|
Traditional Finnish Sauna Traditional Finnish sauna is the standard, to which other sauna types can be compared to. Sauna experience in a Finnish type sauna is a combination of two factors; needed minimum heat and humidity control. In order to guarantee the relaxing effect of a sauna, it should be heated up to at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit, measured at where sauna bathers sit. Saunas below this heat do not offer the traditional sauna experience. Essential for the traditional sauna is the use of water to control humidity inside the sauna. A bucket and a ladle belong to a sauna and are "the icing of the cake" for an enjoyable sauna experience. The user controls the humidity level by by the amount sprinkled on the rocks - typically achieving a humidity level between 20% to 40% (the amount of steam/ humidity that feels comfortable varies with the user and according to the temperature of the sauna - higher temps less steam and vice versa). The sauna bathing trend worldwide is for "lower temperatures and higher humidity. While drain is not a necessity, ideally saunas have one for bathing and cleaning purposes. |
Dry Sauna A "Dry Sauna" is basically a "Traditional Finnish Sauna", but without any water sprinkeld on the rocks. With no water added to the rocks, the sauna will have very low humidity levels - often below 10%. Particularly in the US, there is a persistent misconception that one shouldn't sprinkle water on the hot rocks of a heater. This is not true! It is a personal choice, how much water one uses, some use it constantly, some not at all. In a public sauna you have to be courteous to other sauna bathers, increased humidity brings a feeling of vastly increased heat. You should not try to outdo other people by showing your might with the the ladle! Some public facilities have policies, which ban water to be used in a sauna. That is often due to lack of knowledge, but the rules of the facilities still should be honored. |
|
Steam Bath/ Steam Sauna/ Turkish Bath A steam bath is a humidity sealed space, built of tiles, glass or acrylic. This is the opposite of a dry sauna with a relative humidity of 100%. Quite often the benches are on one level. There is no humidity control, but because of the high humidity, the space feels warmer than the actual temperature. Temperature is controlled by a thermostat and is typically less than 120 degrees.
|
Infrared Room/ Heat Therapy Room/ Infrared SaunaIInfrared rooms don't give a traditional sauna experience, because there is no humidity control (i.e. no rocks, no steam) and the typical temperature range is between 120 and 140 degrees. Infrared heating systems are designed to heat the user's body rather than the air; it is less of an "enveloping heat". Infrared rooms are suitable for relaxing in a heated space, often with option to listen to music and read magazines and newspapers. |
|
A Personal Description About a Traditional Sauna Bathing Experience by A Finn, Who Now Lives in the US Any Finn would argue that enjoying the blissful, body and soul warming heat in the privacy of your home sauna is an essential and much needed part of everyday life. No mystery, nothing newsworthy... with the exception of your realization of now thriving on a heightened level. You will be smiling when exposed to your new comfort zone. A sauna in a Finnish home is more than a source of patriotic pride. It is an absolute must, the heart of calm, without which a house definitely lacks. Be it magazine-cover fancy, or a simple place to kick back your heels to let the mind altering feelings of relaxation and wellbeing suffuse your world, but always the heart calm of the house that everybody is drawn. Envision a solitary cabin bordering on a peaceful lake with views to sunsets and wonders of nature. While in town, a Finn recreates those tranquil feelings in a custom-made room in his house, town house, or an apartment. It is always there, the original, traditional Finnish Sauna. Celebrate the sweetness of life. Fill yourself with wellness. To enjoy the numerous health benefits sauna bathing provides, to trim his excess weight, or to sooth the muscles after an exercise? No, a Finn is aware of all those things and more, but goes there to relax. There it is, after stressful office hours or farming the field. This is Quality Time, often alone. To meditate, to think about something else than the daily matters and issues. Hear the sizzle of the water turning into steam when sprinkled on the rocks in the heater or stove, feel the smooth heat getting more intense and humid after each sprinkle. The sweat, the toxins purified from the body with that moisture. Leave the sauna room to cool down for a while, enjoy some invigorating water, taking it easy. Go back inside to do it again, maybe still once more. Enjoy the feeling. Admire the view from your sauna window, feel the happiness with yourself as a part of the natural environment. Not rushing to anywhere. Ready for new Real Life Adventures or a trip to Dreamland, he or she comes out from the sauna as a renewed and happy* person. A Finn is reborn. According to an international comparison study, the Finns are the third happiest people on the face of the Earth. The Danes are the happiest: they have the beer, the Finns have the sauna.
|
|
There are some relevant factors that divide different types of saunas
For many, the idea of sauna is somewhat undefined and there are so many different heated rooms, marketed under the general name "sauna". There are various types of saunas, and the experience one gets in each of them, varies dramatically. Breakdown below tries to explain what to expect in each sauna type. It is impossilble to put in words an experience like this, so the best way to get an understanding would be to try them all.
Not only do sauna experiences vary, but disturbingly often saunas are not built to given standards, prohibiting really to enjoy sauna to the fullest. Please find out before you buy, what type of sauna would be best suited for your needs and make sure that if one is specifically built for you, the drawings are done by a knowledgeable party and the sauna is built according to these drawings without exceptions.
