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Monthly Archives: October 2013

  • Saunas vs Steam Rooms: What's the Difference?

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    There is a popular idea that using a sauna, then doing a cold plunge, then ending with a steam room session can boost your body's circulation, but a lot of people aren't really sure what the difference is between a sauna and a steam room. Are there significant differences between the two? Is the heat the same? How do the health benefits compare? Is there any evidence that using both in tandem with a cold plunge is really beneficial?

    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 heated rocks. A heater or a wood-burning stove in an enclosed room elevates 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 period of time, the bather leaves the sauna and jumps 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 has much higher humidity levels than a sauna and, therefore, heat. Steam rooms are maintained at much lower temperatures than saunas--usually not more than 110 degrees F--but the humidity is kept very high, at almost 100 percent. The cooler ambient air temperature makes steam rooms more bearable for some people, and also helps asthmatics and other people suffering from breathing conditions.

    Both saunas and steam rooms open up the pores of the body, helping to eliminate toxins through sweat. The high temperatures also help ease muscle soreness, improve circulation, relax the body, and strengthen the immune system. Neither is really better than the other--it's simply a matter of personal preference. For the people who are unable to endure high heat, steam rooms might be the better option. Some 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.

    Saunasandstuff.com 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 various accessories to go along with it.

    *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauna

  • Outdoor Saunas

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    When thinking about saunas, many people envision a small room inside a gym, spa, or home. However, in their country of origin--Finland--saunas are often small rooms attached to the outside of a home, or are a free standing structure separate from the house. You can find these small buildings in backyards or beside lakes. There are even mobile saunas that can be pulled behind vehicles.

    Moving your sauna to the exterior of your home has many benefits. First, it frees up space in your home, making saunas available to people with limited floor space. Second, it enhances the value of backyard/exterior property space. It can complement an outdoor hot tub, for example. Third, an outdoor sauna can extend the usage of your swimming pool into the winter months. Many sauna users enjoy alternating their sweat time with a dunk in cool water. With a sauna located poolside, you never need to close up your pool, which can save you money on winterizing chemicals and equipment.

    An outdoor sauna will require different care than an indoor sauna. You'll want to make sure you are purchasing a sauna designed to be used outside. Make sure you treat the wood and keep it in the best shape possible. Read the care instructions included with your sauna. Saunas are made from soft woods such as cedar, which allow the absorption of steam. These woods handle 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 to avoid damaging the sauna. All cedar saunas can be treated with linseed oil on the outside for protection, which also gives 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 we offer to build your own backyard sauna. Saunasandstuff.com will help you find the best option for your style and space, as well as help you maintain your sauna so it lasts for many years to come.

    *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauna

  • Infrared Saunas: Ceramic vs Carbon Fiber

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    Confused about the options available to you when buying an infrared sauna or infrared heater? What's the difference between bio ceramic tube infrared and carbon fiber infrared?

    An infrared sauna uses infrared heaters to emit infrared light, which is experienced as radiant heat. This is unlike traditional saunas, which heat the body indirectly via air or steam. Many people find infrared saunas to be more comfortable than traditional saunas, as the body is heated but the temperature of the air stays cooler and more comfortable to breathe.

    The two main types of infrared saunas are ceramic tube infrared saunas and carbon fiber infrared saunas. There are key differences between the two types. Understanding the differences will help you select the sauna that best fits your needs.

    Ceramic tube heaters have long, skinny tubes that emit infrared ray waves in all directions. Reflectors are used to bounce the IR waves from the backside of the tubes into the sauna. The heat distribution tends to be uneven, with more heat closer to the heater and less heat the farther out you go. However, ceramic tube saunas tend to be cheaper than carbon fiber saunas and they heat up more quickly.

    Carbon fiber infrared saunas have panels made of synthetic carbon materials that convert electricity to energy and radiate it throughout the air. They are slightly more expensive than ceramic tube infrared saunas. The heat in carbon infrared saunas distributes evenly, with no hotter or cooler spots. They take a little longer to heat up than ceramic infrared saunas, but the carbon panels are much more durable than the fragile ceramic rods. Carbon fiber infrared saunas are also more energy efficient, resulting in lower operation costs.

    While it seems like carbon fiber infrared saunas are the clear winner, it really comes down to preference. The ceramic infrared saunas have been around longer, and so many people are more familiar with them. They are also easier to repair. Add to that the lower cost and they may be a better choice. So look over the available information, take a look at all the sauna options at Saunasandstuff.com, and give us a call if you have any additional questions.

    *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared_sauna

    *http://www.ehow.com/about_5340421_ceramic-vs-carbon-infrared-saunas.html

  • Ultra-Low-EMF Carbon Fiber FAR Infrared Saunas

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    Saunasandstuff.com is very happy to announce the addition of Ultra-Low-EMF Carbon Fiber FAR Infrared Saunas to our inventory of high-quality home saunas! We know that is a bit of a mouthful to say, and you may not be familiar with all the terms. We want our customers to know all about sauna technology so they can choose the sauna that's right for them. Let's break it down!

    In reverse order:

    Saunas

    A sauna is a small room or house designed for people to experience heat sessions. There are two kinds of sauna: wet and dry. Wet saunas have a cooler ambient temperature than dry saunas prominently feature steam as the conductor of heat. Dry saunas are much warmer than wet saunas and avoid the use of steam, relying on the temperature alone to induce sweating.

    FAR Infrared

    Originally invented in Finland, the modern sauna can be sorted into two heating types: traditional and infrared. Traditional heat warms the air, which then warms the body. With infrared heat, the core of the body is heated first.

    Carbon Fiber

    Infrared heaters can be made of many types of materials, including charcoal, ceramic, and carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is composed of thin carbon plates that distribute heat evenly. With carbon fiber heaters, more infrared is emitted more efficiently. They also do not require glues or plastics, which eliminates fumes from those materials.

    Ultra-Low-EMF

    Many infrared heaters emit electromagnetic fields (EMF) as a by-product of being electrically charged objects. Over time, exposure to EMFs can cause health issues such as headaches, nausea, depression, anxiety, cataracts, eye irritation, cancer, and more. Ultra-low-EMF means the heating device was designed in such a way to eliminate almost all of the EMF emissions, making the heater very safe to use regularly.

    Ultra-Low-EMF Carbon Fiber FAR Infrared Saunas

    An ultra-low-EMF Carbon Fiber FAR infrared sauna is a space in which you can sit and experience dry heat that warms from your core outward by using safe infrared emissions generated by a EMF-dampening carbon fiber heater

    The Takeaway

    Our new saunas are totally sweet. They are safe, energy efficient, and very good for your health. They are also affordable, easy to assemble, and ship FREE to 48 states. If you've been waffling on whether or not to purchase a sauna for your home, these saunas should make the decision easy: yes. All you have to do is pick a size.

    *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauna

    *http://www.valariea.com/infrared-carbon-vs-infrared-ceramic-heater.php

    *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_field

    *http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index1.html

    *with thanks to Green Smoothie Girl: http://greensmoothiegirl.com/favorite-things/tools/far-infrared-saunas/

  • Meditation and Saunas

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    One of the reasons we love the sauna is that it has been around for more than 1,000 years as a form of relaxation and health maintenance. This makes it one of the longest-lasting health crazes in history. Another long-lasting practice dating back thousands of years is meditation, the practice of training one's mind or entering a mode of consciousness. Allowing your mind to fully relax and draining all thoughts to a state of complete calmness has been touted by many as one of the most important things you can do for yourself. 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, improved self-esteem, and a more positive outlook on life. Unfortunately, it can be incredibly hard to find a place to experience this full mind relaxation without distractions and interruptions. The sauna, it turns out, is perfect for 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 can allow you to slip into a meditative near-sleep state while you eliminate toxins from your body. Your mind can clear fully.

    Head to SaunasAndStuff.com to find your new mediation sanctuary! And let us know in the comments how you use saunas to improve your mental condition.

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