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.

Health and Weight Loss with a Home Sauna

Year after year, most folks seem to have "getting healthy" or "losing weight" on their list of New Years resolutions. A new sauna from Saunas And Stuff can actually help. Let’s make 2013 the year you meet that goal and actually lose that weight and get healthy while doing it.

Infrared saunas are a great way to lose weight and detox the skin and body. Saunas work differently for everyone, depending on your body weight, how your body produces sweat, your normal heart rate and your metabolism. Most people see amazing benefits from using an infrared sauna.

Saunas for Weight Loss – If you are already in great shape, saunas will help you remain at your current weight while greatly increasing your blood circulation. You will also get to reap the rewards of the detox benefits. For people who are overweight, saunas are great additions to a new gym regimen. You also need to exercise and eat healthy, but saunas will help you relax, detox and improve circulation to boot. Most people who are overweight have a slower metabolism. Regular use of a sauna could help with. A 30 minute daily sauna session or "sauna bath" can increase your metabolism due to the penetrating heat and increase in blood flow.

Saunas for Detox – Infrared saunas are a great option to detox your body. They can significantly expedite the detoxification process as it heats your tissues several inches deep. This helps enhance your natural metabolic processes. Saunas also increase circulation and oxygenate your tissues, which is very beneficial for your health. Your skin is a major organ for eliminating toxins, and most people do not sweat enough to eliminate all of the toxins from their home, work and outside world environments. Repeated use of the sauna slowly helps restore your skins ability to eliminate toxins, especially after sun damage and wearing tight clothes cause this process to slow. Restoring your skin elimination will significantly reduce your toxic load and will also help rid your body of heavy metals and chemicals.

The major difference between an infrared sauna and the traditional Finish (hot rock) type of sauna is the latter heats you up from the outside in, like an oven. The infrared sauna heat penetrates and heats you from the inside out. They are amazing options for turning around your health in the New Year.

Saunas And Stuff sells some of the top line infrared saunas and traditional hot rock saunas and sauna heaters. Contact us to help you select the perfect option for you.

Product Highlight Infrared Quartz Portable Room Heater

With the weather dropping and the need to get warm and toasty after playing in the snow, infrared room heaters are perfect additions to any home. You can cuddle up with hot chocolate, a movie and a portable room heater near to get all cozy and happy.

There are many varieties of infrared room heaters but they are not all created equal. You want to make sure you purchase a good quality brand that doesn’t overuse energy. We recommend an infrared quartz portable room heater, which we are featuring a special on at the moment. This super compact room heater uses the same infrared technology that our infrared sauna line utilizes.

Infrared quartz heaters are revolutionary-designed portable heat sources that offer safe, healthy and therapeutic heat. They are perfect for single rooms up to 1000 square feet. The best feature about these heaters is they save you money compared to other supplemental heating systems. The infrared heater emits clean, ultra-efficient, and evenly distributed heat. With safe infrared absorption, the heater is able to warm the air much like the sun warms the earth and the atmosphere. This type of heat is comfortable and natural for your body to absorb through a unique heat exchanger.

This little heater may be small, but it packs a big punch. At only 16”x16.5”x15”, this heater produces an even flow of heat to warm up your room. This might be the perfect addition to a guest room for visitors that might be from warmer climates and not used to living in the frozen tundra. With an oak wood cabinet and dark oak stain finish, many love the styling on this heater. It encompasses four infrared quartz-heating elements.

Our infrared quartz heater has an LED display and touch button controls for simple function, as well as a remote control for easy use. There are two settings, including high and low. The heat settings vary from 750 to 1500 watts to accommodate varying room sizes, resulting in a huge cost savings. The high efficiency, low sound producing fan helps circulate the heat evenly. It also includes a two-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.

Infrared room heaters are a great thing to have during the freezing winter months to create a nice toasty room. Check out our additional room heater options at www.saunasandstuff.com, as well as a sauna to add to your basement to stay warm and healthy all winter long!

Tylo Sauna Heaters - Best for Traditional Hot Rock Saunas

Saunas offer a relaxing sanctuary in the comfort of your own home. They give out heat that helps your body relax and cleanse itself of toxins. There are many options when it comes to saunas, and you can get the perfect size and style to fit your specific needs.

When it comes to heating your sauna, you need to choose the best, as this will make or break your experience. Having uneven heating in your sauna or frequent heater malfunctions can ruin the experience. It is best to not settle for a cheap sauna heater. Tylö sauna heaters are top quality options for every sauna owner. They include a five-year home warranty to assure you it will work and perform beyond your expectations. 

Tylö is a top-respected company in the sauna heating industry that was founded in 1951. The company has pioneered numerous innovations to improve the safety, function and enjoyment of sauna bathing. These Tylö sauna heaters offer the most up-to-date technology, and have a great design.

You will notice three chambers in a  Tylö heater. The two side chambers have open air flow for fast efficient heating. The center chamber is an extra deep rock chamber. The sauna heater rocks can directly touch the heater coils for excellent heat transfer. The deep rock chamber maximizes the opportunity for water to contact a rock and steam off. It is simply a superior compact and efficient design.

Here are several important tips for your new sauna heater: - The output of the sauna heater must be suited to the cubic size of the sauna room itself. - A simple rule of thumb is you need a heater that produces approximately 1 kW for each 1.3 cubic meters. - For a sauna room with large areas walled with glass, tiles or other dense materials, you will require a heater with a greater output.

If you need help wiring your new Tylo sauna heaters, download a copy of our Tylo sauna heater installation manual (http://www.saunasandstuff.com/downloads/dl/file/id/51/tylo_sauna_heater_installation.pdf). It can help with both sauna room planning and design as well as the heater setup and wiring.

Make sure you purchase a top of the line Tylo sauna heater from as SaunasAndStuff.com. You'll get the best prices and free shipping. 

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!