Sauna Tips & Basic Information

• reasons that people use saunas
• different types of saunas
• sauna history

I've also written a separate page on how to take a sauna.

Four Reasons That People Use Saunas

Relaxation. The heat in a sauna helps promote deep relaxation and is an environment with no distractions or demands. That is what makes it a great place for peace and solitude, and it's what I personally love most!

Health Maintenance. Using a sauna once a week or so can enhance blood circulation. It'll help cleanse the skin, nourish glands, and offer benefits similar to exercise.

Bonding. Throughout history, saunas and other forms of hot baths have served as gathering places or a 'hangout' for families and other groups.

Healing or Therapy. You'll need to spend around 30 minutes minimum, and up to several hours max per day for an effective therapy program. A sauna can be a powerful but safe healing assistant. It helps decongest internal organs, improve circulation, and remove toxins.

You can read more about sauna health benefits here.

NOTE: Don't attempt to start a sauna therapy program without doing research first. Certain protocol has to be followed for safety reasons.

Sauna expert Dr. Lawrence Wilson wrote a very definitive book called Sauna Therapy.

Although Dr. Wilson talks more about using an infrared lamp sauna, there's still plenty of great information about sauna therapy overall.

Sauna History

Sauna has a long history - more than 1000 years.

It's reported that the early sauna was a smoke sauna - a small building with a stone fireplace inside. There was a small hole in the roof where the smoke could escape but the fire had to die down before the building could be entered.

This type of sauna was the most popular up until the 1920s...

Read more about the history of the sauna here.

Types of Saunas

With the exception of some portable saunas, almost every type of sauna is made of wood.

The walls, ceilings, floors, and benches are all made from a wood such as cedar, redwood, or hemlock. The only non-wood materials are the heater and rocks.

Saunas come in many different shapes, sizes and styles. They can be separate rooms installed inside or outdoors.

An existing space can even be converted into a sauna.

One of the coolest designs is the barrel-shaped sauna. It’s like a small cabin constructed using barrel making techniques.

There are traditional saunas and infrared saunas. Traditional saunas use a wood burning heater, electric heater, or gas sauna heater. Electric sauna heaters are by far the most popular.

Infrared saunas use infrared sauna heaters that are made of a ceramic or metallic material.

More Info



Home Saunas - residential saunas are growing in popularity. There are options to fit nearly every situation... Read more...

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