History and Use of the Sauna

The origins of the sauna have been lost in the mists of time (so to speak), but it is safe to say its history goes back at least 1000 years. We know that the nomadic peoples of Finland had a primitive type of sauna that was made by building a fire inside a tentlike structure. When the heat had built up and the fire had gone out, the people would enter the sauna to bathe. This was very similar to the American Indian sweat lodge.

This type of sauna evolved into a smoke sauna -- a small building with a stone fireplace inside. There was a small hole in the roof where the smoke could escape but the fire had to die down before the building could be entered. This type of sauna was commonly used up until the 1920s when it started to be replaced by modern saunas as we know them today. The smoke sauna, however, has enjoyed a recent revival in Finland. Many people consider them to be the finest type of sauna.

A new style of sauna stove made its appearance in the 1930's. Using this sauna stove rocks were heated without being directly placed in a flaming fire. The sauna was in use while the fire burned. Wood was used for fuel with the earlier stoves however, modern units are powered electrically.

Types of Saunas

Saunas are available in various styles and shapes. You can install them in your apartment or home or you can choose to have them in a separate building. Traditional saunas are functional and beautiful wooden structures.

The worldwide popularity of saunas has spurred innovative new designs. One of the most unusual of these is the portable sauna -- folding saunas that can be used almost anywhere. They are just big enough for one person to sit in. There is a hole for your head and slits for your hands if you wish to read or talk on the phone while you are sitting in this sauna.

The barrel sauna is another unique design. Barrel making techniques are utilized for making a small cabin that holds up to six to eight individuals. You can install your barrel sauna in or outside your home and heat it with either an electric or wood burning stove.

Infrared saunas have been used since the 1960s. The heating source in this type of sauna is an infrared heater. Unlike traditional heaters that heat the air of the sauna, infrared heaters heat objects and people but not the air. Infrared is a type of light and proponents of infrared saunas say that they have superior health benefits to traditional saunas.

Sauna Construction Styles

Most saunas are made of wood, generally cedar or hemlock, with only the stove and rocks being made of other materials.

A dry heat of around 70C to 100C is produced by a sauna. You can toss some water on the rocks on the stove every now and again. A cloud of steam is produced causing an immediate rise of temperature.

A sauna can use either electric heat or a wood burning stove. While wood stoves are usual in rural settings, urban sauna owners generally opt for electric heat.