The History of Saunas

Saunas have been around since ancient times and are still very popular today. The question often arises as to where saunas originated, how they are used, and why they continue to have such a strong presence.

Saunas are designed to provide either moist or dry heat. A bather, or group of bathers, can gather inside of a sauna to experience temperatures as high as 80 degrees Celsius or more. Saunas are very relaxing, and tend to make users sweat. If water is poured on the hot stones, steam is produced which makes the sauna moist. The sauna is loved not only for it's relaxing properties, but also for improving the immune system and helping detoxify the body.

"Sauna" is world that developed in ancient Finland and means a traditional Finnish bath. The earliest saunas were dug in slopes in the ground and used by the Finns to keep warm during the cold winter months. Stones were heated to very high temperatures and water was poured over them in order to create heat and moisture in the form of steam. Because of the extreme heat, individuals would remove their clothes for comfort.

As time passed, the sauna evolved and began to feature a metal woodstove along with a chimney. Steam vapor was also generated by spraying water onto the heated stones. Air temperature was typically set between 70 and 80 degrees Celsius but on occasion exceeded as much as 90 degrees Celsius.

Often the Finns would use a 'vihta', a bundle of birch branches with fresh leaves, to gently swat themselves and other bathers to improve the experience. This practice not only aids in blood circulation, but adds a pleasant birch scent to the sauna.

Saunas relieve stress in two ways. Not only do they help you relax from simply spending time relaxing within, but they also help your body relax physically. When the sauna heats your skin, it helps to detoxify your body by making it sweat out more harmful toxins than you would have without its aid. Removing these chemicals helps your body fight stress and feel healthier.

Furthermore, your body releases much of the toxins through the pores of your skin while you perspire. As mentioned earlier, the sauna induces sweating that ultimately cleanses the body.

In Finland sauna bathing is practiced regularly as Finns regard saunas as the natural and superior method to cleanse the mind and rejuvenate the spirit. The sauna was and continues to be an essential aspect of daily life. Families in Finland traditionally bathed together in the sauna at home. It is interesting to note that Finnish women used to give birth in the sauna.

When the Finns migrated to the different parts of the globe they shared their knowledge of sauna designs and customs. They taught other cultures about the sauna's health benefits which helped the sauna to evolve further. Eventually, this led to the development of electric sauna stoves and far infrared saunas which became quite popular. Since then various cultures around the world have been recognizing, adopting and improvising the sauna.

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Stop and take a look at what of all the latest information on saunas, sauna heaters, sauna kits and dry saunas for your home. whether your are looking for an indoor sauna or outdoor sauna we have what you need.

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