You are here: Home / Sauna Culture

Sauna is great for forward thinkers

September 28, 2011 By Glenn Leave a Comment

But living in the now exclusively isn’t the answer.  Whether we realize it or not, a sport gives us therapy and a mental a rush because it gets us in the forward thinking mode.  Live in the now, but move forward:

  • Mountain climbing.
  • Bicycling.
  • Running.
  • Soccer, Ice Hockey, heck, ALL sports!

Fall down?  Let in a goal?  Get tired?   You brush yourself off and move on.  Look ahead.  What’s next, what can we do next?  Who’se ready for another sauna round?  Hey, who took my spot on the bench!?

Life gets better when we move forward.

A car has a bigger windshield than a rear view mirror.  Where are you looking?

Filed Under: Philosophy

World’s Largest Sauna

September 16, 2011 By Stephen 1 Comment

Therme Erding purports to be the largest thermal bath complex in Europe at 36 acres. It is located 30 minutes northeast of Munich by car and is visited by around 4000 people every day.

According to information on Wikipedia, this megabathmetropolis had unlikely beginnings.  In 1983, Texaco drilled 7,710 ft below ground just outside the town of Erding, Bavaria, Germany.

Instead of oil, they discovered sulphorous water.

Initially a ‘mini thermal bath complex’ was constructed on the site, and then the foundation stone of Therme Erding was laid in November 1998 and was officially opened in 1999. The complex has a clothed bathing area, and a clothing-optional sauna section.

In 2007, the waterslide section “Galaxy” opened, making it one of the biggest indoor waterslide parks in Europe. The newly expanded “Saunaparadies”, with an area of 139,000 sq ft, became the largest sauna complex in the world. In total, Therme Erding is 1,560,000 sq ft and more than €100 million has been invested in it.

 

Filed Under: Building a sauna, Sauna Culture, Types of saunas

The five W’s of sauna

September 5, 2011 By Glenn Leave a Comment

Who is into sauna?

Finns.  Scandinavians.  Now folks that ‘get it’ from around the world are into sauna.  It’s becoming a big deal.

What is sauna?

Traditional sauna is a centuries old tradition.  it involves a stove (wood or electric) that heats rocks.  Walls are generally cedar or white spruce.   Sauna is not a steam room.  Sauna is not a hot tub.

When do you sauna?

Often after a work out, or when your feet are f***ing cold on a winter’s night.  Then again, some find sauna therapeutic on a hot day.  Sauna parties are a blast.

Where are saunas?

Lots of health clubs feature a ‘dry sauna,’  invariably heated by an electric sauna stove, but health club and hotel saunas are generally a compromise.  One may stumble upon an authentic sauna if one is lucky enough to visit Scandinavia or Northern lakes areas like Minnesota, upper Wisconsin, Canada.

Why take a sauna?

Health benefits to sauna are numerous and undisputed.

How do I get in the game?

This site is about getting in the game.  You deserve your own sauna: a backyard sauna.  An outdoor sauna may in fact open your appreciation to nature.  A sauna in your house is a real sign of quality living and doesn’t really cost a lot.  We’re here to help, and here’s where you start.

 

Filed Under: Sauna Culture Tagged With: , , , , ,

Sauna vs. Hot Tubs

August 17, 2011 By Glenn 3 Comments

It was an engaging conversation at the dinner table.  Pros and Cons were being debated heartily.  My wife, very much an anti hot tub person, ended the conversation with a “game, set, match” proclamation:

“I don’t want to sit in other people’s juice.”

Filed Under: Sauna Culture

Its ok to be a wood (burning) snob.

August 11, 2011 By Glenn Leave a Comment

If you see a wood pile, can you walk over and identify the species?  Are you in tune to how different wood burns?  Folks with saunas and wood burning fireplaces in cold climates like Alaska, Minnesota, Canada are in tune.  These folks have to be in tune.  Proper BTU management is pretty critical.  Burn crappy wood, be cold.  Burn good wood, stay warm.

My Favorite Wood to Burn:

  1. Birch – burns fairly fast, but hot.  BONUS:  birch bark is nature’s gasoline.
  2. Red Oak – a great winter burning wood.  Long lasting, compact fire, clean hot burn.
  3. Maple – not as intense as oak, yet similar properties.
  4. 2nd LAST PLACE: Jack Pine – takes up space in the fire box and emits little in return.
  5. 1st LAST PLACE: Wet wood, or unseasoned wood, or dried out lifeless wood.

What is your Favorite Wood to Burn in Sauna?:

Filed Under: Philosophy, Sauna how to

How much water should I toss on the sauna rocks?

June 23, 2011 By Glenn Leave a Comment

Just as Minnesota Fats, the famous pool player, would advise that there are two ways to hit a pool shot – soft and softer, there are two ways to toss water on sauna rocks: start with a little water, then add a little more.

You can always toss more water as you go.letting loyly hit your skin

As Clint points out, all sauna stoves are made to take water.  Rocks on sauna stoves are a thermal mass of heat energy.  That heat is transferred to steam, as water gets tossed on rocks.  That steam then gets transferred to your body as it comes in contact with your skin.

You can toss a liter of water on the rocks and try to “ride it out” but this macho ploy is best reserved for the art of reverse cycling.

Loyly supports the rubber band theory of sauna, great for your skin and breathing.

Steam from water being tossed on sauna rocks, Loyly, is a spiritual thing, involving negative ions.  Fire (sauna stove), Earth (sauna rocks), and Water (via loyly) create an aura akin to water falls and rainbows, something beyond this writer’s ability to put into words without any mind altering assistance.

BONUS: Starting with a little water, then adding more doesn’t shock your sauna stove, so in theory, you stove will suffer less fatigue.

OTHER BONUS: Rocks will be less depleted of thermal mass and respond quicker to more water with a smile and a sizzle.

MISNOMER: The temperature in a sauna does not go up when you toss water on sauna rocks.  It just feels hotter because heat is transferred via water vapor onto your skin.

JAB: Infrared is NOT a sauna.

Filed Under: Sauna how to Tagged With: , , , ,

Sauna Timers Are Worthless

June 22, 2011 By Clint 3 Comments

“How long should I stay in the sauna?”

I get this question a lot and here is the answer:

“Until pouring ice cold water over your head is the best idea you’ve ever heard.”

There are far too many factors that negate a specified time, such as:

  1. When you last ate.
  2. Your body weight.
  3. Your level of hydration.
  4. Your individual tolerance of extreme temperatures.

If anything, I would argue that timers can be dangerous, so don’t use them at all. Wait until pouring ice cold water over your head is the best idea you’ve ever heard.

Note: substitute a jump in the lake or a roll in the snow when applicable.

Cheers!

Filed Under: Sauna how to

A hot sauna on a hot day?

June 7, 2011 By Clint 1 Comment

It’s 102 in Minneapolis, MN today and I’ve mentioned to several people that I’ll be taking a sauna later, in case they’d like to join me.

“What? Are you crazy? It’s 102 today!”

Exactly. It’s 102. Just as some runners use saunas to train for hot weather running, I use saunas to tolerate hot weather in general. It works remarkably well.

When you’re first introduced to the sauna, your inclination is to head for the hills when the steam comes barreling toward you. After a few sessions you start to realize that, not only is it quite tolerable, but it actually feels gooooooooood! When the steam hits, you learn to just let it in.

And so it is when I walk out of my 73 degree air conditioned house into 102 degrees…

I just let it in.

Filed Under: Health and wellness, Weather Tagged With: ,

Sauna-Yoga: Much more than just VERY hot yoga.

May 28, 2011 By Stephen 1 Comment

Robin Bailey-Callahan, RD - Certified Yoga Instructor

While developing Sauna-Yoga, it became clear that it needed to be a holistic experience.  Here is the protocol that emerged for a three-round Sauna-Yoga experience:

Round 1 – YOGA: See Developing Sauna-Yoga: part 2 for the demonstration of six poses that can be completed in a sauna at 170°F within 12 minutes.

Round 2 – MEDITATION: Both yoga and sauna indirectly include meditation. We found it useful to make meditation a prominent feature. See Sauna Meditation for guidelines. You might think the yoga round is the most intense of the three rounds. It’s not. The meditation round is by far the most intense and challenging round, hands down.

Round 3 – SOCIALIZE: A main purpose of sauna and in fact, all sweat rituals, is to relax and connect with others. Relax, interact and have fun. Soulful rock music works nicely during this round.

Each round refers to the interval inside a sauna. The interval should be approximately 15 minutes and the temperature should range from 160°-180°F. Each round is separated by a 5-minute cooling off period outside the sauna and don’t neglect your recuperation period.

Sweat Therapy Theoretical Model

From Sweat Therapy Theory, we know that sweat rituals operate by a combination of Exercise, Self-Regulation, Interpersonal Factors, and Metaphorical Contextual Elements. Adding Yoga to Sauna, kicks up the intensity in Exercise and Self-Regulation. According to the theory, this should create the opportunity for corresponding amplification of Interpersonal and Metaphorical Contextual Elements thereby causing greater positive effects to Mind, Body, & Spirit.

In other words, if these four factors make up the sauna engine, we’re souping it up.

Filed Under: Sauna how to, Sauna Yoga

Sauna Meditation

May 28, 2011 By Stephen 1 Comment

Yvette Rivera-Colmant, MSW

There are several qualities of the sauna experience that are conducive to meditation and that make the combination, especially intense. Think Extreme Meditation.

The intense physical experience pushes the person to naturally bring thinking inwards to become more introspective as one appreciates their personal reactions to the heat. The effects of heat on muscle relaxation help the person to get into a deep state of relaxation. Introspection and deep relaxation characterize the altered state of consciousness one gains while sweating. As time passes, one’s reactions to the heat become more intense and create a challenge. One can allow negative thoughts and feelings related to the heat become the focus of their experience.  Alternatively, one can engage in a process of disidentification, by which awareness (mindfulness) precisely observes, and therefore ceases to identify with, mental content such as thoughts, feelings, and images. Disidentification opens the person to then also observe positive mental content – thoughts and feelings that help one to adapt, cope, and thrive when faced with adversity.  This can grow to include the development of other mental qualities such as concentration, love, or wisdom. 

As is true with any discipline, to become skilled in meditation takes time and practice.  Yet anyone can meditate. 

One of the most intense ways to meditate in a sauna is to simply sit in silence and focus on your breathing. Alternatively, it is also very pleasant to have some chill-out meditation music playing in the background. A guided meditation I designed specifically for sauna can be purchased through CD Baby and soon Itunes for $0.99. See Sauna Meditation. This track is taken from the album, Sweat Therapy Audio. The Sauna Meditation track starts with guided meditation followed by several minutes of silence and then incorporates meditation music.

Here are some thoughts and reflections to consider for a sauna meditation: 

Sitting erect but not rigid, lean against the back of the sauna, placing your hands comfortably in your lap.  Let your body and mind rest and relax and get into the heat. 

When you feel comfortable with it, allow your eyes to gently close.  Tune in to the feeling of the breath moving in and out of your body, allowing yourself to breathe mostly through your mouth as the hot air stings the nostrils.  Focus on the sensation of the hot air moving in and out of your mouth.

Let your body relax and as you sweat, think about the stress leaving your body.  Negative energy leaves your body as you sweat.  As the sweat leaves the pores of your skin so does anger, frustration, and tension.  Relax and enjoy the heat. 

Just become as comfortable as possible.  The intense heat of the sauna is gentle at first, providing a very warm, relaxing feeling. 

Some people sweat immediately and others take longer.  Notice how your body reacts to the heat.  As the sweat begins coming to the surface of your skin.  Notice the feeling of your body.

Feeling relaxed and calm, the intensity of the heat grows.  You may begin to struggle slightly as the heat works its way through your body.  As the heat intensifies, so does the amount of stress and anxiety that is released.

Each time that you find your mind wandering off, simply bring it back to your breathing.

Filed Under: Product reviews, Sauna how to, Sweat Therapy Tagged With:
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »