Saunas
These days, having a sauna is not considered eccentric or frowned upon, as family saunas are a long standing tradition in places like Finland. Historically a sauna is the most sacred place after churches, and in times gone by, women gave birth in saunas and the dead were also washed in them.
Saunas are thought of as a‘healing refreshment’. In many countries ‘sauna going’ has become a more recent trend and attitudes towards saunas have changed, while in other countries traditions have survived over generations.
Saunas are found just about everywhere. People living in individual houses have their own saunas, and many condominiums and apartments are equipped with a small sauna, known as a ‘house sauna’, which all families can use in turn.
Nowadays public and private saunas are found within sports centres, swimming pools and other places of recreation in all parts of North America, Canada and Western Europe.
Today's family saunas or home saunas are more compact and take up less space, so they're easier to install in a small unused space like a spare room or a corner of your patio. These factors together with cheaper prices are contributing to the growing popularity of home saunas in the U.S. and Canada.
What are the different types?
There would most certainly be a sauna to meet your budget and needs. In fact there is a huge range of saunas on the market. Steam saunas, infrared saunas, wet saunas, dry saunas, barrel saunas… to name but a few.
Customized saunas are becoming very popular. A sauna specialist will start with your design or you can use one of theirs, either way they make sure you are satisfied.
Pre-cut saunas are simple to integrate into your home. These are a custom designed pre-cut sauna package that comes with everything you need and ready for installation in the perfect area of your home. Saunas are assembled from quality solid softwood materials and offered at a fair price. These saunas are considered the best value in heat therapy today.
Prefab saunas are, however, best kept on a hard surfaced waterproof floor that is vinyl, concrete or tile. They contain all the interior and exterior parts and may be installed by anyone with little engineering skill.
Infrared saunas are preached that they have detoxification properties, while a steam room provides more assistance to those with breathing troubles. Infrared saunas are easy to set up in your own home, though they are a little expensive. Expect a price anywhere from $1,000 dollars to $2,500 dollars or more for a good quality model — but often, the higher the price, the better the sauna.
Features
Individual models feature marine-grade stereo systems, adjustable LED lighting and powerful control panels. Saunas in America are often paneled in redwood or cedar and Finnish saunas are in general paneled in spruce, or knotless pine. Attention should be paid to the interior dimensions, windows, placement of benches and how high they are in relation to the floor and the kiuas, or stove. A hot tub may be accompanied with a sauna as a package.
Health Benefits
Steam saunas are known to open nasal passages and ease sinus discomfort. A sauna, followed by a 
refreshing shower and cool down period has been recognized to help improve sleep patterns.
Saunas are beneficial to the skin, deep cleansing through the loss of waste products and toxins from the pores, stimulating the circulation and allowing fresh blood to reach the tissues quickly. The general warmth and feeling of well-being helps relax both the muscle and the mind following a strenuous exercise session which promotes a wonderful after Sauna feeling of satisfaction and well being. A terrific way to melt away stress!
Saunas are also often used to alleviate arthritis, asthma and chronic fatigue. An Austrian study even found that sauna use may help to lessen the frequency of colds.
Health Risks
Saunas are unsafe for people with heart problems. People with stable coronary diseases may be safe in a sauna, but those with uncontrollable heart diseases must stay away from saunas. Their blood pressure may rise causing a risk to their health.
Another health issue is with people suffering allergies towards common aromatic timbers, such as nospruse, pine, cedar, or redwood. The good news is that they can opt for saunas built from allergy free materials.
