Heat relieves pain by expanding blood vessels and increasing circulation. Better circulation allows more oxygen to reach injured areas of the body and helps reduce pain and speed up the healing process.

For more information, visit saunafin.com.

There are basically three factors, which differentiate infrared saunas from each other: Construction Materials, Element Type and Control.

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS:
Because of heat and humidity, traditional saunas must use a durable softwood and cedar is the material of choice. While there is no humidity in infrared saunas, there is heat and we believe that cedar is still the best option. There are infrareds constructed of hemlock, fir, poplar and birch. These materials are far less costly and much less durable.

Some suggest that cedar is not healthy. This is another of those unfortunate misstatements designed to unfairly knock the competition. Cedar has been used for hundreds of years in the construction of saunas as well as for decks, fences and in homes. It is an effective, attractive and aromatic product that many associate with saunas.

Those who criticize cedar fail to tell you that the only ill effects from cedar come from its dust – that is, to a few workers in the lumber industry who cut and process the timbers. Of course, this applies to virtually every other wood or industrial product. There are no health issues resulting from the use of cedar for saunas.

ELEMENT (EMITTER) TYPE
Most elements are either ceramic or incoloy. Both types will effectively heat the sauna, but only ceramic emitters will produce infrared rays in the desirable Far Infrared range (5.6-15 microns).

If you select a sauna only for the heat, either is acceptable. However, if you are seeking the benefits purported to come from infrared rays, then you should select a sauna using only ceramic emitters. Furthermore, those emitters should be “solid ceramic”. A tubular ceramic emitter is not a true ceramic element. It is merely coated in a a ceramic layer.

CONTROL
Most infrared saunas utilize a thermostatic control to limit temperature. Others market what they refer to as “constant heat”. They claim that because the elements never turn off, you are continually exposed to infrared rays. The theory is interesting, but flawed. It relies solely on the notion of infrared therapy (exposure to infrared rays), while ignoring the capacity to produce a “good sweat”.

Typically, these saunas are “underpowered”. Often, even the largest models plug in to a standard outlet. While this may appear to be an attractive feature, these saunas are not efficient. Because these saunas have no temperature control at all, they must under power the heaters to prevent any possible chance of overheating. Infrared rays have a range of about 2 feet. To work properly it is important to have enough properly sized emitters located behind and in front of each user. Five or six emitters is acceptable for a 2 person sauna, but a three to four person model should have 8 to 9 infrared emitters.

For more information, visit saunafin.com.

The most ancient sauna traditions go back thousands of years to Finland. Saunas offered welcome respite, particularly in winter months, to a tough physical life working in the arctic region fields and forests. It’s easy to imagine how great the soothing heat of a sauna was to those who spent their working hours in the snow and cold.

Another ancient winter tradition—dog sledding—was recently linked with saunas. Along with companies like Starbucks and Subaru, Saunatec was a corporate sponsor in the January 29, 2009 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. As a participating sponsor in this prestigious event, Saunatec provided a working wood-burning sauna for use by the mushers and race volunteers.

The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon course follows Lake Superior’s rugged and scenic shoreline. It is considered one of the most prestigious sled dog races in the lower 48 States, attracting mushers and spectators from around the world including many from the United States, Canada & Europe. It is one of the longest races outside Alaska, covering nearly 400 miles of difficult terrain.
The event kicked off in Duluth, Minnesota the last weekend in January. Over 4,000 spectators gathered in Duluth to view this spectacular event and 22 teams with up to 12 dogs tested their skills against this grueling course.

In addition to the challenges of the physical landscape, sub-zero temperatures provide a greater concern throughout the long event. Nature’s dominance in this region reigns first and foremost in the minds of the participants as they compete against some of the nation’s leading mushers.

After leaving Duluth, one of the race checkpoints was in tiny Finland, Minnesota. It was only fitting that our heated sauna was parked at the Finland checkpoint. Volunteers and mushers alike enjoyed the therapeutic heat of the sauna.

For more information, visit helosaunas.com.

Soaking up the sauna’s heat, one more ladle-full of water on the hot rocks; one more blast of soothing steam over our backs. On cue, someone says, “OK; let’s go!” Out the sauna door, a quick jog to the water’s edge and a quick dive into the water. From 180 degrees to 70 degrees in ten seconds. The exhilarating feeling of a sauna followed by a swim is pure bliss-something most sauna enthusiasts look forward to, yet is misunderstood by those who have never tried it.

In short-a Finnish sauna followed by a cold water swim is an experience that ranks right up there with some of life’s greatest pleasures. It creates a sense of well-being which is impossible to describe; it must be experienced.

A sauna at the lake
There are 470,000 summer cottages in Finland with 99.9% of them having a sauna near the water. As noted on the website for the International Sauna Society, “Everyone’s best sauna is bound to be at the family’s own summer cottage.”

A sauna by the backyard pool
A sauna-by-the-lake may be ideal but a sauna-by-the-backyard-pool is also a real treat. A sauna can extend the backyard pool season by a good month on each end of summer-simply because it is so enjoyable taking a swim following a sauna.

A backyard sauna can also double as a pool house. Many outdoor saunas include a changing room; perhaps even a shower and toilet.
Thus, the sauna becomes a multi-use backyard amenity. The family can change into their swim suits there, can rinse off after they’re done swimming, and-of course, sauna and swim.

For more information, visit helosaunas.com.