I’ve seen outdoor showers for $150 in catalogs.  Granted some have nice walls around them and a soap dish, but you can build a nice private surround on your own.  They all hook up to a garden hose, so I got to thinking, why buy something fancy?  So here’s what I did. I think it functions better, and feels more natural than a free standing unit.  Follow these 9 easy steps:

1. Locate a tree or overhang where you want the shower.

2. Measure hose length needed from shower head to shut off valve (about waist high) along the length of the tree:

3. Find a hose from the garbage or scrap piece somewhere.  Or if necessary, buy a 15′ hose at Home Depot for about $12.00.  I used a grey hose and it blends in nicely with the tree trunk.

4. Cut one end of your hose to size.

5.  Go to hardware store and have them attach a fitting to the cut end ($3.00).

6. Attach a hose nozzle, set on “shower” or “center” mode (do not use “jet” mode unless your body is thick with rust).

7. Secure your hose along the tree branch with a few twist o ties.

8. Attach other end of hose along the base of the tree to this shut off valve, from any hardware store ($5.00).

9. Connect the other end of this shut off valve your garden hose, et voila!

Here’s a story about Infrared, and losing weight in a sauna.  On second thought, this video is actually more factual and informative:

I accept the fact that an increased body temperature burns fat. I take issue with Infrared and the mechanisms by which infrared technology raises one’s body temperature. A wood sauna is a sauna. An infrared is a microwave.  Wood heat is a much more natural way to heat a sauna room.  Loyly (steam vapor from water tossed on hot sauna rocks) is a key component to any authentic Finnish sauna experience.  With infrared, you can’t toss water on light bulbs.

Go to Scandinavia, where folks have been taking saunas dating back a couple thousand years. Ask any Finlander (or this guy singing in the video) what he thinks of infrared ’saunas’ and he will confirm: infrared is NOT a sauna. Infrared is merely an easy way to market and exploit a great health and wellness tradition:

• Infrared light bulbs are cheap.
• Infrared ‘heaters’ plug into 110v, requiring no chimney’s or special wiring.
• Infrared companies can ship product to any sucker anywhere via flashy websites and trade shows.

Please read my page on free sauna information and become better informed.

Before you buy an infrared, take an authentic Finnish sauna.

Ever notice how many hotel saunas seem neglected and underutilized?  Well, whether you take a hotel sauna solo, or share the hotel sauna with a talkative shower curtain salesman, or end up sitting next to someone like this girl, try following this plan:

1.  As soon as you check in: Go to the hotel sauna and turn it on full blast. Make note if there’s a shower in the area, or if this girl needs a drink.

2. Check into your room. Unpack, check email etc. After 20 minutes or so, grab the ice bucket or small plastic garbage can  from your room (leave the poly bag) and return to the hotel sauna.

3. Flush the hotel sauna. Generously douse with fresh water:

• the bench area where you’ll be sitting.
• the hotel sauna rocks with water (they should bark back, if not, the sauna is lame, call housekeeping if you’re especially irritated).
• anywhere else you feel the urge.

Why?  underused hotel saunas can build up dust and stagnation, this ‘cleansing’ will get your hotel sauna fresh and ready to rock.

4. Crank the hotel sauna timer again and go work out for half an hour or go for a walk.

When you return to the hotel sauna a third time, it should be 150 degrees plus, clean and fresh, and recovered from the shower you gave it.

5. Take a first round: keep it dry. Try sitting in the hotel sauna 15 minutes or so, relaxing, and just chill out from your road trip.  No water on the rocks, but drink plenty of water.  When you feel the urge, douse some water on the rocks and try riding out that storm.  Don’t throw too much water on the sauna rocks, and don’t rush out of the hotel sauna from the blast of steam.  Take the lower bench if necessary.  Be gentle when tossing water on sauna rocks, not a bull in a china shop.  It’s better to toss some water on the rocks two times than it is throwing too much water on the rocks the first time.  Enjoy the Loyly (steam from water on the rocks).  Loyly is your friend.  When you’ve had enough:

6. Cold shower plunge. Hit the shower and have it as cold as you can stand it.  Don’t bother drying off, let the water steam up on your skin.  Find a cool place to sit, do NOT return to the hotel sauna immediately after showering.  Let your body cool.  I’ve been known to march through a hotel lobby, through the front doors and sit outside on a cold Wisconsin night.  Most hotel saunas have pools and most pools have a door to the outside.  This is an excellent place to chill out for a hotel sauna experience.  TIP: Here’s a good spot to stash an ice bucket with a couple of Wisconsin beers.

7. Return to the hotel sauna. Now you can toss water on the rocks, right away.  All that water you were drinking during your first round starts escaping through your pores, cleaning your skin naturally.  Ride this round out in similar fashion, shower again, and return to your outdoor chill area.

It’s like the instructions on a box of laundry detergent: sauna, rinse, chill, repeat.

8. Dry off after your final round (I always take at least 3 sauna rounds) and your ready to hit the town or your pillow back in the hotel room.

Diane Sawyer relaxes and talks to the community about saunas and dancing.

Sorry about their up front advertising but the story starts within a few seconds of clicking this:

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7074999

Here is a transparent chronology of the construction of a Finnish Sauna, wonderfully illustrated by professional photographer Brian Peterson.  Brian captures the organic elements of sauna: wood, fire, water, rocks and presents the reader with his soulful creation: building his dream sauna ‘up north.’   Brian’s passion for sauna is deep in the pages.  He recognizes that an image, a photo, can bring to life sauna culture and he wants to share it with you in his new book.

Whether you’re considering building your own authentic Finnish sauna, or just appreciate the sauna experience from a visual perspective, Brian’s book is for you.  Would make for a nice gift, along with a sauna bucket and thermometer.

Here is a word from Brian:

“This book is a step-by-step visual guide to building a traditional Finish sauna. You will find pictures of every step in the process that will help you make your own plans and give you ideas for construction. I built my sauna with no blueprints, I looked at many saunas over the years and built ours from scratch with ideas from many. This book will help you in the process of building your own unique sauna building.”

Here’s a link where you can view his book in more detail.

Buddy Clint and I were talking about sauna door etiquette…. it’s like Pay it Forward, if you show up to a sauna party, DON’T open the sauna door and greet everybody.  Instead quietly get undressed, grab your towel and before opening the sauna door ask the crew in the sauna: “does anyone need anything?”

You’ll be a hero.. just by grabbing a fellow sauna party member a towel, a beer, or their forgotten jug of water.

As Clint says: “it’s just another sprinkling of good vibes.”