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.

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!!

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.

Infrared Room Heaters: Energy Efficient Space Heater Technology

Nowadays, infrared room heaters and fireplaces are all the craze. These innovative household mainstays are gaining popularity due to the safe, beneficial heat they deliver. In fact, the sought-after design of the fireplace room heater in particular is showing up in more and more homes across the country each year.

These infrared quartz heaters are a revolutionary-designed portable heat source. Infrared heat is safe, healthy and therapeutic, offering many benefits for users beyond the typical room heater. Quality infrared room heaters should never feel hot to the touch. They do not emit any fumes or harmful matter into the air like normal home heating systems, and quartz room heaters will not dehydrate the air. Some even sanitize or purify the air!

Electrically heated infrared heaters radiate up to 86 percent of their input as radiant energy. Nearly all the electrical energy input is converted into infrared radiant heat in the filament and direct onto the product by reflectors. Infrared heaters are much more energy efficient than most space heaters, utilizing most of the electricity and energy that is emitted.

The designs are constantly evolving, and you can now choose anywhere from micro portable heaters to the beautiful infrared fireplace room installation. Both will keep you warm during the colder months, or simply give you the excuse to cozy-up with that special someone.

Portable room heaters are perfect for single places like offices, garages, workshops, basements and cool spots in your home. They work in collaboration with an in-home heating system, heating rooms that are not used often in order to conserve energy. If used collectively, you can cut some of your heating bills in half by strategically utilizing infrared room heaters in some unused rooms or spaces within your dwelling in place of heating every room in your house.

Check out SaunasAndStuff.com’s quartz infrared room heater to stay warm in the winter months, or cuddle up by the infrared quartz fireplace room heater and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate.

Sauna Sales are Hot in Summer 2011

Yes, we the pun in the headline was intentional. It's hot outdoors, yet the popularity of saunas has been picking up speed in 2011. Sauna sales are very strong this year despite the still somewhat slow economy. There home improvement trend continues, with folks investing in there home and making it a daily vacation destination. Why relax just two weeks a year?

Many people are beginning to realize the various health benefits of saunas, and pre-built sauna kits are making it easier for saunas to fit in just about anyone’s home or backyard, no matter what the size.

Despite saunas having been around for centuries, the increased focus on stress relief and improvement of health in society today has brought saunas back to the forefront. In addition to providing a relaxing experience, saunas also cleanse the body of toxins and other impurities, ease joint and muscle pain, stimulate metabolism, and provide many other holistic health benefits.

People are also entertaining at their homes more often, and focusing more on spending time with family. The social aspect of saunas allows families to enjoy their custom built sauna kits in the comfort of their own home. Coupled with the health benefits and relaxation, it is a win-win cocktail of enjoyment.

The ever-increasing popularity of saunas has led to many innovative design options, including various heating technologies and a wide variety of home kits, pre-built kits or custom designed kits to allow individuals and families to build the sauna of their dreams within the space they have available. These sauna kits are easy-to-use and can fit any living situation and budgets. Many new heating technologies including wood, electric dry, electric steam and infrared sauna heat provide even more options to the consumer than ever before. In addition, the increasing coverage of carbon fiber infrared saunas in the news has allowed them to become a best seller at SaunasAndStuff.com.

With this growing trend of sauna popularity, we cannot wait to see what comes on the market next. If you are looking for the perfect option to relax, improve your health and spend time with your loved ones, a sauna might be the ticket 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.