History and Use

The origins of the sauna are somewhat of a mystery today.  It is fairly safe to say that its history goes back at least one thousand years however.  Nomadic people located in Finland used a primitive sauna that was made by building a fire inside a tent-like structure.  After the heat built up and the fire had gone out, bathers would enter the sauna.  This was quite similar to the Native American sweat lodge.

This type of sauna evolved into a small building with a stone fireplace known as a smoke room.  There was a small hole in the roof for smoke to escape.  The room could not be used until the fire had died down.  This type of sauna was used up until the 1920’s when the modern sauna replaced it.  The smoke sauna has recently been revived in Finland.  Many bathers consider the smoke room to be the finest of all saunas.

In the 1930’s a new sauna stove was introduced.  This stove allowed rocks to be heated without being placed directly over a fire.  This allowed the fire to continue burning while the sauna was in use.  The earliest stoves of this type used wood to fuel the fire while later models utilized electricity.

Types of Saunas

Saunas can be built in a variety of shapes and styles.  They can be free standing buildings or can be installed into an existing structure.  Traditional saunas are wood structures and are attractive and functional.

The popularity of saunas has encouraged innovative new designs.  One of the most unusual is the portable sauna; a folding sauna that can be used nearly anywhere.  They are large enough for one person to sit in.  There are openings for both head and hands to allow for reading or phone conversation while bathing. 

Another unusual design is the barrel sauna.  This small cabin is constructed using barrel making techniques and will hold six to eight people.  Barrel saunas can be installed indoors or out and can be heated by a wood or electric stove.

Infrared saunas have been used since the 1960’s.  The heating source for this sauna is an infrared heater.  Unlike traditional heaters this heater warms objects and people only not the air.  Infrared is a type of light.  Proponents of infrared saunas claim that this type has superior health benefits to traditional saunas.

Sauna Construction

Nearly all saunas are constructed of wood.  The walls, ceilings, floors, and benches are made of wood such as cedar or hemlock.  The only non wood materials used are the stove and the rocks. 

Saunas provide a dry heat that generally is between 70 and 100 degrees Celsius.  Occasionally water is poured over the rocks on the stove.  This creates a large cloud of steam that immediately raises the temperature.

The sauna can be heated by an electric or wood stove.  Wood stoves are traditional in rural areas, but most urban saunas use an electric stove.

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About The Author:  Ingrid Kviepel is a Finnish American who still holds on to her Finnish ways. While her belief in the benefits of sauna baths, and steam showers is true, she tries to keep reality in the current hype. You can find out more by visiting http://www.healthy-sauna.info/