 300 calories, the equivalent of running two to three miles. A heat-conditioned person can easily sweat off 600 to 800 calories with no adverse effects. While the weight of the water lost can be regained by rehydration with water, the calories consumed will not be.”

Most irrefutable are the claims that regular sauna bathing helps to relieve stress and promote relaxation. It has been demonstrated time and time again that spending just a few minutes in a hot sauna bath can reduce anxiety levels, sooth nerves and warm tight muscles. Not only has sauna bathing been shown to encourage deeper, more restful sleep, far infrared sauna therapy has proved effective in alleviating pain associated with arthritis, backache, bursitis, fibromyalgia, headache, sprains, strains and other muscular and skeletal ailments.

“I am convinced that the far infrared sauna is something that everyone should do to restore health,” contends Dr. Rogers. Indeed, especially for people burdened by toxic build-up, heart disease, stress and anxiety disorders, and weight problems, it seems the home sauna is now regarded much less as a luxury item and much more as a necessity for healthy living.

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The Finnish Sauna - 16 Steps to Total Pleasure

2009-07-02T19:58:00.000-07:00

Once appropriately acquainted with the sauna and adequately educated in its operation, sauna enthusiasts typically develop their own styles, rituals and methods of enjoying the sauna. There are many guidelines but few, if any, fixed rules to deriving the most pleasure and fulfillment from a sauna, as everyone is free to blaze their own trail to sauna satisfaction.

As well, the same road need not be traveled each time a sauna fan embarks on the journey, for there may be occasions when the bather desires a sauna session that is less relaxing and more invigorating or vice versa.

So much of sauna enjoyment comes down to matters of preference and choice, yet most sauna aficionados agree on the fundamentals:

Since a sauna bath can affect the cardiovascular system in a similar way as jogging, playing tennis or engaging in a vigorous exercise program can, bathers should behave responsibly.

Never take more heat than is comfortable, and never push the limits of endurance.

Although saunas are known to relax pregnant women, mothers-to-be are encouraged to discuss sauna use with their doctors. Anyone with a chronic illness like diabetes or epilepsy, a serious circulatory or heart problem, or a skin or respiratory ailment should also seek advice on sauna bathing from a qualified health professional.

People with high blood pressure who are accustomed to regular sauna baths are usually directed to continue sauna use but in moderation.

For obvious health and safety reasons, people under heavy drug or alcohol influence should absolutely avoid the sauna.

Consider the following steps on your road to finding fulfillment in the sauna:

1. Give the sauna sufficient time to do its work; a sauna bath that is unhurried is far more beneficial than one that is rushed. One to 2-1/2 hours should be just right for reaching the acme of relaxation.

2. After eating a large meal, always wait a minimum of one hour before using the sauna. Some people find a sauna session early in the morning to be quite invigorating and a terrific way to start the day. Other folks believe evening is the best time to sauna bathe, as it can help prepare your mind and body for bed.

3. Preheat the sauna to the temperature you desire by setting the thermostat. Many traditional sauna aficionados enjoy the heat at about 180 degrees Fahrenheit (82 degrees Celsius), the midpoint of the popular sauna temperature range of 170 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit (77 to 88 degrees Celsius).

4. Bathers not accustomed to sauna heat should begin at a lower temperature of about 160 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius) and allow their capacity for enjoying higher temperatures to develop.

5. Wear as little as possible, preferably nothing at all. A loose towel can be used if necessary. Take off any watches, jewelry and eyeglasses that would become irritatingly hot.

6. Many sauna bathers begin with a brief warm shower to wash off body oils and dirt.

7. Relax on the top level of the sauna for 10 to 15 minutes. (If you prefer a moderate heat, choose the lower level.) Many bathers spend about half of their time in the sauna resting in a recumbent, or reclining, position. When you are reclining, raise your feet above head level by using permanent footrests installed on the wall, or place a portable footrest beneath your ankles. Portable headrests and backrests are ideal for helping sauna bathers reach greater levels of comfort and enjoyment.

The sauna’s dry heat will increase your blood circulation and ultimately bring your body to the perspiration point, but don’t expect to perspire heavily during your first session in the sauna.

Don’t stay in the sauna for more than 30 minutes, as any exposure beyond that can be not only uncomfortable but also unsafe. Remember, the sauna is not a test of toughness.

8. Shower again, or take a cool refreshing swim. Weather permitting, hardy types might opt for an icy dip or a roll in freshly fallen snow. For some people, sudden temperature changes can be vitalizing. Exposure to extreme cold, however, must be followed by an adequate soak in the sauna heat to avoid contracting a cold.

9. Rest for 10 to 15 minutes to allow your body to cool down slowly, and then repeat the cycle of heat, shower and rest.

10. When you’re back in the sauna, throw on several scoops of water with the sauna dipper to make steam and to increase the humidity in the room. Raising the humidity level from a low five to eight percent to a more comfortable 15 percent will allow your skin to stay completely wet with perspiration. You should create a heat and humidity combination that will afford you the most enjoyment. Some bathers like it exceedingly dry, and some prefer it to be very humid. You must ascertain for yourself what your personal preferences are.

11. The birch whisk (or vihta or vasta, as it is called in Finland) can now be used to stimulate blood circulation on the skin. Whisking the whole body should cause very heavy perspiration.

12. Once your body is warm, your skin pores will open. When that happens, it’s time to vigorously scrub your entire body clean. If you’re sharing your sauna bath with a companion, be considerate and offer to scrub his or her back. He or she may just return the favor.

13. Experienced sauna bathers know that the final cleansing of the skin and pores occurs in the heat of the sauna session that follows a vigorous scrubbing.

14. Take a warm shower, and then, being careful not to chill your body, take a cooler shower to close the pores of your skin. Avoid extreme cold and drafts until your body temperature has normalized.

15. Allow your body to dry without toweling it. Take at least 20 minutes to relax and cool down before you get dressed. If you are at home, feel free to go right to bed and enjoy a deep, refreshing sleep.

16. Many sauna enthusiasts like to eat a light snack after a sauna session. Accompanied by a refreshing cool beverage, small salty sausages or crackers can be a tasty treat and will help the body replace the water and salt it lost during the session.

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Sweat Out Your Stress in a Sauna

2009-07-02T19:55:00.000-07:00

by Pertti Olavi Jalasjaa

Just like everybody knows how it feels to be happy or sad, everybody knows how it feels to be stressed. People face stress at home, at work, at school – anywhere opportunities to react to internal or external stimulation exist.

That stimulation can come from a disagreement with a spouse, a conflict with a co-worker, criticism from a teacher, bad news from a doctor, and so on. And the stimulation need not be negative; people often become stressed when they start new jobs or enter into new relationships. Even a big, surprise win at the casino can cause stress.

A little stress isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Stress during a job interview can help you give the best answers to the people asking the tough questions. Stress on a date can help ensure that your love interest sees you at your best behavior. Stress is, after all, the body’s way of rising to a challenge and preparing you to meet a demanding situation or undertake a difficult task with focus, strength, stamina and/or heightened alertness. Managed well, stress can actually benefit a person by enhancing his or her ability to perform under pressure.

Of course, if mismanaged, stress can have devastating effects on the human body.

When you are stressed, your brain alerts your adrenal glands to produce more of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol and release them into your bloodstream. These hormones speed up your heart and breathing rates, blood pressure, and metabolism. These hormones are not harmful in moderate amounts, but cortisol is secreted excessively in response to chronic stress and is extremely toxic in these larger amounts.

“Cortisol actually kills and disables your brain cells,” says Dr. Al Sears, founder and director of The Wellness Research Foundation. “Over your lifespan, cortisol ruins your brain’s biochemical integrity. Chronic exposure to cortisol causes the mental haziness, forgetfulness and confusion that is associated with aging.”

People under stress may also be at higher risk of developing coronary heart disease. Stress causes arteries to constrict and blood to become stickier, increase the probability of an artery-clogging blood clot. As well, people who regularly experience sudden increases in blood pressure caused by stress may, over time, develop injuries in the inner lining of their blood vessels.

Studies suggest that chronic stress may increase a person’s chances for developing infections, having strokes, experiencing flare ups of multiple sclerosis, and suffering gastrointestinal problems like peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease. Chronic stress has also been linked to the development of insulin resistance, a key factor in diabetes. And ask anybody who has ever suffered from headaches, insomnia, skin disorders or sexual dysfunction if they believe that stress was at least partly to blame for their woes, and then construct your own conclusions about how damaging stress can be to one’s health and well being.

If you think you have a serious condition that has been caused or made worse by certain stressors in your life, you should discuss your concerns with a qualified physician. If, however, you’d like to improve the quality of your life by learning how to better cope with stress, many options exist. Perhaps your first focus should be on discovering the remarkable benefits of relaxation.

Relaxation decreases blood pressure, respiration and pulse rates, releases muscle tension, and eases emotional strains. In their quests for greater relaxation, some people choose biofeedback while others opt for massage therapy. Some folks meditate, and others perform deep breathing exercises. Many people use a combination of different methods, techniques and aids.

One such aid that has been revered as an effective stress-buster for many years is the home sauna.

The list of health benefits associated with proper sauna bathing is an impressive one. Studies indicate that soaking in a hot sauna bath can help improve respiratory function, increase cardiovascular strength, reduce and remove body toxins, strengthen the body’s immune system, relieve headaches, and cleanse and beautify skin. Sauna bathing can also increase blood circulation, relaxing tight, tired or aching muscles by providing them with more oxygen.

If you’re searching for a healthy way to alleviate the stress in your life, consider purchasing a home sauna. Residential saunas are available in a range of styles and sizes, from pre-cut Finnish sauna kits to outdoor barrel saunas and far infrared heat therapy rooms. Many sauna manufacturers can also design and construct saunas to custom specifications.

Given how seriously stress can impair your physical and emotional health, right now is the perfect time to learn how to relax, and inside a hot sauna room, away from the countless demands and distractions in your life, may just be the perfect place to do it.

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The Negative Ion Generator - A Beneficial Infrared Sauna Accessory

2009-07-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

By Pertti Olavi Jalasjaa

It’s no secret that far infrared or radiant heat saunas offer an impressive array of proven health benefits. Bathing in a far infrared sauna can increase heart rate and blood circulation without raising blood pressure. As well, regular far infrared sauna use can help strengthen the body’s immune system; eliminate heavy metals, toxic chemicals and other waste material; cleanse and nourish the skin; relieve aches and pain; speed the healing of sprains and strains; promote relaxation, and burn calories.

The long list of benefits of far infrared sauna use has already convinced countless people to incorporate radiant heat baths into their usual routines, but now, with the many extra advantages it offers, an invaluable far infrared sauna accessory is persuading even more people to embrace far infrared sauna bathing. Some people call this particular accessory an oxygen ionizer, while others refer to it (as this article will) as a negative ion generator.

An ion, as you may recall from your high school science classes, is an electrically charged atom or group of atoms that has gained or lost an electron. An atom that loses an electron forms a positive ion, and an atom that gains an electron forms a negative ion. In nature, ions are formed in a variety ways. About half are created by radioactive gases, while radioactive substances in the soil, cosmic rays, ultraviolet rays, airflow friction, falling water, and plants produce the other half.

Given their names, it would be understandable for someone to think that negative ions are dangerous and positive ions are beneficial, but the opposite is true. A wealth of information exists that declares air with an abundance of negative ions to be much healthier for humans than air with a high concentration of positive ions. Scientists have discovered that if the air is charged with too few negative ions and too many positive ions, people breathing it are more likely to feel tired and unsettled. More alarming is the fact that negative ion depletion and pos-ion poisoning have been linked to allergies, headaches, insomnia, arthritis, anxiety, and even heart attacks.

Negative ions perform a great service to people. They purify the air by magnetically attaching themselves to airborne particles such as dust, pollen, smoke and dander, weighing those particles down, and causing them to drop from the air. That function of negative ions may explain why so many negative ion generators are marketed as being able to alleviate respiratory diseases and hay fever.

“Generally speaking, negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain, resulting in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness, and more mental energy,” says Pierce Howard, author of The Owner’s Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind Brain Research. “They also may protect against germs in the air, resulting in decreased irritation due to inhaling various particles that make you sneeze, cough, or have a throat infection.”

The best natural negative ion generator is said to be lightning, followed by ocean surf and waterfalls. Ion researcher James Karnstedt notes, “Waterfalls have always been the favorite habitat of mystics and artists. The inspiration and romance generated at places like Niagara Falls and Yosemite have a direct relationship to the lowering of serotonin levels in the blood, caused by the waves of negative ions from the spray of these falls.”

Levels of serotonin, a brain chemical commonly associated with depression, can be adjusted by increased exposure to light and by antidepressants. New research, however, indicates that negative ions can also impact serotonin levels and, in turn, help people suffering from mood disorders. A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine revealed that 58 percent of patients suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) had significant relief of their symptoms after being treated with high-density negative ions.

According to Karnstedt and other sources, researchers have found that negative ions reduce neurosis and anxiety; enhance heart function; decrease pulse rate; speed physical recovery; help revitalize cell metabolism; strengthen bones; sharpen mental functioning; heighten appetite and thirst; promote healthy digestion; relieve asthma, migraines, burns and post-operative pain; stimulate sexual behavior, and help people sleep better. While performing tests on infants, a group of doctors at a hospital in Jerusalem even noticed that the babies didn’t cry as often or as loudly when they were breathing negative ions as they did in normal air.

People who seek the benefits of negative ions but do not have free or easy access to Niagara Falls, the seashore, or frequent lightning storms would be wise to investigate the possibilities presented by a far infrared sauna equipped or accessorized with a negative ion generator. Various far infrared sauna manufacturers and dealers sell certain models of radiant heat saunas with the negative ion generator already included; it is also sold separately as an accessory. Regardless of how you buy your negative ion generator, you should regard your purchase as an inexpensive yet worthy investment in yourself, as the negative ion generator is an instrument that could have a remarkably positive impact on your health and happiness.

Sweat and Far Infrared Saunas - Here's the Skinny...

2009-07-02T19:26:00.000-07:00

by Pertti Olavi Jalasjaa

For whatever reason, most people feel uncomfortable talking about perspiration. Nevertheless, the word sweat regularly finds its way into casual conversations. For example, it’s not unusual to hear someone remark that he or she “sweated” over an academic assignment, “worked up a sweat” on the tennis courts, or “lost a pint of sweat” while awaiting an important decision. But these are simply colloquial expressions that many of us utilize to make a point about our mental or physical stress or exertion related to a particular undertaking or event. When we use them, we are not specifically addressing our perspiration. After all, to do so, polite society decrees, would be in poor taste.

And yet much could be gained if people felt free to discuss the natural biological process of perspiration without fear of judgment or reproach. Open discourse on the subject could very well lead to greater public understanding of the high value of perspiration and, in turn, put many people on the road to better health.

It would also likely greatly increase public interest in far infrared saunas.

For years, health professionals and health-conscious laymen have been praising far infrared saunas for their astounding ability to make people sweat copiously and comfortably. When we perspire in a far infrared sauna, we help our bodies rid themselves of the countless toxins like mercury, lead, cadmium and other contaminants that have accumulated within us over time. As well, by intensely sweating in a far infrared sauna we benefit our hearts, lungs, kidneys and other organs that are essential to our survival. Far infrared sauna bathing has also been proven to promote pain relief, muscle relaxation, and emotional tranquility.

For people suffering from certain skin diseases, far infrared sauna bathing can be particularly therapeutic. As the far infrared heat induces an increase in blood circulation to the skin, the body’s defence against chronic skin conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis is considerably bolstered. As well, thorough sweating helps unclog the skin of whatever unhealthy remnants of soap, lotions, deodorants or makeup may be unnecessarily lodged in its pores. Dead skin cells are also effectively flushed away by a good sweat in a far infrared sauna.

Increased blood flow and decreased toxins and foreign material in our skin mean more natural nutrients and fewer reasons for irritations and disease. It all adds up to cleaner, healthier and better-looking skin. Elasticity, texture, tone and color can all noticeably improve after just a few sessions in a far infrared sauna. These benefits are available even if your skin has suffered harsh damage from excessive exposure to the sun.

You don’t have to talk about perspiration if you don’t want to. But, at the very least, it’s time you started thinking seriously about your sweat. If you live a mostly sedentary lifestyle and therefore don’t perspire much on a regular basis, you must take action for the sake of the health of your heart, lungs, skin and other vital organs. Discover the myriad benefits of owning and using a far infrared sauna. Countless experts agree that it’s your best setting for healthy sweating.

Sauna Bathing Can Help You Sleep

2009-06-24T21:22:00.000-07:00

by Pertti Olavi Jalasjaa

You’ve wisely avoided sleeping pills, but it seems as if you’ve tried almost everything else to get a better night’s sleep. You’ve reduced your intake of caffeine and alcohol. You’ve made sure you’re in bed at the same time every night. You’ve stopped watching TV or reading right before bedtime. You’ve made your bedroom as quiet and as dark as possible. Despite all your efforts, however, you’re still having difficulty falling or staying asleep.

To make matters worse, you’re now so worried about not being able to sleep well that you just can’t relax.

Maybe the time has come for you to try soaking in a sauna before heading off to bed.

In many circles around the world, the home sauna is held in high esteem for its amazing ability to soothe and relax the human body inside and out. The comforting heat of a sauna works to induce healthy perspiration, assist respiratory function, benefit blood pressure, stimulate endorphins, cleanse skin, and relieve sore, tired muscles. By raising your body temperature in a sauna bath right before bedtime, you compel it to normalize itself afterwards, and it’s this temperature readjustment following the sauna bath that helps to improve the quality of your sleep.

Of course, other effects of the heat bath can certainly contribute to improvements in your sleep. Regular sauna bathers routinely report that soaking in a hot sauna helps them rid their minds of the anxieties, frustrations and worries that may have been plaguing them prior to bathing. And by helping to alleviate any existing physical pain like headaches, muscle strain or joint stiffness, a sauna bath can effectively disarm many of the aggravations that might have impeded truly restful sleep.

Home saunas are available in many styles and sizes. Whether it’s a do-it-yourself sauna kit, a modular sauna unit, a traditional Finnish sauna or a far infrared heat therapy room, the sauna you purchase should have a noticeably positive impact on the quality of your sleep as well as on your physical and mental well-being.

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Sauna Therapy - What Research Reveals

2009-06-24T21:19:00.000-07:00

by Pertti Olavi Jalasjaa

The citizens of Finland aren’t the only folks who know about the terrific benefits of sauna therapy. Around the globe, doctors, researchers and other professionals have discovered the tremendous value of using sauna heat to help increase the human body’s white blood cell count, stimulate its immune system, facilitate detoxification, and produce a state of general relaxation that is vital to the healing process.

In many countries, experts continue to research the therapeutic properties of the sauna. For example, studies by Dr. Chuwa Tei, professor of medicine and chair of the department of internal medicine at Japan’s Kagoshima University, and his colleagues have demonstrated saunas’ usefulness in treating heart patients.

In one study, Tei and his colleagues compared 25 men with at least one risk factor for heart disease, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or smoking, with a group of 10 healthy men. Each study participant spent 15 minutes in a 140-degree Fahrenheit (60-degree Celsius) dry sauna, followed by 30 minutes in a bed covered with blankets, once a day for two weeks. The researchers then measured how well the participants’ blood vessels expanded and contracted, a sign of the health of the vessels. The group with at least one risk factor demonstrated improvement in these functions. The researchers also found that the sauna therapy lowered participants’ blood pressure slightly. Other benefits included decreases in body weight and fasting blood sugar levels. The results of the study should be encouraging to anyone concerned about blood vessel diseases like atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and erectile dysfunction.

In earlier studies, Tei and his colleagues demonstrated that sauna therapy improved the blood vessel function in hamsters with chronic heart failure. The hamsters that received sauna therapy also lived about three weeks longer than those that didn’t receive sauna therapy.

German researchers recently studied 22 kindergarten children who took weekly sauna baths and compared them to a group of children that did not take any sauna baths. Both groups were followed for 18 months and closely monitored for any occurrence of ear infections, colds, or upper respiratory problems. The researchers found that the children who did not take the weekly sauna baths took twice as many sick days as their counterparts.

Other findings suggest that it may be more than the heat of a sauna that is so advantageous to human health. Tests have indicated that the practice of tossing or splashing water on heated rocks in a traditional Finnish sauna produces a high quantity of negative ions in the air. Research has concluded that air abundant with negative ions offers great benefits, while a lack of negative ions or a higher ration of positive to negative ions in the air we breathe can cause physical harm.

And while a June 2001 edition of The St. Petersburg Times quotes Dr. Timothy Meade, a U.S.-educated doctor who works at the American Medical Center in the Russian city, as saying, “I don’t think studies have been done where 10 Russians take a banya every day for 20 years and 10 Russian people don’t,” the newspaper does state that “almost anyone who experiences the banya will tell you that there is a certain deeply felt sense of healthiness - what the Russians refer to as a kaif, or high - after a couple of hours” in the sauna bath.

Throughout Finland, Japan, Germany, Russia, Canada, the U.S., and numerous other countries of the world, much evidence and countless personal accounts exist to substantiate the widely held conviction that regular sauna bathing can be both an effective therapy for people burdened with afflictions and conditions like arthritis and hypertension and a formidable measure of prevention against colds, flu and other health threats.

Regardless of where you may live, if you are sick and want to get healthy or if you are healthy and want to stay that way, talk to a qualified health professional about the magnificent merits of the sauna bath. Countless studies concur that you can feel better and heal better in the soothing warmth of a sauna.

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The Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing

2009-06-24T21:14:00.000-07:00

By Pertti Olavi Jalasjaa

The sauna is known worldwide for the good feelings it gives its users, but a relaxing, reinvigorating sauna session does far more than just clear the cluttered mind and elevate the burdened spirit. The benefits to the body are nothing short of remarkable.

Reacting naturally to the heat, surface blood vessels expand, bringing a large flow of blood to the skin. The hot skin warms the blood quickly, carrying the heat deeper into the body. Through perspiration, acid and waste residue are removed from the blood, increasing the kidneys' capabilities to filter out impurities.

After a few trips into the sauna, pores that have been closed for years may open up, expelling old cosmetics, blackheads, and acne-producing bacteria. Dead skin cells may loosen up, allowing for them to be scrubbed off later. Adolescents will appreciate how the sauna helps to keep their skin cleaner and clearer, and adults will be pleased to look and feel healthier and more youthful.

Increased blood flow benefits the body's muscles through the elimination of excess lactic acid accumulated from strenuous exercise. Athletes often use the sauna to relax their sore, tense and tired muscles and relieve stiffness in their joints. Increased circulation (hyperaemia) also promotes the healing of skin cuts, as the stronger blood flow brings a greater supply of red and white blood cells to the areas where they are needed.

Not to be dismissed are the sauna's proven abilities to help relieve tension headaches, backaches, colds, sinus congestion, arthritis, rheumatism, sleeping difficulties, and minor respiratory ailments.

For people who are caught up in the high pressure and extreme stresses of 21st century society, the sauna offers problem-free peace and a plethora of other perks and privileges, not the least of which are the indisputable health benefits. Yet, many of those lacking accurate information still refuse to accept the fact that sauna enthusiasts are generally healthier and suffer from fewer colds than people for whom the sauna is not part of life's routine.

The Home Sauna A Powerful Weapon in the War for Wellness

2009-06-24T20:58:00.000-07:00

by Pertti Olavi Jalasjaa

Numerous battles continue to be fought in war zones around the world today, and one that demands more attention is the life-threatening assault deadly toxins are waging against the human race. It is a very quiet conflict, but one with a rising casualties count.

Some of the human body’s more famous and familiar foes are the heavy metals aluminium, lead and mercury, but, presented in its entirety, the complete “enemies list” of toxins that are silently sickening the human population would be truly terrifying. However, many experts agree that the one element that would surely be near the top of the list and therefore warrants aggressive retaliation is cadmium.

Cadmium contaminates what we eat (food), drink (water) and breathe (air). Like so many other heavy metals, cadmium is a pollutant that cannot be avoided by anyone hoping to enjoy a normal existence on Earth.

The bad news doesn’t end there. In her book Detoxify or Die, Dr. Sherry A. Rogers writes, “As a carcinogen, cadmium can trigger, for example, cancer of the lung, prostate, testicles and more. And once you have any cancer, cadmium acts like a fertilizer for cancers, making them grow more rapidly and spread or metastasize.”

Cadmium toxicity has also been linked to angina, arthritis, depression, high blood pressure, hypertension, migraines and osteoporosis, as well as other medical conditions and disorders.

Another toxin in the catalog of potentially catastrophic health hazards is toluene. A chemical found in cleansers, cosmetics, inks, glues, paints, nail polish, shoe polish and many other common household items, toluene has been linked to heart attack, liver damage, depression, cancer and more. According to Rogers, toluene has an addictive potential equal to those of alcohol and opiates. “So instead of finding it disagreeable,” writes the author, “people actually seek it out.”

Once toluene, cadmium, mercury and the many other toxins to which we constantly expose ourselves infiltrate our bodies, our health is unquestionably at high risk. Fortunately, there are ways we can help our systems fight back against these pollutants. One such way is by using a sauna.

Sauna heat elevates our skin’s temperature and, through perspiration, the toxins that are dissolved in our sweat and body oil are flushed to the surface of our skin where they can be washed off with ease. In other words, sweating helps detoxify the body, and one of the best devices to use to induce an intense sweat is a sauna.

A comprehensive detoxification or detox program can include additional elements like dietary changes, supplements and even enemas, but the value of sauna therapy as part of the detox regimen should not be underestimated.

As for the specific type of sauna, Rogers is among a group of experts who favor the far infrared sauna over the traditional Finnish variety. The author attributes her preference to the lower, more endurable temperatures and deeper, more direct heat penetration offered by the far infrared sauna.

Today, high-quality home saunas, both Finnish and far infrared, can be found at affordable prices. However, if the cost of buying a sauna concerns you, consider the words of Dr. Rogers: “When you realize the lifelong incapacity and expense of diseases such as chronic pain syndromes, heart disease, chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, migraines, Alzheimer’s, cancer or any others caused by chemical toxicity, a sauna is cheap.”

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Home Sauna: Maintenance Tips

2009-06-19T22:43:00.000-07:00

A home sauna can be a real treat. You'll experience all the benefits of a proper sauna and sweat bath right in your own home. However, saunas do need some upkeep. As long as you are willing to learn about how to maintain your home sauna, you'll be able to enjoy it for years to come.

Saunas are almost always built of wood and this needs some special care to keep it in optimum condition. Since home saunas tend to be fairly small, this is an ongoing task that really shouldn't take much time.

Cleaning Your Home Sauna

Since the steam will kill any germs that happen to enter the sauna, you really don't need to use anti-bacterial sprays or other disinfectants within the sauna. In fact, it's not even a good idea to use cleaners like this, since they tend to seep into the wood and then let off nasty fumes as you are heating the sauna up again. With the wrong cleanser, you could end up with an unusable steam room!

Prevention is the best medicine and this applies to cleaning, as well. Rather than wait for sweat to stain your wood seating, it's a far better idea to have towels ready to lay on the benches. Have anyone entering the sauna sit on these and you will find that the wood stays in great condition for far longer.

To actually clean the sauna, here are some helpful hints:
- Use plain soapy water to wash the wood with a soft cloth.
- Rinse with cool water.
- For severe discoloration, sand the stained area before washing and treating as normal.
- Watch out for ammonia in your cleansers, not only does it give off toxic fumes, it also turns the wood grey.

It's also a big help to have people wipe down the seats when they use the sauna. This will help reduce the discoloration that is due to weat.

Maintaining the Sauna Heater

The wood isn't the only part of the sauna that needs cleaning, the heater will also need some regular care. There are two types of sauna heaters, electric and wood burning.

An electric heater is fairly easy to clean. You will want to wipe down the heater with a soft cloth and some mild, soapy water from time to time to keep it pristine. Don't ever use a rough cloth or scrubby, since this tends to scratch the metal surface. Once a scratch has appeared, the humid environment in the sauna promotes rust.

Wood burning heaters will need to have the ashes removed after use and regular, professional inspections of the vents to ensure there is no fire hazard from creosote buildup.

The stones that are used to heat the sauna are also quite important. No matter what kind of stones you use in your spa, you really do need to inspect them on a regular basis. Any rocks with cracks or that smell odd will need to be replaced.

Another issue that many home sauna owners run into is a sticky door. The heat and moisture combined in the sauna room makes the wood swell. This can cause the sauna door to stick and is quite easily solved. Just take a piece of sandpaper, see where the wood is sticking and gently sand it just enough to allow the door to open and shut easily. It really isn't that difficult to maintain a sauna if you know what you're doing. Avoid harsh chemical cleansers and keep your heater in tip top condition and you'll enjoy your sauna for a long time to come.
http://www.saunafin.ca/

Enjoy Your Own Personal Home Sauna

2009-06-19T22:41:00.000-07:00

Having a home sauna is a much-earned luxury. There are so many things that make people happy, but buying elements that will make much needed life improvements are very essential.

Buying a home sauna is one of those luxuries that can bring some bliss in your life. Perhaps the greatest of all would be in creating your own sauna or just buying one that you can assemble yourself.

These days DIY saunas are becoming popular as people are getting fed up with buying something that could actually be cheaper if you make it yourself. This means that you can cut out the middle man contractor who can charge you some pretty deep hourly or job rates. The information is available for all to use and it might be the therapeutic project that you need in order to fulfill the Zen of self-accomplishment.

You do not have to build your sauna from scratch; instead you can enjoy the pleasures of using a pre-built home sauna. The pre-built kit can be seen as one big jigsaw puzzle, except that the pieces are larger.

The pre-built home sauna kit comes with all the pieces cut and ready to be put together in very simple and easy to follow steps. You can choose to do all this in one go or you can take it a day at a time just fitting as little or as many pieces that you want together.

However it is claimed that most pre-built home saunas can be up and running in about half an hour. It is only fair to state that some of the pre-built home saunas are not that cheap, as they are pre-built. It is all up to your individual choice and preference of how quickly you want your home sauna up and running.

Now that you finally have your home sauna and you have started using it, it is important that you make sure that you keep it well maintained.

The nature of a sauna makes it an easy place to maintain. It is clear that after you have used your sauna you will not have to worry too much about cleaning it as the steam kills germs while the sauna is in use.

In order to keep your home sauna clean all you have to do is vacuum clean it and give it a good wipe with some clean water. You should never use harsh chemicals when you are cleaning your home sauna, as these will be released when the next time you use your sauna.

You will also need to care for the wood of your home sauna as this can become discolored through the salts that come from perspiration. The best way to do this is to always have a towel when you use your home sauna, and you should often wipe your wood benches with some clean water. This way you can have the home sauna that is more than just a dream, but an enjoyed reality.

Thomas Oak writes articles for http://www.hot-sauna.com/

Choosing the Best Home Sauna - Infrared

2009-06-19T22:36:00.000-07:00

Infrared saunas are extremely beneficial to your and your physical and mental health. But owning a gym or health club membership might not be up your alley. A great option for those who want to enjoy the benefits of infrared without the hassle of visiting a public sauna is purchasing a home sauna infrared.

There are actually a few different types of infrared saunas available for home use. First are portable folding models for you to sit in with your head outside the sauna. Second are dome or blanket models that you lie underneath for infrared heating action. The third and most popular type is a classic wooden sauna room that resembles the conventional sauna we are used to seeing in health clubs and public pool areas at hotels.

Classic saunas come in pre-constructed segments that snap together. Everything needed for assembly comes in a self-contained kit. They are relatively easy to put together, and it can usually be done in a matter of hours. Home saunas include a wooden bench that runs along one side of the wood-paneled room. The entrance is often a glass door, and depending on model there may be a few glass windows, too. Some models even come with a CD player installed so that people can listen to their favorite music as they relax in their sauna.

Your aesthetic and personal preferences will largely determine the ideal type of home infrared sauna for you. Infrared saunas for one, two, three, and four occupants are the most common size. Just make sure that the dimensions of the bench will be comfortable for you to sit on, and that the height of the sauna will allow you to stand up fully. The type of wood used is also a matter of personal preference. Cedar, hemlock, aspen, and Nordic pine are some of the woods available.

Outlets are also an important consideration in your decision of home sauna. Consider the type of plug it requires to operate. Some sauna models can run on standard 15 amp outlets, but other require specialty 20 amp power outlets. Others even require two 15 amp outlets, so you may need to link to a second outlet with an extension cord. Of course you can always make appropriate adjustments for a small consideration like outlets, but it's always good to know what you'll need before your sauna arrives.

The cost of an infrared sauna for your home is another important factor to consider. Your personal budget will be a big determinant in what type of sauna you can comfortably afford. The cost of portable models can be as low as $500. Classic infrared sauna rooms usually cost between $1,000 and $8,000. This, of course, depends on the type of wood used and the dimensions of the sauna.

One final thing you'll need to know before buying a model is where you're going to put your sauna once it arrives. It's very important to measure the room where you plan to place your sauna and map it out on a sheet of grid paper. Make cut-out shapes to represent your sauna and the other furniture in the room (make absolutely sure they are correctly scaled) and move them around to visualize how everything will look in your room once the sauna is there. Make sure to include the location of all electrical outlets in your drawing.

Remember to account for all your personal preferences and lifestyle factors that will affect how you use your sauna. Make sure that the model you buy will be comfortable, and that it will fit your life and the look of your home. Consider power outlets and your budget, and you can't go wrong in your choice.

Good luck on your home sauna infrared search.

The Advantages of Having a Home Sauna

2009-06-19T22:34:00.000-07:00

A lot of people want to take advantage of the benefits of regular sauna sessions. However, their lifestyle makes it hard for them to go somewhere and use a public sauna or they just want privacy while in the sauna. Having a home sauna is a great solution for someone that wants to have their own sauna so that they can enjoy the privacy of being in their own home as well as the convenience of being able to fit it around their busy lifestyle.

There is a couple of ways you can go about having a home sauna. The first one that I will explain is a sauna that is already built for you. These are quite a bit easier to install than sauna kits. One of the best parts of getting a sauna that has already been built is that it has already been put together in several large pieces that you just have to fit together, much like a puzzle. This option is great if you want to be able to move your sauna to a new location. This is a great way to save time, although this can be a more expensive option when you are wanting to get your own home sauna.

The second option that you have is purchasing a sauna kit. Simply put, this is a package that includes all of the pieces that you will need to build your home sauna. All you need is a few tools to help you put the sauna kit together. It is actually a pretty simple process to build your own home sauna by using a sauna kit. This is the more cost-effective approach of having your own home sauna and it is also what is used for many do-it-yourself projects.

You can also invite your friends and family to take part in a sauna session at your home.

If you had a tense and stressful day, kick your home sauna on and relax. This will help loosen your tight muscles allowing you to feel rejuvenated. Everyone needs to wind down and get their body to feeling better after a hard day at work. Your home sauna will be waiting for you to come home and relax with a refreshing sauna session.

By being at your home, you can promote good health on your own time schedule. In this day in age, lives seem to get pretty hectic and sometimes we never know when we will get a break from it. This makes it harder to go to a public facility to have your regular sauna session. By having a home sauna you will be able to have a sauna session any time of the day or night. You will no longer have to drive across town and use the public sauna.

Having a home sauna is a great addition that you can easily make to your house. The personal and health benefits are truly worth having your own home sauna. When you first install a home sauna, there are some techniques that you need to keep in mind. Make sure that you research installing a sauna before you decide to commit to this type of project.

Thomas Oak writes articles for http://www.hot-sauna.com

Check Out a Home Sauna

2009-06-19T21:26:00.000-07:00

As more and more of us are embracing healthier lifestyles, we begin looking for easier ways to achieve our goal of overall goal of excellent health. For many years, home pools and spas have been all the rage. Why purchase a membership at a health club when you can achieve the same effect in the privacy of your own home? Now, more and more health-conscious people are putting saunas into their homes. Whereas once the idea of a home sauna seemed ludicrous to all but the super-rich, these days many of us of moderate means can afford one.

Home saunas come in one of two varieties: modular or pre-cut. Pre-cut home saunas are a bit more time-consuming in their construction, as they are custom-built for your home's needs. These saunas can come in all shapes and sizes, depending only on what your specifications are. Pre-cut home sauna kits allow you to convert a single room, or part of a room, into a sauna. The kit provides you with all the wood and accessories you will need for assembly, allowing you to easily attach the assembly to your room's existing frame. Pre-cut home sauna kits need to be installed over waterproof floors, such as concrete or ceramic tile.

The more common and popular home sauna is the ready-to-assemble modular sauna kit. These home sauna kits are quite a bit easier to assemble than the pre-cut variety, allowing even the novice do-it-yourselfer the opportunity to build their own sauna. They are also great because they are easy to disassemble, allowing you to take them with you when you move. As the name implies, modular home sauna kits come in large pieces, ready for you to assemble. The kit contains wall and ceiling sections, as well as floor panels, benches, a heater, and all the other accessories necessary for your home sauna. They even come partially-wired. As with pre-cut kits, modular kits need to be installed over a waterproof floor.

When installing your home sauna, it is imperative that you exercise caution and observe all safety regulations. Never use any electrical component that is not UL-rated and make sure that all of the circuits are of the correct size. Also, if you need to do any extra wiring not provided for in the kit, make sure that it is done by a qualified electrician, or inspected by one at the very least. The door to the sauna should always open outward and should never have any locks of any kind. Also, the interior surfaces of the sauna should never be treated with any chemicals in any way, since the high heat emitted by the sauna may cause paints and other coatings to give off toxic fumes. Due to the high level of dry heat present in a sauna, you should always consult with your doctor prior to using one, and always follow all of the sauna manufacturer's specific safety and operating instructions to the letter.

For many of us, we want to live a healthier lifestyle, but we just can't motivate ourselves to go to a health club and try and get fit. For some, it's a matter of fearing to work-out in front of others. For others, it's sheer laziness and lack of motivation. A home sauna may be exactly what you need. Home saunas allow you to sweat at your own pace and start your path to a healthy lifestyle from the comfort of your own home.

Thomas Oak writes articles for http://www.hot-sauna.com