The Many Personal, Health And Medical Benefits Of Home Saunas
September 5th, 2010Saunas have long been present in gyms and health clubs to help us relax and recover and a hard workout, but what few people realize is how easy it is to own a sauna in their home and how much benefit they can have from one. It’s easy to build a home sauna and the advantages of having one so convenient for daily use are incredible.
It was the Romans who took the concept of temperature bathing, originally developed by the Greeks and made it a part of daily life for all citizens. They built massive palaces based on the idea of temperature rooms and pools for the cleansing, relaxation, healing and renewal of the body and soul. Through the years the technology and implementation have changed but the concept has not; the calming and soothing effects of heat on the body are tremendous.
The first home based saunas were simply called steam cabinets and were sold by major catalog retailers in the first part of the 20th century. They featured a water tank with a heating element in it that was situated under a wooden seat. The user would sit naked on the seat and close the doors around him. He had a choice to either leave his head exposed with a towel forming a seal between him and the opening of the box or to use a fabric hood which was draped over the head to allow them to breathe in the steam as it escaped.
The choice you need to make is between a wet sauna (otherwise known as a steam room) and a dry sauna (otherwise known as hot sauna). The building of a dry sauna is much easier since you only have to worry about arranging for power to the heating element and lights. On the other hand a wet sauna needs plumbing, a gas line, ventilation and power as well. Luckily for the home user the dry sauna also provides the best results for casual relaxation purposes.
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 health benefits to be had by the use of a sauna as well. Some of these benefits include a reduction in tension related headaches, a lowering of toxin levels in the body and an increase in the strength and response of the immune system. Some studies have also shown that regular users of saunas have less stress in their lives and are happier, this means that they are less likely to depend on “comfort” addictions such as alcohol, overeating or tobacco use.
There are also medical advantages to the use of pre-fab saunas. Doctors have long been in the habit of prescribing dry heat saunas to aid in respiratory illness and recent studies have shown that they are beneficial for the alleviation of suffering from arthritis and some skin disorders. This all due to the fact that heat is a healer and can help the body to deal with certain conditions. The heat of the sauna can loosen stiff joints, exfoliate the skin and relax the lungs to allow for easier breathing.
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.
Find the right home sauna to add to your home. Sauna showers and baths are the perfect way to unwind after a day at work and improve your health and mentality. Also available are infrared saunas, outdoor saunas, and sauna material kits.

