Dry Saunas Or Wet Saunas Which Will It Be?

by Alphonso Sirtle

Sauna is the Finnish word for bath and the unique way that the Finns bathe is only beginning to grow in popularity in North America in the past few years. There are two types of saunas a dry sauna and a wet sauna so which will it be for you?

Too often a west sauna is actually confused with a steam room although in fact the two are not alike at all. Saunas have volcanic stones and a radiant heater. When the sauna is set to dry it simply means it is set so that there is no moisture.

A dry saunas temperature can actually reach up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Now youve got to admit thats toasty! It is easy tolerated because the humidity is so low so you perspiration very quickly evaporates.

To create a wet sauna all you need to do is pour a small amount of water onto the volcanic stone which then creates a burst of vapor. The temperature drops a little bit and the humidity jumps as much as 30% almost instantly which intensifies the heat.

Traditionally a sauna would start with a dry sauna, then a rest, and then when the sauna was re-entered the bather would have a ladle and wood bucket in tow so that small amounts of water could be added to the stone creating a wet sauna.

The Finns take credit for the wet sauna or steam based sauna which they so love while the Swedish prefer the dry sauna. In actuality there is nothing dry about a dry sauna where sweat and steam are still major components.

You probably already understand that when there is humidity it feels much warmer. We see it in the summer months often when warnings go out because the humidity has climbed. A 114 degrees Fahrenheit in Arizona can be more comfortable than 95 degree Fahrenheit

You see its not about the heat its about the humidity. The higher the humidity the hotter it feels and more you will sweat. So which type of sauna is best? Wet or dry? The answer is simple. Its the one you enjoy the most.

If you like to sweat then a wet sauna is the best choice. Sweating cleans the pores and helps to detoxify the body. Youll also sweat in a dry sauna but youll also experience increased heart rate and a metabolism thats speeds up. Want to loose weight? Then the dry sauna is for you. 20 minutes in a dry sauna will burn 300 calories.

Now you might be surprised to discover this but the Swedes have known it for years perhaps why they have some of the fittest athletes in the world. In fact the Swedish Olympic team even travel with a dry sauna. The dry sauna relaxes the muscles which allows the athletes to train much harder than they could otherwise do.

Hey lets face it. If its good enough for professional athletes we should be paying attention and if its good enough for the Swedes and the Finns we should be using it.

A dry sauna will not only relax you it will provide you with some terrific therapeutic value. If you are suffering with pain from an injury or from debilitating diseases such as Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, or cancer. a sauna will be very beneficial. Even those that find no relief from pain medicine have found relief from a sauna. Of course the heat provides some of the pain relief, but much of the relief actually comes from the chemicals released by the body. Just once a day will provide remarkable improvements.

A sauna is also very beneficial for mental health problems such as depression and anxiety because the endorphins that are released help elevate the mood especially for people suffering from depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety.

And if you are one of the lucky ones who currently doesnt have any ailments then you can reap the benefits of preventative treatments so that you stay nice and healthy. In fact your heart is counting on you using a sauna to keep it healthy.

Did you know that studies have shown that a sauna is very beneficial to the heart and a wise choice for those suffering from various forms of heart disease. No heart disease then why not consider preventing it with your sauna?

The benefits are reaped whether you use a dry sauna or a wet sauna. Your body doesnt really care which one you choose only that you choose one. Heck why not consider using both methods. After all variety is the spice of life right?
Whether you choose dry saunas or wet saunas is entirely up to you. Whats important is that you choose one and begin to get the health benefits now!
Alphonso has been working in the home remodeling industry for last 5 years. Take advantage of his experience and written material on hot tub
Article Source: ArticleClick.com
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Infrared Light Sauna Versus Traditional Finnish Sauna

by Bill Gatton

The age-old tradition of the steam sauna has been around for a long time, and many users enjoy the healthy benefits that come from "sweating it out" inside a sauna. But now there is a new type of sauna on the scene called the infrared light sauna. What is it, and how is it different from a traditional steam sauna?

Saunas have been around for centuries. Cultures all over the world have used saunas for their cleansing and relaxing environments. Though Finland did not actually invent the sauna, they have become so closely associated with them that people often call the conventional steam sauna "the Finnish sauna." Saunas have existed in various forms over time, the newest incarnation of which being the infrared sauna.

There are almost too many benefits of saunas to name in this article. They are renowned for their detoxifying properties. Sweating in a sauna is proven to release chemical toxins from the body in a natural way. It unclogs pores, burns calories, soothes aching muscles and joints, and is a natural stress reliever. People often love the relaxing break of sitting in a hot sauna and letting their cares melt away.

A conventional Finnish sauna exists in an enclosed, wood-paneled room. A bin filled with rocks is heated using either gas or electricity. Electric heaters are the most common since they are the least expensive. The rocks heat up, warming the air in the sauna, which in turn warms up the people in the room and causes them to work up a sweat. It's very important in this type of sauna that the door stay firmly shut, because if the hot air escapes then the sauna will not be effective.

Infrared light saunas work quite differently. Thin, flat, large carbon sheets line the inside of an infrared sauna. They emit infrared radiation, an invisible type of light wave that warms people directly, rather than going through the medium of hot air. This means that both the temperature of the air inside an infrared sauna and the surface temperature of the heating elements can be lower than those in traditional saunas.

A great deal of praise is heaped on the infrared sauna, and for good reason. Infrared saunas have several benefits over conventional saunas. The lower surface temperature of the heaters make infrared saunas safer. Sitting inches from an infrared heating element is perfectly safe, since it will only be warm to the touch and a user doesn't run the risk of getting burned. Infrared heaters are also more energy efficient. Because of their lower temperature, they heat up faster and are more cost effective to operate.

Conventional saunas create a dry heat inside the sauna, often irritating sinuses and sensitive skin. However, because infrared light saunas don't heat up the air this isn't a problem. Infrared heaters don't technically even have to be in an enclosed room to work. They could be open to the surrounding air, as long as that surrounding air isn't too cold. The lower air temperature also proves to be comfortable for sauna users for longer periods of time, allowing users to enjoy their experience more fully.

All the rituals like pouring water in the rocks and creating steam are no longer necessary, and some people may find that disconcerting. But once they get past that, the infrared sauna experience can't be matched. Infrared saunas are currently the best, most comfortable, and most effective way to get the refreshing health benefits of the sauna.

Using an infrared light sauna is definitely a different experience than using a conventional sauna. For more on infrared saunas and there healthy benefits, visit http://www.YourInfraredSauna.com to find all the resources you are looking for.

Article Source: Infrared Light Sauna
Versus Traditional Finnish Sauna