Saunas are hot!
Not only are they 180 degrees of relaxing warmth, but a sauna is also a wonderful way to enhance your health and home.
Although currently enjoying a surge in popularity, the practice of sitting in a heat-filled room is no new fad. The sauna emerged over 2,000 years ago in Finland and was originally built with logs. Rocks would be heated in a fire, placed in the sauna hut and doused with water to create sweltering steam and high heat.
Today, wood-fired heaters are still common for outdoor use, but new technologies have made the home sauna easy and convenient. Electric and infrared are the most common types of in-home saunas, according to the folks at Pool World, which has seen a 46% uptick in sauna sales over the past year. The company’s Coeur d’Alene location has had a staggering 300% increase in the same period.
They are budget-friendly, conveniently delivered and easy to assemble. Pre-built panel designs are the most popular style because they make installation a breeze and allow you to turn almost any space into a sauna without the need for major structural changes.
Smaller units are suited for one or two people and measure approximately 4 feet by 4 feet. Of course, custom-built sauna rooms are available and only limited by your imagination.
[adrotategroup=“1”]
If having a home sauna isn’t feasible, fitness centers and sauna studios make sauna bathing as easy as becoming a member. Heat Praxia is a sauna spa located in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Manager Heather Gallegos said saunas do wonders for your health. She pointed to improved cardiovascular health. The heat therapy lowers blood pressure and increases heart rate, mimicking aerobic exercise. Another benefit is the balancing effect on hormones that enhances mood and mindset, she said.
“One thing I love about sauna is that everyone leaves with a smile on their face,” she said. “That calm buzz we get from a sauna can be attributed to the release of dopamine, a euphoric hormone that is correlated with improved mood, consistent energy, improved pain tolerance and less depression.”
Alleviating stress is the most noted benefit of using the sauna. The world is full of reasons to be stressed, even though it is a natural part of life and has benefits. However, when your stress button gets stuck, negative and lasting effects on your health can occur.
The recent surge in home sauna use may be fueled by the post-pandemic trend to make our homes a sanctuary from the very things that cause us stress. Or perhaps people are realizing how this simple and ancient practice has a positive ripple effect on their health. The general recommendation for spending time in the sauna is 15-20 minutes, which is little time to spend for the benefits. No matter where you spend your sauna time, it’s a healthy habit that may be worth starting. N
By Jill Buckland
Photography By Joel Riner
As Featured In: Home + Garden 2023