Adding a Sauna to Your Meditation Routine

Current fads and trends in the athletic training world never seem to last very long. That is part of the reason we love the sauna. It has been around for more than 1,000 years as a way to recuperate from a hard workout. With the Olympics all the hype right now and athletes floating across your television screen, recovering from these hard workouts might be something to note, should you try to channel your inner Olympian.

One of the recent trends that have caught my attention (it has also been around for many, many years) is meditation. Allowing your mind to fully relax and drain all thoughts to a state of complete calmness has been touted by many for years as one of the most important things you can do for yourself. It is so incredibly hard to find a place to experience this full mind relaxation without other distractions and interruptions. The sauna came to the top of my mind as an amazing place to do daily meditation.

Saunas, especially those within the comfort of your own home, give you a place to allow both your body and mind to relax simultaneously. The twenty to forty minutes you take daily in the sauna allow you to slip into a meditative near-sleep state while you eliminate toxins from your body. Your mind can clear fully and all of your concerns can melt away.

Some of the major benefits of meditation include healthy cardiovascular health by slowing the heart rate and pace of breathing, lowering stress levels, strengthening the immune system and improved self-esteem and a more positive outlook on life.

Having the comfort of your own home sauna gives you the perfect place to practice daily meditation, to relax both your mind and body. Head to SaunasAndStuff.com to find your new mediation sanctuary!

The Sauna: A Refuge in Your Own Home

Is your home no longer a place of rest for you? Have kids, cleaning, work, or house repairs prevented you from finding time or a place to relax within your own home? With the increasing stresses of life burdening us more and more these days, there is an ever expanding need for some “me” time.

Sure, a trip to the day spa may be in order now and then, but who has the time to drive there? Day spa visits can also add up to a great deal of money in no time at all. Perhaps your own home sauna is a better option, being both convenient and cost effective.

Saunas, for all their physical health benefits we have discussed here on this site, are also a boon to mental health and relaxation. Imagine having your own personal oasis in the home – always quiet, away from the stress, where your mind and body have a chance to heal. Just 20 to 40 minutes in a sauna and you emerge rejuvenated and refreshed. Imagine having this refuge inside your own home, at your disposal 24/7!

With a wide variety of styles, options, and sizes, there is a “personal in-home refuge” (the sauna) available to fit every budget. If you’ve been considering buying a vacation home to get away from it all but are worried about the costs, bring a mini vacation into your home with a sauna from Saunas & Stuff!

Sauna Ideas for Valentine’s Day

News alert to all of the men out there. Valentine’s Day is approaching mighty quickly, and we have a great last minute romantic option for you! This Valentine’s Day, think bubbles and bubbly. We can set the stage for a great option that will blow her socks off and allow her to relax. You don’t need expensive restaurant reservations. Just a sauna from SaunasAndStuff.com and some creativity.

Here are several creative options for this Valentine’s Day to incorporate the relaxing benefits of a sauna:

• Start by purchasing a couple of steaks, potatoes and vegetables to cook out on the grill. Make the perfect, romantic dinner at home to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

• Leave an invitation to a warm rendezvous in the sauna somewhere where she will find it.

• Start the sauna right after dinner to get it ready for your romantic time in the sauna to detox, relax and be able to talk and catch up.

• Set up a comfy sofa or blankets and pillows to enjoy after the sauna. Upon exiting, you can take a warm shower together and continue relaxing in the comfy blanket and pillow bed with a glass of wine and some chocolates.

If you need to buy a sauna, head to SaunasAndStuff.com for a large selection of saunas for sale. You are sure to find the perfect option. You will get a years of use from a sauna and you can have these romantic nights whenever you want throughout the year.

Home Sauna Kits: Pre-Built VS Pre-Cut

Today’s consumers have the luxury of choice with many of their purchase decisions, and saunas are certainly no exception. With such a wide variety on the market many shoppers can get lost in the mix. So where do you start and what kind do you get? Two of the most popular traditional rock sauna styles we offer are pre-built saunas and pre-cut saunas. These two types of sauna kits get mixed up all the time so we want our customers to be educated about the differences so they can make the most qualified purchase decision this holiday season.

Pre-Built Traditional Rock Saunas

Pre-built sauna kits come in an easy-to-assemble kit and are self-contained, freestanding units. These modular, prefabricated wall units fit together easily and provide greater flexibility in terms of being portable. You can take these saunas with you when you move, so they make a great option for someone who relocates often. Sauna assembly can vary by room size and shape, and these can take as little as one to two hours to put together. Then you are ready to relax and sweat away the toxins!

Pre-built saunas come in a variety of sizes ranging from a 4 x 4 foot room suitable for two people to a 9 x 10 foot family sauna, and larger. The pre-built wall and ceiling panels are made from Grade A Clear Western cedar wood and are also available in fir, poplar or spruce. Assembly is further simplified with pre-built sauna benches, a pre-installed door and all the parts and accessories needed to complete your installation.

These pre-built (also called prefabricated) home saunas can be installed indoors or outdoors. If you want to install it indoors, we suggest you assemble the steam sauna room on a waterproof surface such as tile, concrete or linoleum. For the outdoors, a poured concrete slab is the best. Roof kits are also available to convert an inside sauna into an outdoor sauna. We advise you to apply a water sealant to the exterior wood to protect the walls from the elements if you are converting from an indoor to an outdoor sauna.


Pre-Cut Traditional Rock Saunas
Pre-cut sauna kits are made for converting an existing room, large closet or old laundry room/bathroom into a sauna. These are great for the do-it-yourself-er that wants to be actively involved with the assembly of their new sauna, as well as save money. You need to build an insulated stud frame room to install the sauna kit if you don’t have a good-sized area available for the sauna.

For the pre-cut sauna kit, you are required to provide the structural framing, insulation, vapor barrier and exterior paneling. Everything else that you need to line the inside of the room with cedar, as well as a pre-hung door, pre-built benches and duck board floor, bucket, ladle, wall light and more are supplied in the kit.

These offer a variety of different design options and allow the customer to put their own personal touch on the sauna. The options are endless!

With the holidays coming up a new sauna would be the perfect addition to your house or condo. They offer a great way for the family to spend quality time together while relaxing and benefiting their health. What are you waiting for? Grab either your pre-built or pre-cut sauna kit from www.saunasandstuff.com today! If you are just looking for a sauna heater, check out our full line of Tylo models.

Saunas, Snow-Style!

The leaves have fallen and we are approaching the beginning of winter. Everyone is beginning to find boots, beanies and ways to keep them warm in the dropping temperatures. What better way to immerse yourself in warmth than in an outdoor sauna.

We have saunas that have pink foam board insulation to protect them from snowy conditions, allowing the user to experience the benefits of sauna use all winter. If you have always wanted a sauna, but do not have room in the house for one, consider an outdoor sauna. You can even situate it near the backdoor, allowing for quick access all year long.

Outdoor saunas in snow country are beginning to catch on, as people find this an exciting way to relax and socialize, without giving up precious square footage in their tiny cabins or ski getaways.

During the long, dark final days of winter, regular sauna sessions will help you stay healthy and lift your spirits. Sauna parties at the cabin are also a great way to socialize. Begin by enjoying the sauna in a regular sauna session. Once you are warm and the sweat is flowing, open the sauna and head out into the snow. You can lay down and roll around in the snow, letting it scrub your skin, further cleansing it. You will find you can enjoy the snow for quite a long time before getting cold. Once you start to get cold, you can enjoy round two in the sauna. The Finnish love the experience of using a sauna in the snow, and it has become somewhat of a tradition in that country. It is one of the most exhilarating experiences in life!

Saunas are a major part of the Finnish culture. There are more than five million inhabitants and more than two million saunas in Finland, averaging one sauna per household!! The Finnish believe that saunas are a place to relax socially with family and friends, and to receive health benefits, both physically and mentally. The Finns think of saunas as not just a luxury, but a necessary part of life. And the sauna in the snow experience is one of their favorite parts in the winter.

If you are excited about the sauna in the snow experience and want to find the perfect sauna for your backyard, please visit www.SaunasAndStuff.com or contact us to discuss the best option for you.

Hot Sauna Trends to Watch For

Saunas have been gaining popularity in the last several years. North America is taking a cue from the Finnish and reaping the many health benefits of saunas. Whether you want to buy an infrared sauna or a traditional hot rock steam sauna, there are many different options to choose from. Saunas continue to adapt and evolve with new designs and trends popping up across the nation.

The following are some trends we are seeing in 2011 in the sauna industry:

• The top trend that continues to evolve with saunas is design. People are beginning to customize sauna kits to fit their taste and style, as well as the overall feel and design of the interior of their home. The individualization of the sauna includes using new materials to help the environment (for the eco-friendly) or the use of exotic stones (for the discerning) are coming into play.

• This year has also brought in the evolution of smell. The use of fragrance or essential oils is beginning to allow users to personalize their sauna experience for a particular time of day or feel. Using citrus scents in the morning allows the sauna user to make up and prepare for the day, or relaxing lavender after a day of stress or for anyone that needs an enhanced complete relaxation moment.

• New LED technology changes the use of lights, allowing for an even more serene sauna experience. The use of a “starry sky” or new illuminated elements allows the sauna user to personalize the sauna or add new lighting elements to make the experience one to remember.

• A future trend sauna users should be on the lookout for is the control technology. The introduction of a sauna remote that can be used in multiple locations may allow sauna users to heat up their sauna in the basement from the comfort of their office upstairs. Users may also be able to program the sauna to begin heating up at a certain time during the day, like 10 minutes before lunch so it is ready for your lunch break.

The use and popularity of saunas is widespread, and it might be a great way for you to spruce up your home. The personalization of the sauna is now more available than ever, offering multiple options to make your new sauna to fit right in your home. Contact SaunasAndStuff.com to discuss our many options and which sauna will be the best one for you.

Demystifying the Health Risks and Health Benefits of Saunas

There are many articles out there about the alleged health risks of Saunas, and for every one of these articles there is another one stating all of the health benefits of saunas. With such conflicting pieces of information, many people do not know what to believe.
We at www.SaunasAndStuff.com would like to help demystify the health risks of saunas and give you some facts about the risks:

• Cooling down is as important as the heating process in your sauna session. It is safe to take a few moments after exiting the sauna before entering a cold plunge in a pool or shower. After your session you can turn the sauna off, open the door slightly, and allow your body to cool down for 10 minutes. If you shiver afterward, it is a sign of the automatic responses of your body trying to warm itself back up. You may want to reenter the sauna and allow your body to cool longer afterward. If you ever feel slightly sick after using the sauna, a less hot sauna and warmer, longer cool down is suggested for future use. Sleep disturbances can also occur if your body is not cooled down properly, so give yourself sufficient time to cool down after using the sauna.

• Prolonged stays in the sauna may lead to the loss of electrolytes from the body, which is similar to what can happen to your body after rigorous exercise. Risks of dehydration leading to heat stroke can occur if you are not hydrating enough. Always drink plenty of fluids before, during and after using the sauna. Using the sauna during alcohol withdrawal or while “hung over” can also cause dehydration, so it is not recommended to use the sauna after a night of drinking.

• Ease yourself into regular sauna use slowly to lower the risks. Start with short intervals once or twice a week, and work up from there. And always remember, if at any time during your sauna session you feel dizzy, sleepy or any discomfort, exit the sauna immediately.

Saunas have many health benefits and should be used correctly to eliminate any risks associated with them. Please submit any additional questions to www.SaunasAndStuff.com to answer. We support using saunas safely to maximize the health benefits!

How to Use Your Sauna

You finally made the best decision of your life…to get your own sauna. Good for you! The relaxation and major health benefits of infrared saunas are amazing. Once you get the sauna and set it up in your house, you begin to wonder how to use it and how to increase the benefits of your sauna sessions. SaunasAndStuff.com is here to help.

• Always remember to drink plenty of fluids before, during and after your sauna session. Drinking plenty of water after will help your body eliminate all of the toxins from the sauna session.
• Heat the sauna to the desired temperature. You will want to do this up to 30 minutes before you plan to use it so it is warm and ready when you are. The most common temperatures for beginners are in the range of 110° F to 118° F. You can experiment to find what is most comfortable for you.
• Some people enjoy working out prior to using the sauna to get their blood flowing. If you exercise prior to using the sauna, monitor your body to make sure you do not overheat, since you will already be warm prior to entering.
• You can start with one or two sauna sessions per week and work up from there. Start with 15 to 20 minutes and gradually increase this time with future sessions as desired.
• Wear as little clothing as possible to get the best infrared sauna benefits and feel the most comfortable. Infrared rays have difficulty penetrating clothing. You should take two towels in the sauna. One will be used to sit on, and the other can be used to wipe away any sweat.
• Use this sauna session to relax, meditate and escape. Relieving stress and tension is one of the sauna’s major benefits! You can massage the areas of your body that ache to relieve sore and tense muscles. From time to time throughout the session, wipe off excess perspiration to allow for more intense sweating.
• If at any time during your sauna session you feel dizzy, sleepy or any discomfort, exit the sauna immediately.
• After your sauna session is complete, turn off the power and sit in the sauna with the door opened slightly for about 10 minutes to let you your body cool down.
• Take a shower to clean the toxins from your body. It is best to wait 15 to 20 minutes before taking a warm shower to rinse the perspiration from your body so you can fully cool down and finish sweating prior to your shower.

Saunas are a great way to relax and de-stress, as well as offer many health benefits. Saunas And Stuff offers many different size saunas for every home.