| Few things are as relaxing and therapeutic as | | | | you experience in a wood-burning sauna. |
| spending time in a sauna. Specially developed room | | | | Saunas are available as either wet or dry. Personal |
| that it can be heated to extremely high | | | | preference would determine which one you would |
| temperatures, saunas have been around for more | | | | use. Also often called steam rooms, wet saunas are |
| than a thousand years. | | | | kept at between 100-115 degrees Fahrenheit (37 - |
| Fragrant rocks are heated to and kept at very high | | | | 46C). Dry saunas are much warmer at temperatures |
| temperatures. When splashed with water, they | | | | as high as 250 degree Fahrenheit (121C) with very |
| release steam, heat and a lovely aroma. | | | | little moisture present. |
| In Finland, saunas were originally used as places to | | | | Some people believe that they gain more health |
| bathe, for women to give birth, and for those | | | | benefits by alternating between hot and cold. The sit |
| suffering from illness. There are +- 2 million saunas in | | | | in the sauna for a while and then leave it and jump |
| use daily in Finland. Saunas form part of their | | | | into a cold pool. As this is quite a shock to the |
| bathroom and most dwellings are built with saunas. | | | | system, care should be taken when doing it especially |
| Throughout history, many different types of saunas | | | | if you suffer from high blood pressure. |
| have come and gone. Finland had many versions while | | | | Saunas have an amazing ability to relax you, lower |
| versions existed in America called a 'inipi', in Russia | | | | blood pressure and assist in strengthening your |
| 'bania' and the Turkish version known as 'hamam | | | | immune system. It is also a great place to socialize |
| steam bath' | | | | while ridding your body of the stress of daily life. It is |
| During the 1920's smoke saunas were used. They | | | | no wonder that you find saunas in just about every |
| built a fire directly into a fireplace with no chimney, | | | | gym, health spa and even public pools. |
| just a small hole through which smoke could escape. | | | | Having your own sauna at home is not only possible, |
| Although they took some time to heat up, once hot | | | | but considering how good it makes you feel, almost |
| the heat was extremely pleasant. It had a few | | | | a necessity. |
| drawbacks though. As it was quite difficult to control | | | | Should you decide to build your own sauna, you can |
| the fire many burnt down. It was also difficult to | | | | find help in manuals available in your local library, as |
| keep clean with the room always covered in soot. | | | | well as on the internet. Another option is to call in a |
| Modern saunas have electric heaters to heat the | | | | company that specializes in home saunas. |
| stones. Although electric heaters are easy to use and | | | | Buying a ready to assemble sauna might be quickest |
| relatively cheap, wood heaters are gaining ground | | | | way for you to enjoy the relaxation of your very |
| again. This could be because of the different feeling | | | | own sauna. |