As sauna becomes more and more popular, more and more sauna enthusiasts are recognizing that sauna is more than a hot room. In addition to 10-15 minutes sitting on a bench in a 160 -200 degree f. sauna hot room, a sauna session is more "robust" when we: Toss water on the sauna stove rocks. Embrace Loyly (steam created by tossing water on sauna rocks). Become more familiar with our bodies and minds by recognizing that "the time to leave the hot room, is when the idea of jumping into an ice cold lake or rolling in the snow is about the best idea we've ever heard." (Clintmeister) Leave the sauna hot room, and cold plunge, or cold shower, or roll in the fresh snow. Become even more familiar with our bodies and minds by recognizing that what we just did is not crazy, or some macho ploy, but that exposure to extreme hot or cold temperatures improves mitochondrial function that can serve as a catalyst to improve our health. (more here). Be one with our time outside, in … [Read more...]
10 things you may want to know about barrel saunas
Simple Assembly. Barrel saunas are a clever design. They require no major tools for cutting or assembly. Barrel saunas are "built" on site by placing the milled 2x4 cedar boards along the circumference of the two circular end walls, then strapping everything in place with the set of locking rings provided. One need not be handy to assemble a barrel sauna. Ships easy. Barrel saunas ship unassembled. There's a pallet stack of 2x4s, door, stove, benches and a set of circular end rings. This is a key reason why Costco can shrink wrap, sell, and distribute the Almost Heaven barrel sauna nationally. No vapor barrier or insulation. Yes, barrel saunas ship and assemble easily, but because the walls are not insulated and don't have a vapor barrier, some sauna users will notice a substantial compromise in heat. A round wood wall made from 2x4's is often not enough of a barrier from hot to cold. Imagine cold blowing snow hitting one side of the wood, and a sauna stove firing heat against … [Read more...]
Sauna Talk: Four Sauna enthusiasts are “drawn to the steam” for National Sauna Day in Northern Minnesota
It was a perfectly rainy early June afternoon for this Sauna Talk session at my cabin. We road tripped together to experience National Sauna Day in Embarrass, MN. What better way to get right into nature, and all get on the same page than with a massively awesome sauna session complete with cold plunges into the cool lake? We start on the bench with Garrett Conover. 1,200 miles from Maine to Northern Minnesota. Cotton grass and tamarack sets my heart aflutter. Sauna and nature. Joined by John Pederson and Lee Sarkela. Us 4 characters as long tail sauna enthusiasts. Tracing the steps back to Pine Island as the island or origin for us being together. 612 Sauna Society parables behind the scenes. Gas fire going out, trailer jack breaking. 2,100 visits to Little Box Sauna, 612 sauna society 2015/2016 this winter. 600 return visitors. A lake plunge, then Round 2: Sauna a Tick Removal Strategy after a hike. The universal feel of water being … [Read more...]
Wood heat vs. electric heat explained once, and probably not for all
Heat isn't heat. Have you ever cooked with a cast iron pan vs. a thin teflon pan? All quality restaurants use thick heavy cast iron pans. The food cooks evenly. The heat is more controlled. "The food tastes better." Those into food can tell the difference. Thermal mass through radiant heat. For those of us in cold climates, we know the difference in our homes. Baseboard electric can heat a room, but it's a different type of heat than, say, heat created by radiators. Why? Radiators radiate heat, baseboards heat air. WTF does this mean? Why is it that when your feet are cold as you get into a cold car in Minneapolis, your feet are still cold by the time you get to Duluth, but the inside car thermometer says 70 degrees the whole way? Thermal mass. For those of us fortunate enough to have radiant in floor heating in our homes, we understand that when we put our shoes on, our shoes are warm. And we understand that we are benefiting from an "even heat." Everything is … [Read more...]
The chemistry of loyly: steam from water being tossed on sauna rocks
Loyly is an integral part of the authentic sauna experience. Many consider Loyly a spiritual experience. And as we look under the metaphysical hood, here's what happens when we toss water on sauna rocks: The water spoon or container in our hands contains two parts Hydrogen and one part Oxygen: H2O. When we toss H2O on sauna rocks, the water turns to water vapor, or steam. Water vapor is brought into the body through breathing and through the open pours of the skin. A high concentration of H2O - water vapor - enters the lungs and "super charges" the respiratory system, and maybe other systems too. As we sit on the sauna bench, breathing in super oxygenated air, something important is happening. What is it? Whatever it is, it is good for you and is a good thing. … [Read more...]
Water and sauna best summarized as: “rinse-offs are a strictly an outside affair.”
There is a lot of chatter about "dry" sauna, "wet" sauna, and the IRS style stern signage in public saunas: "Do NOT toss water on sauna rocks" What we know: Water in the hot room An authentic sauna is meant to take water on the sauna stove rocks. Loyly, the steam created from tossing water on sauna stove rocks, is an integral part of the sauna experience. Loyly is an intensely important physical, mental, spiritual element to authentic sauna. More on Loyly here. A little water dumped over ones head in the hot room is not a bad thing. Many prefer to start their hot round with a quick rinse and wet hair. However, dumping water or showering in the hot room is not the right play. The cool down A key element to the authentic sauna experience is the cool down. This step is best described as departing the hot room, heading outside and either: Jumping into a cold lake. Standing under a cold shower. Dumping 32 oz. of cold water over one's head. The Clean … [Read more...]
Evidence that heating up in sauna helps keep blood pressure and pulse cooled down.
Every visit to the Doctor starts with the vitals: height, weight, blood pressure, pulse. "Are you a marathon runner?" Sonja the nurse asked, unwrapping the velcro band from my arm. "No, why do you ask?" "Your blood pressure is 98/60 and your pulse is 55. We usually only see these kind of low numbers with marathon runners. So, whatever you are doing, keep it up." Well, here's what i'm doing: I exercise no more than the average bear. I run, bike, walk, three times a week or so, nothing special. I eat pretty well. Yet I am prone to indulgences like Watson's sponge candy and a beer or two in a nICE mug. I sauna 3 times a week. Going on 20 years now. #1 and #2 above don't set me apart. #3 probably does. Authentic sauna is the key. An infrared light bulb closet, health club or hotel sauna may, in my view, lead to increased blood pressure: Lame sauna stove. Restrictions on loyly (steam created from water being tossed on sauna rocks). Lack of fresh … [Read more...]
Microbursts: sauna therapy explored on a cold windy day.
There is a small yet enthusiastic faction of the Twin City Sauna Club that gathered this past week by the shores of a crystal clear lake outside Spooner, WI. While experiencing an extra biting cold Northwest wind, the sauna flow evolved into microbursts: go in hot room. toss a generous shot of water on the sauna rocks. heat quick. go outside. cool down. do it again. After 8 vigorous sauna rounds, one feels relaxed, liberated and free. There are few rules to sauna. … [Read more...]
Mythical aura of sauna visited in the Milwaukee Journal.
Gary Porter wrote this excellent piece on the traditional Finnish sauna experience in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper. Gary summarizes the Finnish history of sauna, and helps the reader locate places to visit of historical interest. Gary accurately describing the sauna experience: "steam rising from water hitting the rocks takes on a near-mystical aura; the term for it in Finnish is löyly, meaning "spirit, breath, soul," as it pierces through the body." … [Read more...]
Top 5 reasons why your own sauna is better than a deadbeat health club sauna.
5. Temperature: At home, you control it. At a health club sauna, it's all a subject for chatter. 4. Congestion. Some health club saunas are as busy as the bathrooms at O'hare airport. Your own sauna is as tranquil as canoeing in the Boundary Waters. And you get to pick who you want to come along for the ride. 3. Sounds. Some prefer quiet in sauna, others prefer positive musical vibrations. With your own sauna, you control it. And you can control the conversation - no politics. Is it just me or do all strangers in health club saunas suffer from post nasal drip? "Hey dude, stop your hacking." 2. Loyly: Steam from water being tossed on sauna rocks. Without it , it's akin to trying to enjoy biking when all you do is ride around in circles in your garage. You may get a sweat going, but you're missing the full experience. Wet sauna? Dry sauna? there is no such thing. All sauna stoves are made to take water. 1. Outdoor Chill Out. Fresh air is part of being healthy. … [Read more...]