Difference Between a Sauna and a Steam Room

There are many people who talk about the steam room and the sauna, and many that are still not sure what the difference is between the two. It is said to boost circulation if you do a sauna, cold plunge and then steam back-to-back. Are there differences between the two? Is the heat the same? SaunasAndStuff.com is here to help explain the difference between the two and which might be the better option for you.

Saunas and steam rooms both use heat therapeutically, although this is accomplished in different ways. A sauna uses dry heat, and maybe a small amount of humidity created by pouring water on the sauna heater rocks A steam room incorporates high humidity levels and warmth. A sauna uses a heater or a wood burning stove in an enclosed room to elevate the temperature, usually above 190 degrees F. In a traditional dry sauna, bathers sit or lie in the room to absorb the warmth, which elevates the body's internal temperature, stimulates blood flow, and opens up the pores. After a set period of time, the bather jumps out into a cold plunge or shower, and then rests at room temperature before re-entering for another round. Or they head into the steam room for a change of pace.

A steam room is maintained at a much lower temperature, usually not more than 110 degrees F, but the humidity is kept very high, at usually almost 100 percent. A cloud of steam vapor immediately surrounds bathers who enter the steam room. The cooler temperature makes steam rooms more bearable for some people, and also helps asthmatics and other people suffering from breathing conditions.

Both options open up the pores of the body, helping them to eliminate toxins through sweat, help ease muscle soreness, improve circulation, offer total body relaxation, and strengthen the immune system.

Most of the time, the option that works best for someone turns out to be personal preference. For the people who are unable to endure high heat, steam rooms might be the best option. On the other hand, many people cannot stand the wet sensation and humidity of a steam room and will prefer a sauna instead.

Whether you prefer using a steam room or a sauna, please pay attention to your body and how you are feeling. If you feel unwell or overheated be sure to exit the room immediately. You should also drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, which can cause dizziness and fainting.

Saunas And Stuff has an amazing selection of saunas for every style, home and lifestyle. We also do commercial sauna rooms. Please visit our website to check out the options we offer, as well as all of the accessories to go along with it.

Outdoor Saunas are Perfect for Winter

Saunas in the great outdoors might be one of the most relaxing options for winter. A sauna in the backyard can be a luxury sanctuary. There are many new options to help enhance the look of your own backyard and to fit your personal style. If you are fortunate enough to have a pool or hot tub in your yard, an outdoor sauna can be the perfect compliment. In the cold weather, the sauna and pool combination is amazing, as you can take the plunge in the cool pool between warming up in the sauna. The polar plunge!

People are constantly making the interior of their home personal and matching their style, but they often neglect the backyard. Adding furniture and some rocks is just not enough. An outdoor sauna can make your backyard the envy of the neighborhood. These saunas are making a comeback as everyone wants to find relaxation and peace in their own backyard.

The best way to take care of your backyard sauna is to make sure you treat the wood and keep it in the best shape possible. Saunas are made from soft woods such as cedar or which allow the absorption of steam. These woods handle the swelling better than hardwoods. Since the wood has a soft, porous surface, abrasive tools can scratch the delicate timber. Hard chemicals can also penetrate the wood, damaging the integrity of the sauna. Use carefully selected tools and cleaners to treat the wood properly and avoid damaging the sauna. In addition, all cedar saunas can be treated with linseed oil on the outside for protection and to give them a rich color.

If the wood on the inside of your sauna gets stained over the years, you can often renew it with a nice sanding. Make sure you finish with a really fine grit to prevent a porous surface. That would make the wood more susceptible to becoming stained again.

Check out the wide range of sauna kits to build your own backyard sauna, and head there to relax and rejuvenate your mind and body. Saunas And Stuff will help you find the best options for your style and space, as well as help you take care and treat your sauna so it lasts for many years to come.

Carbon Fiber Infrared Saunas - Best Home Sauna Kits

Infrared Saunas are a popular new technology for saunas. An infrared sauna uses infrared heaters to emit infrared radiant heat, which is absorbed directly into the human body. This is unlike traditional saunas, which heat the body indirectly via air or steam. These infrared saunas have become all the rage and are easier to tolerate for those that are sensitive to heat. 

The two main types of infrared saunas are bio ceramic tube infrared saunas and carbon fiber infrared saunas. There are several differences between the two types. The ceramic tube sauna has been around the longest and the carbon fiber is a new style and technology in infrared heaters. 

Carbon Fiber Infrared Saunas are slightly more expensive than bio ceramic tube infrared saunas. The heat in carbon infrared saunas is evenly distributed all throughout the sauna and has a very large surface area. In contrast, ceramic versions result in heat that is concentrated closer to the heaters themselves. Quick, smooth and evenly distributed heat fills the sauna in carbon fiber saunas, where ceramic saunas quickly heat up but heat is more intense closer to the heaters. 

Ceramic tube heaters are long, skinny tubes that emit infrared ray waves in all directions, thus reflectors are used to reflect the IR waves from the backside of the tubes into the sauna. The limitation is that they can create areas of concentrated heat waves where it is really hot and some areas that are cooler with less concentrated heat. 

Infrared rays are thermal heat, like the sun’s rays, and heat up what they bump into. If you stand in the sun, you feel hot until you step into the shade, where it feels cooler even though the temperature did not change. Infrared waves work similarly. 

The key purpose of the carbon fiber panel heaters is to create an even overall pattern of infrared waves inside the sauna. The entire panel can cover a large area of the walls, backs of benches and even floor panels and will emit an evenly distributed pattern of infrared rays. The goal is to heat the sauna user evenly to get a full body sweat going. 

Carbon Fiber Infrared saunas are the most durable with flexible and less fragile than ceramic heater rods. Carbon fiber saunas are also the most efficient with the lowest cost of operation. Most of our customers that have had the opportunity to try both options prefer the carbon fiber infrared sauna option. Check out our amazing selection of carbon fiber infrared heaters for your next sauna purchase!!

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!

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.

Sauna Health Benefits

Everyone is running around trying to finish their last minute Christmas shopping and preparing for Santa’s visit. After they collapse in exhaustion from Christmas, that week between Christmas and New Years gives people a chance to figure out how 2012 will be different. Resolutions, resolutions and more resolutions. For the most part, at least one of those New Years resolutions revolves around improving your health or making a health change. Did you ever realize a sauna can help you with those resolutions?

Saunas can help you achieve your wellness goals with the many health benefits they offer. You can lower your blood pressure, aid in weight loss, and extend your life. You can also relax at the same time, which should be at the top of your resolution list.

Saunas for Weight Loss
Saunas can be amazing partners to help you achieve your weight loss goals. One sauna session can help you burn more than 600 calories, which is equivalent to 30 minutes of rowing at the gym or an hour on the treadmill. The heat from the sauna penetrates below the skin to break down the fat and water particles in your skin, helping to burn calories and accelerate weight loss. It is a great alternative to physical exercise for those who are unable, or unwilling, to exert themselves.

Saunas for Cleansing and Detoxification
We are exposed to so many toxins every day, from what we eat to the hazards in the environment. When toxins are present in our body, blood circulation is blocked and cellular energy is impaired. The body’s immune system is inhibited due to toxins, making it difficult to fight disease. When infrared sauna heat is applied, the large water molecules in our bodies that contain toxic gases like sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, lead, mercury and chlorine vibrate are broken down. The encapsulated toxic materials and gases are then released, expelling these toxins. Some experts in weight loss believe our bodies use fat to dilute toxins. Since infrared saunas excel at helping rid your body of toxins, you may be burning fat that is being used to dilute toxins in the process. Make sure you take a shower once you leave the sauna to wash the toxins off your skin. If you want a great option to start the year with a detox program, a sauna is the perfect partner for you to accomplish this goal.

Saunas to Help Lower Your Blood Pressure
Infrared saunas are great for lowering blood pressure. People who take saunas a couple times per week actually drop their blood pressure by heating their body. The environment in which they are lowering their blood pressure is more comfortable than sitting in a heated external environment. Infrared saunas are a great option due to the fact that the cooler air temperature they have is less likely to hurt your lungs if you take a deep breath. Relax and enjoy a few moments of peaceful silence.

Saunas to Extend Your Life
A major benefit is helping to extend your life. Medical researchers have long been reporting on the health benefits of infrared sauna therapy. It helps support those who suffer from fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and even autism. The circulatory and blood pressure lowering benefits are also a plus! One major benefit that helps to extend your life, and the overall quality of your life, is the fact that saunas aid in relaxation. With all the stress being experienced and the fast pace of life, saunas help you take a moment and fully relax. The heat also helps bring that relaxation to a heightened stage of completion.

2012 is finally your year!! If you want to lose weight, relax and find your zen, or help lower your blood pressure, incorporate the sauna into your routine. After a workout, head to the sauna to help eliminate toxins and relieve pain from sore muscles. You can also continue losing weight by doing this. This is the best time to make it happen. Having a sauna in your home guarantees easy access and the option of using the sauna whenever you want. There are some great deals for you now. Get hot and healthy in 2012 with your own sauna from www.saunasandstuff.com!

Saunas...the Five W's

Saunas, health benefits and relaxation oh my! Saunas are all the rage, and we are hearing sauna conversations across the nation; across dinner tables, in health clubs and between friends at bars. Are you still confused on the basics. We are here to clear some things up with the five W’s of sauna…in true sauna fashion.

Who – Who is enjoying saunas?

It used to be the people of Finland, the finnish. Then it was the Scandanavians. Now its your next door neighbor and that sassy skinny girl leaving hot yoga. Everyone is starting to get into saunas, especially after Oprah and Dr. Oz starting talking about the massive amount of health benefits infrared saunas offer. So yeah, it should be you next.

What – What the heck is a sauna?

Saunas are small rooms, or a house, designed as a location to experience dry or wet heat sessions for recreational or therapeutic experiences. There are two main types of saunas: dry and wet. The majority of saunas are built out of wood, with cedar and hemlock being the most common.

Wet saunas, or steam rooms, are kept at lower temperatures, 100°F to 115°F, which prevents superheated water from scalding the skin on contact. Dry saunas can be kept at much higher temperatures of up to 250°F by keeping the moisture level down to nearly zero. These temperatures cause relaxation and promote sweating, to help cleanse the system and provide health benefits.

Where – Where are saunas?

They are now everywhere! They used to only be at swanky hotels, expensive condo or apartment communities and ritzy health clubs. Now they are in basements, houses and neighborhood gyms across the nation. They can be built to your liking, with custom build kit saunas that incorporate all the elements you want. Easy to assemble, and ready to use.

When – When is the best time to sauna?

You can sauna when you are stressed out as a massive form of instant relaxation. You can sauna after you work out, to help your body eliminate toxins in your system and clean itself out. You can use the sauna in the dead of winter in the frigid temperatures of the snowy states, or during the summer why relaxing at a hotel spa in Las Vegas. We use ours almost everyday to relax, refresh and detox. And sauna parties are always popular.

Why – Why use a sauna?

Saunas offer numerous health benefits. You can lower your blood pressure, aid in weight loss, and extend your life. Saunas offer a great way to detoxify your system. The main thing we want to stress is to wash your skin once you exit the sauna to get the toxins off your skin. One major benefit that helps to extend your life, and the overall quality of your life, is the fact that saunas aid in relaxation. With all the stress being experienced and the fast pace of life, saunas help you take a moment and fully relax.

What more could you ask for! SaunasAndStuff.com is here to help with any questions you might have about saunas and the options available to you. Now’s the time to enjoy that sauna!!