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saunas

  • Can Regular Sauna Use Help With Weight Loss?

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    One of the many topics explored regarding saunas, and one of the top questions asked relating to saunas, is whether or not saunas can actually help somebody to lose weight. Every person’s physiology is different, and that means that not everyone will react the same way to regular sauna use, however many studies have shown that it can help you lose weight when you use it on a regular basis.

    The heat from your sauna is bound to make you break a sweat! As you sweat, you burn calories. When you’re burning a good amount of calories from sweating during your daily sauna session, overtime you’ll notice that you can lose weight. Most of the weight you’ll lose from the help of your sauna is extra water weight in your body. When you are losing water weight and increasing the amount that you sweat, you are releasing heavy metals and additional toxins from your body that can interfere with your metabolism. The release of these toxins allows your metabolism to function properly, and can even give your metabolism a good boost!

    When you have a sauna session and your body temperature increases, your heart works harder to pump your blood. When your blood is being pumped harder, your blood vessels expand and your blood pressure has a tendency to go down. As your heart beats faster it works to burn more calories, increasing the amount of weight you are losing.

    If you’re, unfortunately, recovering from an injury, using a sauna on a daily basis is a great healing mechanism. The heat from your sauna is known to help repair the wear and tear on your muscles that can come with working out or a lot of physical activity. Saunas are a great tool to  assist in speeding up your recovery so that you can get back to your activities and exercises. In the meantime you can take advantage of using your sauna to help you sweat, burn calories, and increase you metabolism. After consulting your doctor and receiving an okay, you can practice minor stretches in your sauna to increase how much you are sweating and give your metabolism the extra boost it needs to increase your weight loss.

    If you’re not injured and still looking to lose a little extra weight with the help of your sauna then definitely stretch! Stretching is a low-impact form of exercising that can also help to get your heart pumping, your blood pressure decreasing, and the calories burning!

    Here are just a few more tips to help you lost weight with your sauna:

    • Drink water before, during and after your sauna session – staying hydrated helps to release those toxins!
    • Fill your life with healthy habits! --- Healthy food, water, and a good sweat session work well together; give your body some good nutrition to help release extra toxins and metals.
    • Use your sauna daily --- To see the best results you’ll want to use your sauna for fifteen to twenty minutes on a regular basis.

    If you would like to experience the potential weight-loss benefits of owning your own sauna, check out our selection of saunas here! We even offer free shipping to over 48 states!

     

     

  • Comparing Pre-Cut and Pre-Built Sauna Kits

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    The benefits of having your own in-home sauna are well known by many. With a sauna in your home, you can relax in a heated environment any time you like. You'll enjoy the stress relief that comes with time spent in a sauna, and also reap the health benefits from your sauna. If you've recently considered buying a sauna, you might have come across product options that include pre-cut and pre-built sauna kits.

    For those unfamiliar with these two types of saunas, this post explores the differences between them and identifies the proper uses (and benefits of) sauna kits.

     

    Pre-Built Sauna Kits

    Also known as pre-fabricated saunas, a pre-built sauna kit is a modular sauna that is ideal for use both indoors and outdoors. With your purchase, you receive pre-built sections of your new sauna in your shipment. The components that you receive in the kit are all ready to be put together using included hardware. Pre-built sauna kits make it easy for you to install a sturdy, freestanding sauna quickly.

    The average pre-built sauna can be put together in one day, depending upon your DIY skills. For those with handyman skills, it could take as little as two to three hours to complete. Common sizes range from 4' x 4' up to larger 8' x 12' models. If you're looking for flexibility when purchasing a new sauna, pre-built saunas are a great option because you can disassemble and reassemble them whenever needed, meaning you can take it with you if you sell your home or even relocate it in your backyard if you redo the landscaping on your property.

     

    Pre-Cut Sauna Kits

    An alternative option for an indoor sauna is a pre-cut sauna kit. While a pre-built model can be installed indoors or out, a pre-cut sauna kit is designed for indoor use only because it is used to convert or finish off a room, closet, shed, or entire small room into a sauna. Pre-cut sauna kits offer custom-cut boards that you install on the existing walls to create an insulated environment. Additional insulation is provided in your kit to accommodate your sauna and ensure that the heat and potential moisture is contained properly.

    Before purchasing a new pre-cut sauna kit, you'll need to accurately measure the walls within the room you plan to convert. Pre-cut saunas are, generally speaking, less expensive than pre-built models. However, it can take longer (depending upon your DIY skills) to put together a pre-cut sauna kit because you are starting from scratch with construction.

     

    Ideal Uses for Each

    As mentioned, pre-cut sauna kits are used to finish an existing space. Or you can build an addition expressly for this purpose.  When selecting a room, or building a structure in your home to install a pre-cut kit, try to select a space with a low ceiling. The smaller your space is, the easier it will be to heat, resulting in a less-significant impact on your utility bills.

     

    Browse our selection of pre-built and pre-cut saunas and find the one that’s right for you! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about installation.

     

     

  • Selecting the Proper Sauna Heater

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    As you look to install a new sauna in your home, or remodel an existing unit in your home, one of your primary considerations should be the heater that powers your sauna. Modern saunas come with a variety of heater options, so when you’re considering a new sauna heater for sale online, take the time to learn more information about the differences between models. In this post, you’ll find an introduction to common heater models and learn the benefits and potential drawbacks of each type.

    Electric Heaters

    The most popular sauna heaters for sale today are electric models. Common electric heater options include free-standing floor models and wall-mounted heaters. Due to the popularity of electric models, there are a variety of options to choose from. The average cost for an electric sauna heater for sale today is $600.

    Electric heaters will increase the cost of your monthly electric bill by a few dollars, though technological advancements have resulted in increased energy efficiency.

     

    Infrared Heaters

    You also have the option of choosing the latest sauna heater for sale produced today. Infrared sauna heaters use carbon or ceramic heater tiles to provide a slow, steady heat in your sauna. This type of heating is sometimes ignored by sauna enthusiasts because it offers a different type of heat and operates in a different manner than the traditional sauna heaters mentioned above.

    Rather than providing heat from a single source in the center of your sauna, infrared sauna heaters create heat in different parts of the sauna to surround the user in a relaxing, warm environment. Infrared heaters are often less expensive to operate than all other models.

     

    Tips for Selecting a Sauna Heater

    Now that you’re familiar with the prominent sauna heaters for sale, it’s time to consider which one best suits the type of sauna you are going to build in your home. The most important factor to consider is the type of heat you hope to enjoy.

    Infrared sauna heaters offer a long, slow heating in your sauna. You won’t feel the intense heat that you experience in a sauna powered with an electric heater, but you will be able to extend your time inside the sauna and enjoy deep penetration of the radiating waves of heat. This is a great option for those looking for long periods of relaxation inside a sauna.

    Electric heaters, on the other hand, are great for those who enjoy brief, yet intense sessions in their private sauna. You’ll be able to enjoy high temperatures and break a good sweat, but just remember that you won’t be able to spend as much time inside the sauna in any one session.

    As with any purchase related to your sauna, take time to consider the utility infrastructure in your home (gas, propane, and electric) and available space before choosing the sauna heater for sale that you purchase.

     

    If you have any questions about which type of Sauna heater would be right for you, feel free to contact us! Once you find the model that is right for you, saunasandstuff.com will make your buying experience easy with free shipping to 48 states!

     

     

     

     

  • Children and Saunas

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    Is it Safe for Children to Use a Sauna?

    In Finland, more than 90% of all children use the sauna before the age of 7. Saunas are most definitely safe for children to use, and regular sauna use can impart health benefits to growing children.

    That said, however, there are certainly some precautions to take when allowing children to use a sauna.

    Take Precautions with Children in the Sauna

    Young children have under-developed perspiration system and care should be taken that they do not remain in the sauna as long as an adult would. It is recommended that they remain in the sauna no longer than about 10 minutes and sit on the lower benches where the temperatures are lower. Children should never use the sauna alone. They should always use the sauna with adult supervision.

    How Old Should a Child Be Before Using a Sauna?

    It will really depend on the child. Before using a sauna, a child should be able to clearly express themselves and be able to state when they are physically uncomfortable. They should also be old enough to understand that they can exit the sauna as soon as they feel they are uncomfortable. If your child is not old enough to do these things, they are too young for a sauna.

    Health Benefits for Children Who Use Saunas

    Children who experience respiratory problems such as asthma or allergies often benefit from using a sauna. Breathing the hot air is less physically taxing for them than exercise or hot baths, and it activates muscles that open the upper respiratory tract leading to the lungs. Many children with respiratory ailments see improvement after repeated sauna use.

    Some sources recommend such children use a sauna once a week for maximum health benefits.

    In one German study, kindergarten children were divided into groups, with one partaking in a weekly sauna and the other not using the sauna at all. Over the next 18 months, the children who used the sauna regularly had half the number of sick days as the children who did not use the sauna. 

    http://www.saunasociety.org/styled-6
    http://www.terme-tuhelj.hr/gb/sauna-for-children-too--3367
    http://www.bearanddoebanya.com/2013/04/05/10-health-benefits-of-the-sauna

     

     

     

  • 10 Reasons to Own a Home Sauna

    Saunas are everywhere, easily accessible to most people. You can find them in gyms, spas, community centers, and in private homes. There's no denying the amazing benefits of using a sauna, but are there reasons to prefer a private home sauna over a public sauna? Of course!

    1. You Can Wear Whatever You Want

    10 Reasons to Own a Home Sauna photo by Hurmine Kurz via Flickr

    A gym, spa, or even a sauna business that rents private time in a sauna will have rules about acceptable levels of clothing. Some will require you to wear swimsuits, or will require only a towel. Some may insist on nudity. In your own home sauna, you can wear whatever you like--within reason, of course. Wearing too much could lead to overheating and is not advised.

    2. You Know How Clean the Sauna Is

    10 Reasons to Own Your Own Sauna photo by Todtanis via Wikipedia

    A gym sauna could see hundreds of people move through it in a day. Even upscale spas could have dozens of people moving through the sauna. You have no idea when it was last cleaned, or whether the previous users cleaned themselves properly before using it. You don't know what they might have done while in the sauna. And regardless of the sauna's cleanliness and the cleanliness of its patrons, you're still going to be exposed to bacteria, hair and skin cells left behind. In your home sauna, you know exactly how clean the sauna is, and you know exactly who has been in it and what they've been doing. Any stray hairs are yours, and you aren't exposed to random germs.

    3. Home Saunas are so Darn Convenient

    You don't need to get dressed and leave the house to use your home sauna. You don't need to brave weather, crowds, or traffic. You can use it any time of day for any length of time. Saunas are a great way to relieve cold symptoms, but who wants to leave the house when they're sick? Added bonus: you don't expose anyone else to your cold germs, your morning breath, your bed head, or your make-up free face.

    4. You Don't Have to Pay Any Fees

    Yes, there is an initial cost for the purchase of the sauna, and there are ongoing maintenance and operation costs. However, you don't have to worry about maintaining your gym or spa membership in order to access the sauna. You don't have to pay a high fee to use the spa for just a few minutes. You don't have to pay additional robe or towel fees. If you figure the cost of a home spa over a ten-year period versus the cost of maintaining a gym or spa membership over that time, plus gas or public transit costs, you may find that a home sauna saves you money.

    5. You are in Control of the Heat and the Loyly

    Gym and spa saunas, and sauna businesses that rent time in private saunas, set the heat and humidity of the sauna to suit the largest number of people. These levels may be too low or too high for your comfort or preference. In a home sauna, you can set the temperature however you like, make adjustments to suit your mood or comfort. Most importantly, you can be the master of your own loyly!

    6. You Can Customize Your Sauna Experience

    10 Reasons to Own a Home Sauna photo by Clarkston SCAMP via Flickr

    Public-use saunas have to strive to please the largest number of people possible and maintain a consistent experience, so they typically standardize the sauna environment they offer. In a home sauna, you are free to add chromatherapy gels to the sauna lights, to add fragrances to the air or water, pipe in your favorite music, or add headrests and massage benches.

    7. You are Guaranteed the Privacy You Desire

    10 Reasons to Own a Home Sauna photo by Jorge Royan via Wikipedia

    Maybe you're a little shy, or you are uncomfortable around half-naked strangers. Perhaps you don't enjoy co-ed saunas. In your own home sauna, you are assured of absolute privacy or, if you'd rather, you can pick and choose your company by inviting over exactly the friends you'd like to hang out with.

    8. You Control the Silence, or Lack of Silence

    Whether you prefer to sweat in silence or enjoy listening to music--or even audiobooks--using a home silence means you control the noise level. No more chatty strangers ruining your zen!

    9. You Get a Good Return on Your Investment

    A sauna in your home can add value to the property and make it more intriguing if you decide to sell. Many sauna models are designed to be easily assembled and disassembled, so you could also opt to take it with you when you move, thereby ensuring continued and uninterrupted access. However you look at it, a home sauna is a good investment.

    10. You Will Be a Healthier Person

    The energy and time required to get out of the house and to the gym or spa can deter even the best of us from accessing all the health benefits a sauna offers. If you have one in your home, however, that obstacle is minimized--maybe even obliterated!--and you are more likely to use the sauna regularly. This leads to better health.

    With all of the above to consider, are there any reasons why a public sauna might be better than a private sauna? There are! Check back for our next article discussing just that.

  • Detoxification Basics

    When the benefits of sauna use are discussed, one word that comes up often is detoxification, but what exactly does that mean? Why should we detoxify? What happens if we don't? What are the different ways to do it? We've done the research for you, and if you continue reading, we'll explain it all to you.

    What is Detoxification?

    Detoxification refers specifically to the cleaning of the blood by removing impurities in the liver. The liver is the organ that processes toxins for elimination from the body. This processing also occurs to some degree in the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymph nodes, and skin, but the liver is the real star. When the processing is compromised in some way--such as through illness or poor diet--the toxins aren't properly filtered and the entire body is affected.

    Why Should People Detoxify?

    Toxins in the body are associated with a variety of maladies such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivity. In fact, the medical category Clinical Ecology exclusively deals with the ways environmental toxins affect health.

    The body can handle only so many toxins, and it was designed for naturally occurring toxins, not man-made ones that bombard our world today. Therefore, our body is often faced with toxins it doesn't know how to process. These toxins can build up to harmful levels or be converted into substances that interfere with metabolism. This can result in cancers or birth defects.

    It is recommended that you detoxify if you are experiencing any of the following:

    • low-grade infections
    • irritated skin
    • unexplained fatigue
    • chronic bad breath
    • body odor
    • depression
    • poor memory
    • mental confusion
    • bloating
    • allergies
    • poor skin
    • headaches
    • poor concentration
    • excessive mucus
    • weight gain
    • gas
    • menstrual problems
    • puffy eyes or bags under the eyes
    • poor digestion
    • constipation

    What Will Detoxifying Do For Me?

    Detoxifying can assist the body's natural cleansing process by:

    • Giving the organs a rest
    • Enhancing blood sugar control
    • Refueling the body with nutrients
    • Assisting in weight loss
    • Improving blood circulation
    • Promoting toxin elimination through the intestines, kidneys and skin
    detoxification basics photo by thedabblist via Flickr

    How Do I Detoxify?

    There are many ways to detoxify the body. Some methods are common across many cultures and are very old. Native Americans used sweat lodges, Christians would fast, and people in Russia and Finland would spend time in saunas.

    Some common contemporary detoxification methods are:

    • Fasting, calorie-restriction, or cleanses
    • Medical detoxification--especially beneficial for highly toxic individuals. This is a supervised cleansing process involving calorie restriction, consuming specific nutrients, and taking supplements.
    • Mental, spiritual, and emotional cleanses. Mental and emotional toxicity and stress are very often major contributors to overall body toxicity, especially as they contribute to poor decision making and poor lifestyle choices that often lead to exposure to environmental toxins such as drugs and alcohol. Quiet contemplation, meditation, relaxing, reading, listening to music, and doing yoga or qigong are all great ways to cleanse yourself of mental and emotional toxins.
    • Eliminate stress. As mentioned above, stress is terrible for your body. It can severely interrupt the body's natural cleansing processes. Try eliminating as much stress from your life as you can.
    • Exercise. Regular physical activity lowers stress, encourages healthy mood and energy levels, and assists with the excretion of toxins through sweat.
    • Drink plenty of water. The average person needs about 2 liters of water a day. Drink more if exercising regularly or using the sauna. Unsweetened tea is also a good option.
    • Eat fruits and vegetables that assist the body with detoxification. Good choices include dandelion greens, burdock root, artichokes, garlic, onions, and scallions. Less good but still beneficial choices include spinach, kale, rapini, broccoli, chard, avocado, cabbage, arugula, tomato, eggplant, and zucchini.
    • Eat lean protein. Protein is a necessary component in detoxification, as blood proteins are built from amino acids. Choose proteins such as free-range grass-fed beef, organic chicken, or wild-caught fish. These will help you maintain amino acid balance. Other sources of lean protein include whey and nuts.
    • Use herbs generously. Herbs such as turmeric, milk thistle, burdock, celandine, spirulina, barley grass, wheat grass, and dandelion are all good for your body.
    • Salt scrubs, salt or mineral baths, or massages. These treatments can work toxins out of muscles and skin, and help promote relaxation.
    • Saunas or sweat lodges. Perspiration is a natural detoxification method, and it's extremely effective. Sweating to detoxify is most effective when done regularly. Twice a week is good, but for best results you should sweat mildly every day.
    • Eat plenty of fiber, such as brown rice and fibrous fruits and vegetables.
    • Take vitamin C, which helps the liver drive out toxins.
    • Breathe deeply. This allows oxygen to circulate more completely throughout your system.
    • Hydrotherapy--Take a very hot shower for 5 minutes, letting the water run on your back. Follow with cold water for 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times, then climb into bed for half an hour.
    • Dry brush your skin to remove toxins from your pores. You can buy special brushes to do this at natural products stores.
    • Go to bed around 10pm. Between 10pm and 2am is when your body does most of its cell repair and cell rejuvenation, eliminating toxins from inside the cells.
    • Breathe through your nose, not your mouth. Your nose warms, filters, and moistens air to prepare it for your lungs. If you breathe through your mouth, the air doesn't get filtered and more pollutants enter your body through your lungs.

    However you detoxify, it's advisable to avoid extremes, fad diets, so-called miracle products and unproven technology. Good results occur when the detoxification is safe and relatively comfortable. This allows the process to be extended for a long enough period of time to be effective and repeatedly at least annually. Consider detoxifying every 6 months or even quarterly.

    Detoxification is not advised for nursing mothers, children, or patients with chronic degenerative diseases, cancer, or tuberculosis. As always, talk to your doctor.

    The best way to detoxify is to avoid toxins altogether. Watch out for the following toxins readily available in your everyday environment:

    • health and beauty products such as cosmetics, cleaning products, detergents, gasoline, glue, and paint
    • coffee, which is a heavily fumigated crop
    • alcohol
    • artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and nutrasweet
    • dairy should be avoided while detoxing and minimized in general
    • cigarettes
    • non-organic produce, as they have been exposed to pesticides
    detoxification basics photo by Gila Brand

    What Can I Expect When Detoxifying?

    While detoxifying through methods such as fasting, people often experience fatigue, joint aches, flu-like symptoms such as congestion and nasal drip, moodiness, rashes, fever, headaches, gas, and diarrhea. People with greater toxicity levels will experience more severe symptoms, and it will take longer for them to detoxify. In some people, the symptoms will mimic bacterial diseases experience before, because their bodies are excreting bacterial byproducts that initially caused the disease symptoms.

    However, if you stick with the detoxification plan and detoxify regularly, the symptoms will become less severe with each session. Once the symptoms pass, you will find that you feel better overall.

     

  • The Art of Making Good Löyly

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    If you are a sauna aficionado, the one word you really need to know is löyly. It is an old, magical word associated strictly with sauna use in modern times, and it's a really beautiful thing.

    What is Löyly? And How the Heck Do I Say It?

    Löyly derives from the Proto-Finno-Urgic word lewl meaning "spirit" or "soul". Click here to here it pronounced. In modern usage it means the steam that radiates from sauna rocks when water is poured or sprinkled over them. The water evaporates on contact with the hot rocks, and the humidity of the air increases. This contributes to a perception of increased temperature and causes the body to sweat more. On a more spiritual level, it means the entire feeling of the heat as it envelopes you, as well as the steam that fills the room. It is considered a tangible thing, with qualities that can vary due to many factors (keep reading to get an idea of the different factors involved).

    Löyly's restorative and healing powers are so revered that it was once thought that it could drive out diseases and even resolve unhappiness in romantic relationships. While scientifically unfounded, there's no doubt that sharing a sauna with your sweetie is conducive to good relations.

    To drive home the importance of löyly in Finnish culture and sauna culture, it's considered an honor to have the responsibility of adding the löyly to the room when with a group of people. At that point, it's not simply pouring water on hot rocks: it's an art that strives to create the right amount of steam, and a pleasurable experience, for all the present people by working with heat and water. Getting the balance right take experience and skill.

    How Do I Make Good Löyly?

    Just as it can be hard to describe what makes good art, it's hard to define what makes good löyly. Partly, it will be subjective to a bather's preferences and comfort levels. Overall, good löyly is determined by the purity, temperature, and humidity of the air inside the sauna, as well as its thermal radiation. The sauna air must not contain any gaseous impurities, particles, or micro-organisms. This is ensured through effective ventilation and the condition of the sauna: is it clean? Is it constructed from quality materials that were properly treated? A clean, nicely built sauna will also contribute to a more pleasurable overall experience.

    The Basics of Good Löyly:

    Before using any water, the temperature of the sauna air should be 150°F (65.5ºC) or greater.

    As the room heats, fill a bucket intended for sauna use with water. It is important that you do not use just any bucket--plastic buckets can melt or release impurities into the air, and metal buckets can get very warm and become a burn hazard. A good option would be this bucket and ladle set available through us here at Saunasandstuff.com. Never take anything into a sauna that was not intended for use in the sauna.

    Decide whether to go with clean, natural water, or whether to add an essential oil. Purists may insist on fresh, clean water, but adding an essential oil can significantly change and possibly improve the sauna experience. Different oils have different effects by releasing their fragrance into the air: Eucalyptus is good for congestion or allergy sufferers, lavender can aid relaxation, citrus can invigorate.

    Once the sauna is heated and the water is ready, fill the ladle. Again, always use a ladle designed for sauna use. The evaporation is almost instant when the water hits the rocks, and there is a chance of scalding if you do not use the ladle. Start with just a few drops of water and add just a little more at a time. The change in perceived temperature can be dramatic, so start with small amounts, wait, and then add more as needed.

    For Advanced Löyly Artists:

    There is something of a löyly tenet called the Rule of 200, in which the combination of temperature (in Fahrenheit) and the humidity percentage added together should equal 200. It's thought that anything that adds up to more will be uncomfortable for bathers.

    So, if the sauna is set to 150°F, the ideal humidity (according to the Rule) would be at 50%. If the sauna were hotter, say 180°F, the humidity would be best at 20%. The hotter the ambient air, the lower the humidity should be.

    Go Make Good Löyly

    Now armed with the basics, the trick is to find what combination of heat and humidity best suits you. When with a group, it will be a challenge to find a löyly that is comfortable for everyone. With time and practice, you'll be making good löyly in no time.

  • January Sauna News Roundup

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    With the immense popularity of saunas worldwide, it's no surprise that newsworthy stories pop up around them. We've collected a few recent sauna news bits that you might find interesting.

    Christmas Sauna Deaths

    Three German men were found dead of heart failure in a sauna after drinking heavily at a Christmas party. Conditions in the sauna were normal, but the men's blood alcohol levels were four times the legal driving limit. Just another reminder that alcohol and sauna use do not go together.

    Sauna Fire at Bismarck, North Dakota, Hotel

    A fire was started at the Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck on December 20, 2013,when an intoxicated man set clothing, including a pair of shoes, on a sauna heater. The pool area was evacuated, but the fire was extinguished without further incident. There was damage to the sauna bench, floor, and heater. Again: alcohol and sauna use is a really bad idea!

    Sauna Fire in Beaverton, Oregon

    Jade Sauna in Beaverton, Oregon, experienced a fire on January 3 when a heat lamp installed in the ceiling overheated. The fire was contained in the attic and fire crews were able to extinguish it without further incident. The damage to the building is estimated at $25,000.

  • The Science Behind the Sauna

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    You've undoubtedly heard many times that using a sauna is good for your health, but why? What is it about sitting in a sauna that's so good for you? We break down some of the science behind the sauna experience so you have a better understanding of what your body is doing.

    Sweating Out Toxins

    We spend a lot of time and energy trying not to sweat--we use anti-perspirants, we wear layers to regulate our temperature. However, sweating is really good for our bodies and we probably aren't doing enough of it. Sweating is our bodies way of cooling itself, but during the process it also excretes molecules that are otherwise cluttering our bloodstream. Perspiration originates directly from the bloodstream. Fluid is delivered from the capillary bed to the sweat gland, carrying organophosphates, heavy metals, pesticides, some preservatives. Flushing these toxins out of your bloodstream prevents them from being stored elsewhere in your body.

    Eccrine glands are the major sweat glands, and we about two million of them all over our bodies. They produce an average of a quart of sweat a day, but when you use a sauna they pump out that much in about 15 minutes. This means that using a sauna will purge at least twice as many toxins out of your body in one day than you do on average.
    Some experts recommend using far-infrared saunas, as they trigger sweating at a lower temperature than a traditional sauna and it's easier to spend longer periods of time in it. Be sure to hydrate before and after using a sauna to replace lost fluids.

    Hot & Cold Intervals

    It's traditional in many countries to heat up in the sauna, then plunge into a cold bath, or snow, or stand under an icy shower, then return to the sauna and repeat. It's thought that this process helps tone the skin and improves circulation. If you read Jitterbug Perfume, it's posited that the hot/cold process can be a factor in longevity. What does it really do?

    We know that shocking the body with a rapid temperature change releases norepinephrine, which is a stress hormone and neurotransmitter. It also releases epinephrine, more commonly known as adrenaline. When these chemicals are released, the effect is a feeling of invigoration. While that may or may not be the key to good health and long life, it certainly feels good and doesn't do any harm.

    Mild Workout

    Steaming in a sauna also dilates the capillaries and thereby improves blood flow, simulating a mild workout. For individuals with limitations that make more traditional forms of exercise difficult, it can stand in as a gentle alternative. Or add it to the end of a workout to extend the effects of the exercise in a gentle way.

  • Announcing Saunasandstuff.ca!

    saunasandstuff.ca

    Everyone here at Saunasandstuff.com is excited to announce a new member to our Storesandstuff.com family: please welcome our new website Saunasandstuff.ca!

    We've been selling saunas online since 2005, and we are so pleased to now be expanding into Canada. The new website will serve our Canadian friends by providing quality saunas at great prices. We'll offer a selection of top-of-the-line sauna rooms, pre-built and pre-cut sauna kits, heaters, and other other accessories. We are pleased to offer free shipping, just as we do with our US customers.

    Connect With Us!

    If you have friends or family in Canada, please send them our way! Be sure to join us on our website, blog, and social media outlets. Please share our links! We love connecting with our customers.

    We look forward to being Canada's foremost supplier of quality, affordable saunas and sauna supplies. Thanks to all of our customers, everywhere. We couldn't do any of this without you!

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