Today we live in a world of abundance. Which many, myself included, consider a luxury and a privilege. But with abundance comes choice, and therein lies the paradox. Which school do we want our children to attend, which car should I drive, which restaurant to order takeout from? The list goes on… At the micro level many of these everyday choices we’re faced with are insignificant. After all, they can often present win-win situations. However, at the macro level one can argue that we’re flexing and growing our muscle of uncertainty and thus indecision. The best time to plant a tree is always yesterday, right? If your eyes have found a way to this guide it likely wasn’t by chance. For one reason or another, you’re intrigued by Saunas. And kudos to you. You’re doing great.
Core to our mission here at Saunaify lies a simple phrase, best-in-class. Our goal is not to provide you every sauna available under the sun. Rather just the best-in-class. Our product team at Saunaify carefully vets every supplier we choose to partner with to ensure we’re only offering our customers the best. There’s no room for mediocrity here. At least not when it comes to taking care of our health & wellness. However even then, there are still a few key decisions to make when purchasing a sauna. Whether it’s your first dive into the Finnish lifestyle or you’ve been a connoisseur for some time. There is no right or wrong answer below, just personal preference and desired experiences. We hope this guide can cut through some of the noise and offer you some clarity - so you know you’ve made the right choice for you and your family.
Sauna Types
First and foremost, you’ll want to decide what type of sauna you are looking for. There are two to be exact. Let’s explore.
- Traditional. Traditional Finnish saunas are wood lined rooms with heaters filled with rocks over which water may be ladled. This offers you the high humid heat most are familar with.
- Far Infrared. Nature brings us infrared light. It's the healthy, healing rays that come from the sun. If you prefer lower temperatures but with body-penetrating heat, far-infrared sauna may be your best sauna choice
Traditional Sauna
A traditional sauna, also referred to as a Finnish sauna, offers - you guessed it - a traditional bathing experience that is widely believed to date back to the year 1112. If you enjoy relaxing in a room with higher temperatures, this is the sauna for you. With this type of sauna, you are seated in a dimly lit wood-panelled room that is heated by an electric heater filled with rocks. Once the rocks have been heated, take pleasure in taking a ladle with water over them thus creating steam and adding a touch of humidity to the air. Conversely, don’t and you’ll intensify the dry heat sensation, which in itself is a delight. Either which way, in a traditional Finnish sauna you will feel the heat and sweat more in comparison to its counterpart, the infrared sauna (more on that below).
One of the major benefits of traditional saunas is that you can control the humidity and temperature (150 to 185 degrees F°) during your bathing experience, whereas in an infrared sauna you can only control the temperature. We recommend incorporating aromatherapy into traditional sauna bathing by mixing in essential oils with the water during your bath - a chef’s kiss if you will. Sauna bathers are recommended to spend between 15-20 minutes in the sauna to maximize the benefits, and many sauna enthusiasts enjoy multiple rounds. Soon so will you.
Physically, nothing is more reinvigorating than a deep, healthy sweat every day. Tension fades. Muscles unwind. Mentally, we emerge relaxed, revived and ready for whatever the day may bring. Core benefits include, but are not limited to:
- A prospective scientific study found sauna bathing to be associated with reduced cardiac, and all cause mortality. For all-cause mortality, sauna bathing 4 to 7 times per week was associated with a 40% reduction in risk
- Frequent Sauna Use May Reduce Risk of Dementia. Participants who sauna bathed 4 to 7 times per week at 175 F° for 20 minutes reduced their risk for Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia by 65%
- Traditional Saunas aid in recovery after intense physical activity. Sessions relax muscles and soothe aches/pains in the muscles and joints.
- Toxins are flushed out through the skin’s pores, cleansing the skin and allowing you to come out feeling stronger, healthier and in better balance
- Arteries dilate, improving blood flow throughout the body and relaxing tight or overworked muscles and aches.
- The production of white blood cells is stimulated, strengthening the immune system.
- Relieve Stress - The heat in the sauna helps us to relax and regulates the level of cortisol in our blood.
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Infrared Sauna
An infrared sauna bears similar design features to a traditional sauna, but the kinship ends there. The primary difference of infrared saunas is that the room is heated using infrared technology rather than water heat. Infrared heat is an invisible part of the solar spectrum, so the body gets the benefit of sun exposure without being exposed to harmful ultraviolet rays. In your infrared sauna you can begin bathing as soon as the sauna is turned on, as opposed to waiting 45 minutes for a traditional sauna to heat up. In an infrared sauna, an emitter produces light infrared wavelengths to warm the body, as opposed to a blast of hot air. The temperatures are not quite as hot as traditional saunas either (120 to 150 degrees F°), allowing you to opt-in for longer sessions.Thanks to this, you can use the room much sooner too, as the infrared heats the body directly as opposed to heating the space. Though infrared saunas have lower temperatures, you will still feel the heat penetrate deep into the body causing you to sweat profusely while increasing your body's core temperature.
There are three distinct types of infrared waves: Because it’s on a spectrum, infrared has a range of waves in its own category. There are 3 types based on wave size, frequency, and the amount of energy they carry: near (NIR), mid (MIR) and far (FIR). Through tiny pinpoint-sized waves, each infrared ray does something beautifully unique for our bodies, and nature. A sauna that offers all three wave lengths iscalled a full-spectrum infrared sauna
This is the shortest infrared wavelength and penetrates the epidermis layer of the skin, generating the most heat to yourbody, leading to improved cell health, renewal of the skin and tissue growth.
General Facts
- Closest to visibile light, delivering most energy
- Penetrates skin’s outermost epidermis layer
- Shortest wavelength (700 to 1200 nanometers)
- Photobiomodulation/ low level light therapy (LLLT) used in cosmetic and healing devices
- Triggers plants to use chlorophyll to convert light into tissue
Earlier we highlighted the myriad of benefits studies have found to be offered by traditional saunas. Worry not, recent studies point to Infrared Saunas offering most of the same. Which might lead you to ask, well which one? The short answer: both are phenomenal, andyou should be in one now. Recall the old ‘planting a tree adage.’ As a reminder, the primary difference between infrared and traditional isthe source of heat and its sensation on your body. Therefore, the question to ask yourself is simply this, do I prefer high temperatureswith dry heat and a touch of humidity for shorter bouts of time? Or, do I prefer to bathe for longer periods in a soothing deep warmth?
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Sauna Location
Phew, we’ve made it this far. The rest is a cakewalk and, again, down to personal preference. We just need to ask ourselves, "where are we putting this?"
ps - all of our sauna kits are easily installed in under a few hours with household tools.
- Indoor. Nothing screams luxury quite like your own personal sauna in your bathroom, home gym, or basement. Or anywhere for that matter, so long it's not the kitchen. Deal?
- Outdoor. What's better then a pool in your backyard you might ask? Yeah... nothing beats a sauna.
Indoor Saunas
A modern and beautiful sauna in the comfort of your home? An indoor sauna can be more convenient in many ways. It allows you to enjoy your bathing experience without having to leave the house, and the convenience of your bathroom right outside. In an indoor sauna, the electrical lighting options are endless as well - whether you prefer dim, discreetly hidden spotlights, or want to add Chromotherpay LED lights to set the mood. As far as space is concerned, you know your home best. Indoor saunas can be a great wayto utilize unused space in your basement or bathroom. And lastly, they’re easier to install - without the need for a foundation or easyaccess to electricity and water. Most of our kits are plug & play and can be installed free-standing in an hour or two, allowing you to easily take them with you if you ever move
Outdoor Saunas
A traditional and authentic sauna experience closer to nature? If you’re lucky enough to be living by a lake or the sea, or have an abundance of greenery surrounding you, outdoor saunas make for a breathtaking experience. Outdoor saunas are often built with large windows to allow the natural light in while providing views of your surroundings. A waterfront view or a botanical-esque experience sounds like the pinnacle of luxury, am I right? If you’re going to build your sauna outdoors, you do need to consider water and electricity sources. Alternatively, you can opt for a wood-burning stove heater, like those offered by Dundalk or HUUM. This removes the need to stress electricity while enjoying a deliciously scented fire. And hey, while you may not have access to running water outside, that’s fine! It’s just a different experience. If you have a large yard, outdoor saunas can free you of any space restrictions and offer you a true home oasiss
Final Thoughts
Are there other considerations to be had? Sure, but not noteworthy enough to explore further. One might think discussing size would be important, but then again you should be able to easily assess this yourself. Do you intend on bathing mostly in privacy during your morning, afternoon, or evening routine? Then there’s no need to splurge on anything larger than a 1-2 seater. Or, you might prefer the company of friends and family - then a 4-5 seater is probably best. Personally, I enjoy bathing alone, however I love lying down or occasionally bringing my yoga mat in to stretch. So, I have a larger 5 seater at the house.
On a final and more important note, let’s take a second to dismiss everything we've just read *deep breath*. The modern age we find ourselves living in is complicated enough. Let’s face it. We’re constantly inundated with distractions and information overload. Our home and life responsibilities are more challenging than any previous generation, and thus we've had to become experts in time and stress management. Not to mention our work is more demanding, and the ‘new normal’ has even brought that back home for most of us too. So above all else, the reason #WhyWeSaunaify boils down to the feel-good-factor. A few minutes a day is all it takes to emerge relaxed, revived, and ready for whatever the day may bring. Now ask yourself, why do you Saunaify?
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