North American Sauna Society will have its Annual Meeting on Thursday, August 18th at 10AM in Manhattan, New York City.
Members in good standing are welcome to attend. Please send an email to us at saunasociety@gmail.com for more information.
Sincerely,
North American Sauna Society Board
New York 6/17/15
PRESS RELEASE
The North American Sauna Society is a non-profit trade organization that works as a trusted third party for the sauna industry. NASS promotes traditional sauna bathing and educates the public of the differences of the products that are sold under the generic name sauna.
The North American Sauna Society (NASS) at its annual meeting in May appointed Norm Coburn the President of New England Spas as the new dealer representative on the board of directors.
Norm Coburn graduated Babson College, (Wellesley Ma.) 1978 with B.S. in Management/Organizational Behavior.
Company ownership experience at Cambridge Alternative Power Co. (1982-1986)—an in home solar sales group, with a brick and mortar retail store providing high end energy-related home improvement products.
Acquired New England Hot Tubs in 1985. Sold Helo saunas from the beginning, along with wood hot tubs, in ground shells, and customized equipment packages (including a solar package). Grew the company to 4 retail locations and over $10 Million in revenues.
Currently a part of the following groups:
A.P.S.P. Member
Aqua 100 Hall of Fame
Spa Retailers of Excellence- and member of retail panel Spa Retailer Magazine
B.B.B. A++ Accreditation
Says Coburn: “
I have always been driven to increase sauna sales for my company. While it boasts similar health and wellness benefits as our hot tubs, they are by and large service-free products, which contribute to happy customers and profits.
We have obtained endorsement from a leading HMO in our region for both hot tub and sauna products, and offer a $300 discount to their members for either product purchase.”
Currently New England Spas is celebrating a 30th anniversary in the spa/sauna business.
Other Board member changes include:
Rick Watson, a devoted sauna enthusiast is the end-user representative and Keith Raisanen with TyloHelo is the manufacturer representative. Ms. Silve Parviainen is the exofficio member representing the Consulate of Finland.
Eero Kilpi as the president of the organization and Kalevi Ruuska as the vice president continue to serve as officers for the pro-bono society. At the same meeting Nils Shenholm, CEO of Solhem saunas in Vermont and Jon Harbison, management consultant, the former end-user representative stepped down to become emeritus board members.
More information: www.saunasociety.org
Eero Kilpi, 914-500 8541
The use of heat while bathing has been an integral part of many cultures for centuries. Finland is well known as a society of avid users of the sauna, which usually produces a relatively dry heat between 70 – 100 degrees Celsius. The traditional Finnish sauna is a smoke sauna (“savusauna”) where stones are heated with a fire for several hours and then the sauna is taken after much of the smoke has cleared from the sauna building. More commonly today, saunas are heated by stoves using wood or electricity, and water is used intermittently on the stones to produce steam.
Other cultures known for their heat bathing traditions include Russia (Banya), Lithuania (Pirtis), Sweden (Bastu), and Turkey (Hammam). Here in the United States, the American Indians traditionally have used sweat lodges for spiritual ceremony. The rest of American sauna culture has been influenced by European immigration during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. In my own case, for instance, I grew up in a northern Minnesotan town where many Finns immigrated in order to work in iron ore mines. Many of us therefore had saunas in our basements or at our lake cabins.
Sauna bathing usually involves several repetitions of alternating heat with cold, such as 15-20 minute heat exposures interrupted by dipping in a pond, taking a cool shower, or sitting outside. In some cultures, oak or birch twigs and leaves and/or steam are used to provide a more intense heating and massaging experience.
There are many myths regarding the physiological and psychological affects of sauna bathing. Unfortunately, we lack sufficient large, controlled studies in the medical literature to help fully understand the science supporting these myths. We have learned a significant amount about the physiologic adaptations of the body to heat bathing, however, and there is a growing body of scientific study, especially from Germany and Finland, to help understand the real benefits and risks of the practice.
Essentially, the effects of heat bathing are the body’s way to deal with heat stress. In other words, heat exposure causes a person’s physiology to react to that form of stress out of self-defense in order to prevent injury. The systemic adaptations that occur over time can indeed make a person stronger, similar to adaptations to regular exercise.
Initially, as the body is exposed to the heat of a sauna, the skin temperature increases. As a way to dissipate the heat and protect the internal organs, the body decreases blood flow to those organs and increases circulation to the skin. In addition, sweat glands are stimulated in order to allow for evaporation and further cooling effect.
Because the blood volume to the periphery and skin is increased, the heart rate must also increase so that the internal blood pressure can be maintained. While the overall work of the heart does not change significantly, the pulse can increase up to double the normal rate.
Breathing becomes more rapid and shallow in the sauna, and the overall flow rate and lung capacity increases, suggesting more efficient pulmonary ventilation and allowing for additional heat dissipation.
The sympathetic nervous system is also stimulated as skin temperature rises, causing a “flight or fight” response. Stimulation of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands in the brain, which communicate with the adrenal glands near the kidneys, causes release of cortisol (“adrenaline”), creating a heightened sense of alertness, reduced perception of pain, and elevated mood. Interestingly, when a sauna is followed by a plunge into cold water, this adrenaline response is elevated even more.
There is good scientific data to support the beneficial effects of repeated sauna exposure for the heart. In particular, a person’s resting systolic blood pressure can decrease as much as 10 points after just three 20 minute sauna sessions several days apart. Some studies have found up to a 20-point systolic blood pressure decrease with regular sauna exposure (such as twice per week) over a several month period.
Congestive heart failure, which is related to poor pump function of the heart, has also been shown to benefit from regular sauna exposure. Both symptoms and heart rhythm abnormalities improve predictably with regular sauna use.
Importantly, because the workload on the heart is generally not increased in the sauna, the risk of myocardial infarction (“heart attack”) in the general population is not higher during sauna bathing. While it is usually recommended that a person who has had a cardiac event or procedure should wait at least 6 weeks before going back to sauna bathing, it is considered to be safe practice for people with heart disease.
Because many of the body’s adaptations to sauna are similar to its response to exercise, many people wonder if taking a sauna can improve cardiovascular fitness. While one recent study has suggested that endurance performance does improve for runners who recover in the sauna after training, in general one’s fitness does not improve with routine sauna bathing alone.
With regular sauna bathing, however, the body does adapt to heat stress, so that one can tolerate longer and hotter sauna exposures without injury. People who are new to saunas are therefore encouraged to moderate their heat exposure by limiting their time in the sauna, or by sitting on a lower bench. In addition, athletes who use the sauna routinely are able to exercise more efficiently and perform better in warm temperatures.
Part of the sympathetic nervous system response also relaxes smooth muscle in the bronchioles of the lungs, allowing for more efficient respiratory function. Patients with both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease generally report improved symptoms and ease of breathing while in the sauna, although longer-term studies have not generally shown an overall improvement in lung function with regular sauna use.
During a sauna, joint synovial fluid becomes less viscous, allowing for improved joint mobility, and skeletal muscle is relaxed. These changes, along with the increased pain tolerance that one experiences, provide for a significant subjective decrease in musculoskeletal pain. Interestingly, for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders, pain and inflammation have found to be increased on the day after taking a sauna – unless the sauna bath is followed by a cold immersion. For patients with arthritis that use cold-water bathing after sauna, there can be an overall improvement in symptoms.
There are some studies that support the notion that regular sauna use stimulates the immune system. During a sauna session, white blood cells increase in the bloodstream, suggesting an elevation of the body’s natural defense against illness. With routine sauna practice, at least one study has shown a decrease in the incidence of the common cold.
One of the most common reactions to taking a sauna is that it simply seems to make people feel better. As it turns out, there are some measurable scientific reasons behind that.
Sauna exposure causes a significant release of Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, and Beta-Endorphin, a neuropeptide hormone. These substances cause a sense of euphoria, as well as improved mood, energy, sense of calm, and pain tolerance. (Endorphin is a combination of the words “ENDOgenous”, or occurring naturally in the body, and “moRPHINe”, a pain-relieving compound). The level of endorphins released during sauna bathing can be three times normal, similar to a middle distance training run. This “runners’ high” that occurs can be somewhat addictive and may affect regular sauna users in the same way it affects regular exercisers.
Sleep is also improved after a sauna, with some research showing longer stage 4 sleep, which provides a deeper, more restful sleep and healthier dream activity. Sleep affects so many other aspects of health, including mood, immune function, and ability to handle stress, that this alone would seem to suggest a significant health benefit from regular sauna use.
The psychosocial aspects of group activity such as sauna bathing may also be an important part of the health benefits of sauna. Social connection, sharing with friends and feeling a part of a community, as well as the personal nature of conversation that is fostered in the sauna, all play parts in the cultural validity of group sweating that has existed in so many cultures over time. In addition, for those cultures that promote nudity in the sauna, a sense of equality and openness exists that one does not normally experience in every day life.
While quite safe if done in moderation, sauna bathing can present health risks.
Because the body uses sweat to help regulate core temperature during a sauna, dehydration can be a problem with excessive sauna use. Some athletes, such as wrestlers, have used the sauna for rapid weight loss through loss of water through sweat, and this has occasionally led to heat stroke and sudden cardiac death. When combined with the misuse of diuretic pills, this practice can be especially dangerous.
Alcohol consumption creates many potential risks for the sauna user. Alcohol counteracts the anti-diuretic hormone that the body normally secretes during heat stress in order to help the kidneys retain fluid. In addition, alcohol causes the peripheral blood vessels to become even more dilated than usual in the sauna, which can lead to rapid fall in blood pressure and cause falls or fainting. Alcohol also excites cardiac muscle and reduces coronary artery flow, increasing the risk of both arrhythmia and myocardial infarction.
Cold-water immersion is a common practice following sessions in the sauna. This causes rapid constriction of the skin blood vessels, which causes blood pressure to increase (as opposed to in the sauna where it remains stable). There is also a significant stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, with rapid increase in adrenaline, heart rate, and also endorphins. Hence, the sense of euphoria and well being that one experiences following cold immersion intensifies that from taking a sauna alone.
Data is mixed regarding the benefit of cold immersion for muscular tissue following exercise, but there are several studies that support improved blood flow and more rapid recovery of muscular damage and soreness with cold immersion. As mentioned above, those with inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis demonstrate benefit with cold water immersion following sauna bathing.
Of concern however, is the fact that cold immersion can lead to cardiac arrhythmia and coronary artery spasm, making it potentially dangerous to those with heart disease. There are cold receptors in the face and scalp that respond to a rapid fall in temperature. This stimulates the “diving reflex”, which is a complex cardio respiratory reaction that causes apnea and a sense of shortness of breath, decreased cardiac output, and rapid decrease in pulse. Heart arrhythmias are common during this response, and can pose a danger to those prone to dangerous heart rhythms or at risk for heart attack.
As we can see, while people with heart disease can generally use the sauna safely, this is a population that should absolutely avoid alcohol before and during sauna bathing. In addition, these individuals should take extra caution when plunging in cold water to avoid exposing the face and head. A cool shower or slower cooling simply by sitting outside is generally considered safer practice for this group.
Sauna bathing causes the body undergo many physiologic changes in attempt to protect itself against heat stress. Some of those adaptations can provide health benefit, most notably to resting blood pressure. There also evidence to suggest improved function in other aspects of cardiac, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and immune function. Regular sauna use increases the ability for athletes to train or perform in heat, and post exercise saunas may improve endurance. Many of the benefits of sauna bathing are psychological, including improved sleep, mood, and pain tolerance. Cold plunging following a sauna can accentuate some of these benefits, but caution is advised regarding immersion of the face and head. Alcohol use before and during the sauna is also ill advised, as is the practice of using the sauna for rapid weight loss. Otherwise, sauna bathing is considered very safe and regular use can benefit overall physical and mental health.
(Dr. Mark Timmerman is a Family Physician and Sports Medicine Specialist in Wisconsin, USA. He has a wood heated sauna in his home and takes a sauna at least three times each week.)
Disclaimer:
The purpose of this website is to provide general guidance, ideas, and useful tips. We do not provide professional advice and this website should not be relied upon as such a source. Neither North American Sauna Society nor the author (who is unaffiliated with the organization) promote individual techniques, structures, or solutions. Please always consult a qualified professional expert prior to building or acquiring a sauna or any accessory related to sauna bathing such as a shower, cold plunge, place to rest, etc. Always read and follow any relevant manuals and safety instructions and consult a doctor beforehand to determine if sauna bathing and/or associated activities are appropriate and safe for you.
by: Derek Davis
It was sometime in the late 70’s - I was on a road trip in southern Oregon with university friends and we decided to take a break at McCredie Hot Springs, not far off the Willamette Highway. Soaking in the springs was great, but the submersion afterward in the icy waters of the adjacent Salt Creek really took my breath away. This was my first experience with temperature-cycling and something I would never forget.
A decade later, I was to rediscover this pleasure in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. There to provide technical support to my company’s marketing team, I lucked into an après-ski event hosted by our sales office at a recreation center, something to which an engineer such as myself would not normally be invited. A large complex, it naturally had a sauna, but more significantly, a 60°F cold plunge. I must have done six rounds back and forth. At that point, the hook was firmly set, and I knew I would eventually have to have my own personal sauna and cold plunge.
So in the early 90’s, when my wife and I were looking to build a new home, we chose a lot that would accommodate an addition once the builder was finished. This addition was to have not only an attic for storage (sorely absent in Arizona homes) and a workshop, but a sauna, shower, cold plunge, and pool-equipment room.
This article provides an overview of our experience in designing and implementing this cold plunge system, something rarely found in a high-end custom home, let alone a mid-range residence such as ours.
There are several points to carefully consider in designing a cold plunge system. I address the major ones below along with the approach I took for each. This is not to suggest mine is the only or best way – indeed, in some cases, I regret the choices I made. Hopefully the reader can benefit from my experiences.
I use the acronym TIWC for Things I Would Change.
As our cold plunge was to be in new construction (the addition to our house), we were able to easily integrate it with our little sauna/shower complex. It is an in-ground, concrete cylinder 6 feet deep and 42 inches in diameter, holding approximately 450 gallons of water. The inside is tiled in 1” hexagonal shower tile.
Construction steps included:
- excavating an oversized hole
- pouring a concrete base in the bottom
- allowing this to cureplacing a large sonotube
- placing the plumbing fixtures (drains and inlet)
- pouring the walls of the plunge on the outside of the sonotube
- allowing that to cure
- removing the sonotube (peeling it out)
- eventually pouring the slab of the addition around the plunge
Located just across a hallway from the sauna, the plunge is entered via a stainless steel pool ladder. The plunge is too narrow to jump into, something that would be dangerous in any case. With the water depth at 5’ 6”, it is easy to submerge completely with a slight bend of the knees.
TIWC: deepen the plunge to about seven feet to accommodate taller people.
We installed a floor drain a foot or so from edge of the cold plunge to capture runoff when exiting the plunge.
Just as for a pool or spa, it is important to filter the water in the cold plunge to keep it clean and free of suspended contaminants.
Our system consists of a 2-speed (1 HP or 1/6 HP) main circulation pump with a leaf trap, followed by a 50 sq ft cartridge filter. Two parallel drains set low in the plunge walls opposite each other feed the pump. A single directable inlet set in the plunge wall about 1’ below the water surface feeds back into the plunge. Note that twin drains may be mandated by your local building code so as to prevent a bather from blocking a drain, creating a suction, and being trapped below the surface. This used to be a problem with hot tubs.
The cold plunge equipment (like our pool equipment) is all located in an adjacent “equipment room”. Thus, unlike typical pool equipment installations, it is protected from the elements. This room has a sunken floor and floor drain, making maintenance tasks much more pleasant.
We run the circulation pump on low-speed 24/7 (for reasons provided later) and the system has worked very well. Nevertheless, there are several TIWCs:
- If possible, downsize the circulation pump to even less than 1/6 HP, as the current water flow could easily be halved or quartered.
- The leaf trap, while important for outside pools, plays no role in this type of installation. I have never, in 18 years, had to remove anything from the leaf trap.
- The filter could also likely be downsized, though perhaps there is little benefit in doing so.
- Add a skimmer (or rather, a surface-level drain) to the drain system. I originally assumed that since there would be no leaves, a skimmer would be pointless. But a way to capture floating hair would have been very useful. As it is, I’ve had to cobble together a ladder-mounted skimmer bag that fulfills this function – a functional, but not particularly esthetically-pleasing approach.
- Add an auto-filler to compensate for evaporation. Although the rate of water loss is low due to the low temperature, I do have to add an inch or so every couple of weeks.
- Add a third drain in the floor of the plunge along with appropriate valves so that fully emptying the plunge would be possible. Currently, emptying the plunge for cleaning (though I’ve only had to do this once, after 16 years of operation) requires the use of a sump pump to get that last 12 inches of water. A floor drain would also capture sand/other particles that tend to collect and swim around at the bottom.
We chose to use a large remote drinking-fountain chiller to cool the cold plunge. The chiller is plumbed in to a diversionary loop downstream from the filter, with its own booster pump.
Although the chiller has its own thermostat, we use a timer to control the times of operation.
Of course, there are downsides to this approach:
- the hysteresis of the water temperature is higher than would normally be in the case when utilizing a thermostat; our plunge cycles between 58°F and 62°F over the course of one day
- adjusting the temperature (or range) requires a trial-and-error approach of tweaking the schedule of the chiller rather than simply adjusting a thermostat
However, the upsides are substantial:
- scheduling the chiller to operate only during the hours when electricity in our area is cheapest
- significantly reducing the number of compressor start-up cycles and, thus, presumably increasing the life of the chiller
Until two years ago, the chiller we used was an air-water type – this is to say, the waste heat is removed by blowing (room) air over the hot-side coil of the chiller. So you get cold water on one side, hot air on the other. While this worked well enough, this system had the disadvantages of:
- substantial noise from the blower fan and
- heating the air in the equipment room, thus placing an extra load on the air conditioning for that part of the house
So when the chiller compressor finally failed after 16 years of 6-9 hours/day operation (a decent product life), we replaced it with a water-to-water model. The difference is that the cooling of the hot-side coil is provided by some water source, also with its own booster pump. In our case, that cooling water is from our backyard pool, for which the support equipment is conveniently located in the same equipment room. So now, the equipment room is significantly quieter (no blower fan) and cooler (waste heat goes into the outdoor pool, rather then into the indoor air).
Pool water requires some means of sanitizing to kill bacteria, usually through dissolved chlorine – the same applies to a cold plunge. We chose ozonation for this purpose. The ozone is generated in a small UV lamp and drawn through a tube to be injected into the water flow (downstream of all other equipment in the system) through a venturi. The venturi’s required pressure differential is created by a small booster pump.
Ozone has a low half-life in water, meaning that it only disinfects for about 20 minutes after injection. For this reason, we operate the filtration and ozone injection system continuously (24/7). Since the ozone lamp is not generally power-cycled, its operational life is much greater than normal. In 18 years of operation, I have replaced the lamp only twice, and one of those times wasn’t even due to natural bulb failure.
We have found ozonation to be extremely effective, without the negatives (smell, cost, hassle) associated with chemical usage. In fact, I don’t even have to adjust the pH of the water – something absolutely required when using chlorine. And in 18 years, I’ve only changed out the water twice.
One easily-overlooked issue is that of child safety. A cold plunge is really no different than a swimming pool and, at least in our case, is in a location that may often not be lighted. And though the ladder is inherently always within reach because the plunge is so narrow, securing access from small children should be considered. In our case, there are three doors to the sauna/shower/plunge complex. Each door is spring-loaded to be self-closing and has a standard door handle with its spring-loaded latch. In addition, each door has a second spring-loaded latch, operated by thumb-turn knob on the interior side and by a key on the exterior side. Removal of the key prevents anyone, especially loose children, from entering the complex by that door, yet does not prevent those within the complex from exiting (for fire safety).
Note that while our local building inspector was very persnickety about safety barriers for our backyard pool, he had no concerns about access to the cold plunge. Apparently, at least in that inspector’s mind and to those at the building department who inspected the plans, no safety barrier was required by code. On the other hand, it would be unfortunate to be nearly done with construction only to have the inspector say “whoops, what about a safety barrier?”
And while we’re on the subject of safety, I should note that local building codes normally require that all electrical pool equipment be earth-bonded to protect bathers from a possible short circuit. This applies to the chiller, all pump motors, ozone generator, etc. In addition, the ladder into the cold plunge must be earth-bonded.
Here are few items we have implemented beyond what’s strictly necessary for a cold plunge.
Pressure Gauges
Usually, there is a pressure gauge built into the filter to alert the user when the filter is clogging up. For your cold plunge, this will likely never happen. But pressure gauges at other points in the system can be useful, both to verify correct operation and to diagnose problems.
In particular, for an ozonation system with venturi injection, it is very useful to have gauges upstream and downstream of the injector so that one can dial-in the pressure drop across it and obtain the desired ozone injection rate.
Waterfall Shower
In Germany, facilities with a cold plunge frequently also have something called a Schwallbrause or Waterfall Shower. This special type of shower head delivers a high flow-rate sheet of cold water and is great for rinsing off prior to entering the cold plunge.
Unfortunately, the cold water in Phoenix, actually isn’t, at least not in the summer. A better description would be lukewarm.
To address this, I built a heat exchanger, using cold plunge water to cool a separate storage tank. That water, in turn, feeds the Waterfall Shower.
This is done with another diversionary loop downstream from the chiller output, but upstream from the ozone injector. A small circulation pump drives the water through a copper coil wrapped around the storage tank.
TWIC: Replace the “lukewarm” cold water feed to the regular shower head with the same chilled water of the Waterfall shower head.
Fill Faucet
Although we do not have an auto-filler to compensate for evaporation, there is a manual faucet directly above the cold plunge, making topping off extremely easy. Even if an auto-filler is implemented, I recommend a separate faucet for two reasons. First, filling the plunge from empty using just the auto-filler will take forever and, second, it is very convenient for refilling the sauna bucket.
System Monitor
First, a bit of background. The ozone system normally includes “gas check-valves” in the delivery tube from the ozone generator to the venturi injector. The purpose of these is a block reverse water flow that can occur if the injection booster pump fails or loses power. Unfortunately, over time these check-valves tend to fail in the open position so that by the time they are needed, they don’t function and the ozone generator is destroyed. This is not just theoretical – I speak from experience.
A more reliable solution uses an in-line float sensor in the delivery tube, detecting reverse water flow so that the main circulation pump can be shut down before water reaches the ozone generator. This is one function of the System Monitor.
A second function is to automatically shut down the chiller and its booster pumps in the event that either the cold plunge or pool main circulation pumps fail or lose power. This assures that the chiller doesn’t either freeze up (on the cold side) or overheat (on the hot side).
I hope the reader has found this article of interest. I would be more than happy to hear of your own experiences on this topic and can be reached at derekdavis@cox.net.
Finally, for reference here is a simplified plumbing schematic of our installation:
Is there something missing from your sauna experience? The sauna can capture lots of physical and psychological benefits. But if you were not born or raised in a country where saunas reign, you, like me, may stumble to understand what most second graders from those regions know. As a sauna enthusiast living in upstate New York, I've made an attempt to sort out a few of these basics in this brief overview as I continue with my learning process. Before we begin, let me acknowledge a couple of realities. The sauna is an individual experience, so ultimately, you are the expert on preferences. Also, I realize that full control of all elements can probably only be gained if you have your own sauna; but for discussion, let us focus on the optimum, and you can adjust for actual conditions.
First, let me submit that a prime purpose of the sauna is a psychological experience. Many will describe it as meditation. It is a time to slow down, clear the mind, and relax. In addition to the heat, the sauna accomplishes this through its isolated, peaceful, controlled environment. The interior of the sauna is natural and simple, a visual calm. Movements are limited, and bathers speak softly about positive, neutral topics. The dominant smell (and taste as your tongue also takes on the sensation) should be a sweet, deep, wood type. The experience lasts more than a few fleeting minutes, the hustle-bustle of life is put on hold, you are in another world. The key here is a conscious effort to relax yourself and to help others do the same. The sauna is designed for it. Think monk and monastery!
Now let's look at the heat that actuates the perspiration process that brings on that cleansed and rejuvenated feeling. The term "sauna bath" capturers this effect nicely. It took me some time to realize that it is not just about the heat, it is also about the cooling down period. We've all seen the images of the plunge into icy water after the sauna. You need not be so extreme, but you may consider a cooler place to relax after you have engaged sufficient heating. The outdoors may serve well in some geographic areas, and many sauna designs include a room or some form of lounging area for this cooling down activity. With a few cycles of heating up, then cooling down, an lasting effect similar to a workout session is created. This repetition is important and usually results in a head-to-toe feeling of melted butter!
Jon Harbison
One of the constant discussion topics that the North American Sauna Society is contacted about is the question of sauna and health. Is the sauna healthy for you and if so, are there clinical studies to prove this?
There has been extensive medical research done on the physiological and emotional effects of regular sauna bathing; the Europeans have mainly studied the traditional saunas and the Japanese the IR bathing, but we haven’t had wide-ranging North American studies. There are also many varying types of heated spaces out there that are marketed as saunas and even more creative ways to use them. Therefore, an important thing when considering the health benefits is the definition of what sauna bathing actually is. Particularly the American sauna bathing sometimes deviates from the more ethnic sauna bathing experiences, such as the Finnish sauna and the claims why people should do sauna are sometimes truthful, sometimes misleading in their promises of a healthy life style.
We have found three user types; there is the occasional newspaper reader that likes his sauna mild; then there is the gym sauna bather with her water bottle and an eye on the gym clock; finally, there is the sauna bather, who repeats the intervals of staying in the heat and cooling off as his/her body tells her to. One would assume that the potential health benefits would intensify, as the sauna experience gets more wholesome. Staying in a heated room for a predefined time is not possible but in lower temperatures. Dipping in a cold lake or a swimming pool for a couple of minutes to cool off craves higher temperatures inside the sauna room to feel comfortable.
The main point is that regular sauna bathing has proven medical benefits, but the results will vary depending upon the individual and the way in which he/she sauna bathes. You do what feels natural to yourself; with sauna bathing there is no place for the idea that it must be painful for it to achieve the benefits. Sauna truly is “not only good for you, it feels good too!” Most of us at the North American Sauna Society represent the idea that only a rejuvenating feeling of repeated rounds of staying in the heat, going out, getting back in, going for a swim or a shower, drinking something while taking a break, and doing this as many times as you yourself find enjoyable is what the sauna experience should be about. If you don’t get your endorphins flowing and you don’t get that fantastic feeling, then your sauna experience is not fully cooperating with you. Feeling of comfort is all that matters. If you are new to the sauna, start slow and work your way up. It will be very rewarding and being outright healthy can be a secondary though, it just makes you feel so good.
