We all know the great benefits of saunas in helping to recover after a hard workout, or to relive pent up tension and frustration when visiting a hotel or luxury resort. What few people realize is that saunas have many more benefits than these. In fact there are a wide variety of benefits that can be enjoyed by having access to a sauna at home.
The ancient Greeks were the first to understand the benefits that the body can experience when alternating the environment from hot and dry to hot and moist. The Romans took the idea of temperature based bathing to its full potential by building entire complexes that used saunas and other temperature extremes. Through the years it has been understood that there is no better way to relax than with a hot wet steam or a warm dry resting.
The idea of home based saunas was first introduced in the first part of the 20th century when major catalog retailers started to sell steam cabinets. These large metal boxes had a chair in them that allowed a person to sit and be enveloped by the steam generated by the heated element and tank of water located under the chair. A fabric hood was able to be placed over the head to allow the breathing of steam as well.
over the years the debate of hot and wet such as a steam room or warm and dry such as a sauna began and eventually it was determined that both had their benefits. For relaxation purposes it was deemed that dry and warm was best for daily use, and therefore became the most common type of sauna for the home installation market. Another advantage to the home user was the fact that you could have one installed with only the need for an electric connection. This was more reasonable than steam rooms which required the running of a power supply to the room for lights, the construction of a steam tank and heater unit which often meant gas lines and the running of plumbing systems as well as a vent to the outside to let the moisture escape out. Saunas could be built in a weekend by a couple of guys, steam rooms required heavy construction and utility tie ins and that made them cost prohibitive.
Another major advantage of a sauna over a steam room for home purposes is the fact that you can enjoy other activities while in the sauna, you can read, watch a TV or use your cell phone or laptop (provided you keep in mind that long term heat is bad for your computer so keep the usage short). All of these things are out of the question when in a wet environment. Of course if you want a moist environment, you can always have it by simply adding a ladle or two of water over the stones or placing a large pot of water on top of the grill.
The benefits of a sauna in your home are tremendous. Imagine being able to come home and undress before heading to your personal sauna. The gentle warmth engulfing your naked body as you sit or lay comfortably reading the paper or a favorite book. The time floats away as does your tension and stress from the long hard day. Your spouse or children can join you and you can reconnect with those you love while you all release the grip the day to day grind of the outer world has on you. You can also invite over your buddies and your spouse will enjoy the extra time she can have with her pals as well.
There are other benefits as well. It has been shown that those who use saunas regularly have lower levels of toxins in their bodies, have high metabolic rates and have stronger immune systems. Users of home saunas also have healthier and more vibrant skin and due to less stress in their lives, tend to not be at as high of risk with cardiovascular disease, migraines, over eating or addictions to “comfort” items such as alcohol or nicotine.
The personal benefits of having a home sauna for health and medical purposes are great. Many doctors suggest that those dealing with respiratory distress, some skin conditions, suffers of arthritis, and those who have tension related conditions consider the installation of a home sauna. This is due to the fact that the dry heat of the sauna helps to loosen the lungs, reduce inflammation in the joints and exfoliate the outer layers of the skin.
Having personal saunas in the home is a great way to enjoy all of the benefits that a sauna can have anytime you would like. They are easy to build, economical to own and a pleasure to you. If you have not considered the installation of a home sauna, you should look into it. The benefits are undeniable.
