For many decades saunas have not only been used to clean the body but they have also provided a place for social gatherings and religious rituals. The original saunas were nothing more than pits dug into a side hill some 2,000 years ago in Finland ironically other cultures such as the Indians in America also used a similar structure and practice.

Although the Finns brought the sauna to the new world as far back as the 1600,s the sauna did not hit main stream until the 1960,s when people began to realize the benefits of the sauna. A sauna is classified by high heat with low humidity for centuries it has been believed that the sauna has great healing benefits this may be over stated. In the early years the Finnish army took their sauna with them they would regularly take a sauna their equipment would also take a sauna, the high temperatures would kill bacteria and parasites in the soldiers equipment thus keeping them from getting things like fleas and the disease that these parasites carried with them so a sauna may have been more of a disease preventer than a healer.

Today's saunas are far from the original pits dug in the ground, you can purchase a sauna today with all kinds of modern features. Today a traditional wood fired sauna is the minority most saunas now are electrically heated, turn the switch on and you are ready to take a sauna. The choices in heaters do not end with electricity, gas fired whether natural gas or propane are available, also Far Infrared saunas have become the new rage in home saunas.

When you are looking to purchase a new sauna there are many options to take into consideration aside from the heating source you will need to decide if you want a heater that heats up instantly or a programmable start time sauna. Do you want only a dry heat like that of a Far Infrared heater or more of a moist heat that you can control by using your Loyly to dispense water on the heated rocks? What about size? Are you looking for a small intimate space? Keep in mind al of these decision will have an impact on energy consumption the larger the sauna the more energy it will take to heat also gas fired heaters are generally more efficient than the eclectic heaters.

Maybe the biggest concern when looking to purchase a new sauna is that the sauna blends in with your environment. Most sauna companies offer prefab sauna kits that comes with everything you need. The room panels come partially assembled and are easily put together and you can be up and running in short order. The other more expensive option is to have custom built sauna check with your local dealer for contractors that are familiar with sauna construction. There are only a couple of limitations on a new sauna the first is your imagination and the second is finances.