Finnleo - Blog

Guest Blog: Warming Up to Infrared Sauna: A yoga teacher’s story

Laurie in Warrior Pose at Zion National Park

About 4 years ago, my husband expressed interest in a home sauna. My only experience had been the saunas at hotels and health clubs, and due to my asthma, I found it difficult to breathe in the high temperatures. Determined to add sauna to other healthy lifestyle changes, he convinced me to try an infrared sauna, and I am glad he did.

What was primarily purchased to support Craig’s weight loss and fitness goals soon turned into my personal escape and quiet space for morning meditation before teaching yoga on weekend mornings. Since the infrared sauna requires no pre-heating, I will often awake, turn on the infrared sauna, make a cup of tea, and come back to the sauna 10 minutes later with a book or journal. To enhance the relaxation, I add a few drops of essential oil to a slightly damp wash cloth and enjoy a little aromatherapy.

Depending on how my week has been and what my needs are for the morning, I will spend 10-15 minutes in the sauna, take a 5 minute cooling break, and start a second round of sauna. If my lesson plans for yoga are completed, I enjoy reading a book or quietly meditating and mentally preparing my intentions for the day and my yoga practice. If work is needed on my plan, I finish writing the routine and read inspirational messages to include at the end of class. The soothing heat and quiet of the infrared sauna helps me achieve the right mindset to accomplish these tasks without the stress I often find when preparing lesson plans for my high school English classes.

Beyond the mental preparation for class, the infrared sauna prepares my body for my yoga practice. Whether preparing a Vinyasa class with challenging poses and more flow, a gentler Hatha class that focuses on poses, or a meditative Yin class, the deep penetrating heat of the infrared increases blood flow to my muscles and joints to increase mobility and flexibility while also reducing the likelihood of injury or strain. If I awake with a knot in my shoulder from carrying stress and bag full of papers to grade, time in the infrared helps untie that knot through the soothing heat to the muscles and the release of mental and emotional tension through relaxation.

In addition to the stress management and relaxation enjoyed in my quiet sauna time, my overall health has improved with fewer cold, sinus, and allergy issues over the last several years. It is nice to have been pleasantly surprised by the myriad benefits I have found with our Finnleo B820 Infrared Sauna.

A Floating Sauna with Unique Use of Materials & Beautiful Design

In an earlier post, we shared a transformation of a pontoon boat into a sauna boat. The project was designed for private use, and it has brought many of the owner’s family and friends together to enjoy sauna and swim in the lakes of Minnesota. In this post, we will share a floating sauna story with a different origin: crowdsourced funding and for semi-public use in Washington.

Late summer 2014, goCstudio, the design studio behind the floating sauna, contacted us for design assistance in planning a wood-burning sauna that was to float in Lake Union, Washington. The contact came in the form of an announcement that a Kickstarter campaign had been created for what was projected to be about a $43,000 project, much of which was needed for designing the custom floating structure and the stunning sauna.

The sauna is approximately 6’x6’ with a 7’ ceiling, which doubles as a sunbathing deck. A Finnleo 16K Karhu wood-burning stove heats the sauna. The sauna interior, also from Finnleo, is classic Scandinavian—finished with Nordic White Spruce from Finland for the walls & ceiling, and the benches are made of Abachi wood.

Though we are particularly pleased with the interior of the sauna, the project design makes this project a work of art. From the floating structure, which used re-purposed kegs to assist with floatation, to hinged sections of the sauna walls to allow for the sauna to be cooled quickly after use or to open the sauna as a sitting area when not heated, the attention to detail makes the sauna extremely functional while uniquely beautiful.

Congratulations to the teams involved in this project. Visit goCstudio to see beautiful, artistic images of the sauna and to see their other projects in the Seattle area.

To design your sauna, contact Finnleo or your local Finnleo dealer:

Sauna at the Dock in the Bay

A Floating Sauna in Minnesota

Otis Redding sang a great song, (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay. For many people, listening to the song brings back some great memories of the relaxation and ease of mind and soul that happen while enjoying a peaceful rest by the water. For a Minnesota man, Grant, sittin’ on the dock of the bay has been taken a step further with his floating sauna, and rather than reminiscing, he and his friends and family are making memories about which others only dream.

Getting Started:

Grant’s Finnish roots and family love of sauna, especially the ever popular sauna and swim, planted the seed of inspiration that developed into a local favorite respite from the always wired, connected world in which we live today. His plan was simple in design, and expertly carried out through years of sauna use and sauna building skills learned while helping family and friends embrace their Finnish heritage. To make the sauna float and safe for being on the water, a pontoon boat was modified with increased bracing and support to handle the additional weight of the sauna and stove, as well as several friends and family members who would enjoy a day of sauna and swim.

Starting to Take Shape:

After careful planning to keep the weight evenly balanced across the frame of the pontoon boat, Grant began construction of the sauna and deck. Approximately 6’x8’, the sauna is centered on the pontoon deck from front to back with a slight offset to a side to allow for a clear walking path from the front to the back of the boat. The door faces the rear of the boat and two small benches are located just outside the door in an enclosed area to allow for resting and cooling between rounds of sauna. Several windows are installed to provide light for the sauna, and a flat roof acts as a diving platform from which his guests can enjoy jumping into the lake.

Things are Heating Up:

When deciding on how to heat the sauna, Grant was pleased his best choice of heaters was also his favorite: a wood-burning sauna stove from Finnleo. Finnleo’s 16CK heater’s efficient design conserved space while providing great heat for the sauna. Using corrugated metal as a fire wall, the sauna was able to utilize the space for maximum sauna pleasure. With the sauna stove in the front left corner of the boat, opposite the sauna door, the sauna and boat have a nice flow for people to enjoy all the amenities the boat has to offer.

Time to Enjoy!

As lakes warm and summer approaches, how do you plan to spend your evenings and weekends? Do you have a plan for disconnecting from the hustle of the world and for reconnecting with friends and family? Are you looking for a family retreat that not only feels good, but is good for you? The beauty of a wood-burning sauna is it is intended to be enjoyed slowly and intentionally. It isn’t to be scheduled between conference calls. The heater is to be thoughtfully prepared and lit. While the sauna heats, friends and families talk, enjoy refreshing beverages and light snack, or play games. Time is taken to enjoy relationships. When the sauna is ready, the bathers enjoy multiple innings, not a rushed 10-15 minutes before a quick shower.

Invitation

Take this as an invitation to slow down and embrace all the benefits of enjoying the simpler things, including better physical and mental health and wellness through sauna.

Save with a free upgrade during the Stanley Cup Playoffs!

Whether for a pre-game‬ warm-up or post game recovery , my Finnleo Far-Infrared sauna is always ready for me. With almost no pre-heating required, the deep penetrating heat soothes sore muscles and speeds my recovery. – John Gibson, Professional Hockey Player

Good luck to John during the Stanley Cup Playoffs! With his exceptional play this season, his team is well-positioned for a great run to the cup. In fact, several articles have named John Gibson as a player to watch during the playoffs.

In honor of John's success, Finnleo is offering a free upgrade during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The John Gibson Deal will provide an upgrade to a curved, ergonomic backrest and a bottle of Eucalyptus oil.

To learn more or to talk with a local dealer about what sauna is right for you...

The Holidays are a great time to accessorize your sauna

Whether you already own a sauna and need an update on accessories or you are planning on surprising a loved one with a sauna that you have on order, accessories make for great presents. From consumables like essential oils and sauna soap to longer lasting items like buckets and ladles, accessories help to make a sauna have a more personal touch.

Next to the sauna heater and room, the bucket and ladle among the most important components of the sauna, as they help provide the unique ability to control the level of humidity in the bath. The löyly (steam) created by ladling the water over the heated rocks, and the person entrusted with controlling the bucket and ladle holds an honorable position, as they are to ensure a great sauna for all. For this reason, it is important that you choose the sauna bucket and ladle that match your needs. Many like the clean, sturdy construction of the stainless steel bucket and ladle, while others prefer the more traditional look of a wooden bucket and ladle. What suits your needs? Whichever bucket you choose, be sure to consider Eucalyptus Oil or other essential oils to allow for aromatherapy when the oils are mixed with water then ladled over the rocks.

When you sauna, do you prefer to lie on the bench instead of sit? If so, consider a Halu pillow or a head rest. Though the Halu pillow looks a little strange, the 4 adjustable rests allow for the pillow to be repositioned for maximum comfort. The small size also makes it easy to store when not in use, perhaps if you were having a sauna party to share your great Finnleo sauna with family and friends. If you prefer something more traditional, we have several other head and back rest designs to meet your needs.

Is the sauna a surprise present? Why not provide a sauna sign as a gift that can be unwrapped ahead of the sauna delivery? Already have a sauna but you finished the exterior with drywall? A sauna sign is a great way to identify your doorway to a healthy escape.

Body brushes can serve a dual purpose. Used on dry skin, the brushes help to exfoliate dead skin and to help stimulate blood flow to the brushed areas, helping to bring a natural radiance and glow to the skin. People often report that their skin shows signs of better health after a few uses. After finishing a sauna session, the body brushes can also be dipped in the water from the bucket and used to scrub the bench tops to help keep a fresh, clean look to the room.

After a sauna or between rounds, it can be nice to sit and relax in a nice, cozy robe. If you already have a favorite robe, Finnleo offers a selection of sauna towels, seat covers, and wash mitts. Having linens specifically designated for sauna can help to create a nice atmosphere of an escape to your own private spa.

Ready to learn more about these accessories or what options Finnleo has for saunas, both traditional and infrared? Visit your local Finnleo dealer or call Finnleo at 800-346-6536.

Make a Daily Escape from the Brutal Winter – The benefits of a home sauna or steam shower.

From conversations to Facebook and Twitter posts to the national news, the winter of 2013-2014 has been the most constant story of the season. Every state in the continental US has experienced a snow or ice storm, and this has more people longing for the heat of summer. For those of us with sauna or steam showers, we get to go on vacation at the push of a button.

While many people love heat bathing while on vacation or at the spa, they are unfamiliar with the advances in the sauna and steam industry that have made installation of heat bathing products easy to install and enabling a homeowner to install some saunas in as little as an hour and enjoying tropical heat minutes after the room is installed. Let’s review the types of heat bathing available and the approximate installation times and type of heat bathing environment created:

Traditional Sauna – 30 to 45 minutes for pre-heat, though some heat storing heaters have a room ready in 5 minutes.

Traditional saunas are available in a variety of options, from the Finnleo Passport series, designed to install in less than an hour with some plug-in models available, to exquisitely designed Designer series panel-built rooms which are assembled in 4 to 6 hours, and custom-cut rooms, which can be installed in a couple days. Most versions of traditional sauna have the option to add Infrared panels to create an infrasauna (more later).

Passport Saunas are an excellent option for homeowners and renters alike. Because the sauna is easily assembled and disassembled (with some plug-in designs), the sauna can be moved within the home or even taken with you should you decide to move. For those who are going to a cabin for a winter getaway, the Passport can be disassembled and taken to the cabin and used to warm-up after an afternoon of cross-country or downhill skiing or other fun winter activities.

Designer Series saunas capture the imagination and create an ambiance described by the name. Rooms like Reflections, Solace, Serenity, and Seaside were carefully designed to help elicit a sense of escape. Though these rooms generally take a few hours to install and require the heater to be hardwired, the craftsmanship and added amenities of the Designer series rooms are worth the investment.

Custom-cut saunas are ideal when a basement, master bath, or home gym is being finished, remodeled, or built. Because the custom-cut is built into the home, it requires a higher level of skill and generally requires a few days to install, but when finished, the sauna is customized to the exact needs of your home, utilizing every inch of available space, even in locations thought to be relegated to storage only.

Infrared Sauna – Though many bathers like to wait 10 minutes to have a warmer room to begin, an infrared can be used immediately.

Over the last decade, infrared saunas have enjoyed a tremendous growth in popularity. The infrared sauna operates at a lower air temperature than a traditional sauna, but because it heats the body directly, a bather perspires as profusely as he does in a traditional sauna; however, unlike a traditional sauna, no humidity can be added to the room by using water.

Fueled by an increase in awareness of health benefits of heat bathing, infrared saunas received a tremendous boost when featured by Dr. Oz on the Oprah show several years ago. Besides the numerous health benefits, infrared saunas are ideal for people new to heat bathing who want a low temperature, easy to install room that is affordable and filled with amenities like radio and chromotherapy. Most prefabricated saunas can be assembled in less than an hour and plug into a standard 15 or 20 AMP outlet. Like the Passport rooms, the ease of assembly and use of standard outlets make infrared saunas relatively portable. For those interested in larger room or utilizing an unconventional space for infrared, custom infrared rooms are also available.

InfraSauna – Best of Traditional and Infrared sauna, without compromise

InfraSaunas are unique to Finnleo and combine traditional and infrared saunas into one room. Through our design and safety listings, we have developed a system that allows both types of heat to be installed in one room while ensuring only one heat source is utilized at a time. InfraSaunas can be installed in a variety of room styles, from Passport to Designer series to custom-cut, and they are ideal for families wanting to enjoy both types of heat but not wanting to have two separate spaces. For athletes, the InfraSauna allows them to use infrared as a pre-workout warm-up, and the residual heat from the infrared session can be used to speed the pre-heat time when the sauna is switched from infrared to traditional.

Steam Showers – Preheat is typically 10-15 minutes, though warm start greatly reduces this time

Steam showers are a great way to add heat bathing, especially to small bathrooms and homes because they utilize the same space as an existing shower. Like custom-cut saunas, steam showers require more labor to install, but the results are worth it. To install a steam shower, the shower must be fully enclosed with a tight sealing door and waterproof walls and ceilings. Additionally, some tile, plumbing, and electrical work are required, so this is a project that usually takes a few days, depending on how much work is required. When finished, the shower is transformed into a tropical rainforest complete with aromatherapy and the options of chromotherapy. When the steam shower is done, simply turn on the shower and rinse off without having to leave the warmth of the steam bath.

So…which one is best?

That is a matter of personal choice, because the best one is the one you will use. Each form of heat bathing will help you detoxify through perspiration and will help to reduce stress, relax, and induce a deeper, more restful sleep. When you are ready to start your daily vacation, contact your local Finnleo dealer to learn which one is best for you.

Talking Sauna with a European

A couple weeks ago, I was carpooling to a concert with a friend and choir-mate, and as we were discussing health and fitness, we naturally moved to discussing sauna and steam. She is from Germany and moved to the United States 15 years ago, so she has had time to experience the sauna cultures of her native Germany and throughout Europe, and she has also enjoyed sauna in the United States. The sauna conversation began when she mentioned she and her husband had joined a well-respected and established athletic club known for its racquet sports, pools, and wet area.

What She Found In America

What surprised her about the sauna in the club was the sauna was not built for long term comfort, as the bench was too narrow and most of the patrons did not use a towel while using the sauna, and the facilities she had used always restricted water use. I explained that the manufacturer of the sauna who installed that package focused on maximizing seating capacity, as many Americans were accustomed to sitting in the sauna and "fitting” the sauna into their schedule, so lying in a sauna was usually reserved for home saunas, though more commercial saunas are pushing for a more relaxing experience with nicer upgrades like valance lighting, bench skirts, and wider benches. As for water use, I explained that we recommend water be used, but some clubs still are concerned with people abusing water, as they have not been educated on how much to use and when to use it.

What She Was Used To

To my friend, Karin, a sauna was meant to be an experience in itself, and it may take the better part of the afternoon; it was not crammed in 10-15 minutes between the end of the workout and the shower on the way to work. Once a week, she would arrive at the spa, change into a robe, take a towel, and would go sauna. To protect the wood and to promote cleanliness, the towel was to be laid out on the bench and the bather would lie down. After 10-15 minutes, she would move from the top bench to the lower and sit for a couple minutes to prepare to leave the room. Upon exiting, she would rinse, drink room temperature water, perhaps flavored with mint or lemon, and cool down. 10-20 minutes later, she would re-enter the sauna and repeat her process of top bench to low bench and exit. In the 2nd cool down, she would rinse and enjoy a massage to help relieve tension. After the massage, she would sip more water, eat some healthy snacks, and when ready, she would enter the sauna for a third inning. In the 3rd inning, she may spend most of her time on the lower bench, and at the end, she would take a longer shower to finish her cleansing, then she would sit in the lounge in her robe and drink water and eat more healthy food until she was ready to leave. By the time her session ended two to three hours may have passed.

In America, I think we would do well to find time to sauna like the Europeans. Yes, the 15 minute sauna has its place, especially if the choice is 15 minutes or nothing, and a 2-3 hour sauna experience may not be welcome at your health club, but it is something you can enjoy with sauna in your home. Whether enjoyed by yourself, with your family, or with friends, the health and social benefits that come from this extended self-care range from better protection against colds, improved skin health, more time to be open and honest with loved ones, and an overall improvement in mental and physical health through relaxation and the release of stress.

Whether your schedule allows for 15 minutes of sauna after your workout or if you want to try to start a weekly sauna tradition of a sauna evening, contact your local Finnleo dealer to learn which sauna is best for your needs.

Sauna Memories: Winter and Christmas Eve Stories

Last weekend, I went to see Disney’s hit movie Frozen with my wife, daughter, and one of her friends. While we enjoyed the movie, one short scene (a couple seconds long) inspired this blog. In the middle of a raging snow storm, two characters are in a store, and the shop owner offers them a chance to use the sauna after a family is done using it, and they cut to a family of four enjoying sauna together, and I realized two things. One, I looked forward to some strong winter storms so I could enjoy my sauna and steam shower more than usual. Two, the concept of family in the sauna is often forgotten in much of our culture, yet for many of us, the winter and Christmas Eve saunas spent with family hold some of our fondest memories. We decided to share a few memories with you.

A view of Lake Superior from Keith’s sauna

Craig, your blogger, fondly remembers how winter saunas brought the men of the family together to share stories:

Sketch of our family sauna by Joyce Koskenmaki

This is a sketch of the family sauna drawn by my dad’s cousin, Joyce Koskenmaki. My most memorable and favorite saunas were taken in my youth with my grandpa, my dad, and my brother in my grandparent’s wood burning sauna in Michigan’s UP. They lived in an area far removed from any city, so when we visited each Christmas, the sauna was always a highlight. The sauna was built from wood that my grandfather had probably helped cut down as a lumber jack, and the sauna stove (kiuas) was welded together by a friend. The sauna served two purposes. It was our main bath while visiting, and it gave us time to talk and to reflect on the year. I can’t remember specific topics or stories, but I can tell you I am still warmed by the memories of those times in the sauna.

Matt, one of our regional sales managers, shared this recent story of a winter sauna:

Matt’s ice rink under the lights, with the sauna warming on the left.

As we Minnesotans know, this winter came in like a lion. Not so much snow, but brutally cold temperatures that lasted for the better part of early December. Most people loath this time of year. Personally I love it because I can build ice on our outdoor hockey rink fast. This past week has been perfect weather. Temps near zero and very little wind. Perfect for a night spent scraping and flooding the ice.

This Monday we had a great game of shinny in the backyard. The sounds of pucks and sticks on the ice mixed with laughter is why dad spends his evenings working on the ice. After the kids hit the hay I normally scrape and flood. As you can imagine it gets pretty cold. In fact, I cut the flooding short Monday because I had the wood burning sauna stoked and I was ready to warm my bones. Being both cold and tired the warmth of the sauna was much appreciated. What made this night unique was the incredibly bright full moon. I stepped out of a steaming sauna onto a sheet of perfect ice reflecting a brilliant moon. A couple buckets of water over the head was a refreshing rinse. A minute or two of looking at the moon and I was cold. The smell of smoke and cracking of the fire were calling my name. Time for more steam!

For another memory from one’s youth, Mark, national sales manager, shares this story:

This image was borrowed from VisitFinland.com

"My favorite Christmas Sauna memory was heating up the outdoor wood fired sauna all Christmas Eve from about 2:00 p.m. until evening at my childhood home. We would heat ‘sauna sausage’ in a special pan, over the rocks, which we enjoyed for a salty snack with a beverage when we were completed with our sauna bath. There was something about the steam, the sounds and the purity of a Christmas Eve sauna. The steam seemed to crackle more. The quietness of the moment was more peaceful. And, when complete you felt as clean and refreshed as ever. When we would walk back to the house, the snow seemed to crackle and snap under boot, but with a blanket of quiet and darkness that is still vivid to this day.”

And, finally, Keith, president of Finnleo, shared his story:

The Christmas Eve Sauna is always special, but my most memorable and special Christmas Eve Saunas were those in our outdoor woodburning sauna at our cabin on the shore of Lake Superior. There is something magical about walking through the fluffy snow to the sauna, entering the cozy warmth of the changing room, hearing the wood fired sauna stove crackling, then entering the sauna to feel its enveloping heat. To enjoy the soothing heat of the Christmas sauna with my wife and kids—while gazing out of the sauna windows to the incoming waves of icy cold Lake Superior, watching the quickly approaching dusk in the short days of an Upper Peninsula December day—was absolutely priceless.

Keith’s sauna by Lake Superior

This holiday season, we wish you joy, happiness, and peace. For the New Year, we wish you health, happiness, and prosperity. If you have a sauna, consider starting a Christmas Eve tradition of sauna with loved ones.

Soccer, Sauna, and Steam: A perfect combination for a cold day & parents vs kids soccer game.

My daughter is in her second year of playing soccer, and one of the traditions of the coaches of her team is the annual "Parents vs Kids Soccer Game.” The girls are all 9-10 years old, and most parents are in their late 30s to 40s. I am 37, overweight, and out-of-shape, and I have never played soccer, except in these games. I embody every component of "bad idea” and "wake up in the morning and can’t move,” except I have an infrared sauna and a steam shower…and that makes all the difference.

At the start of the games, the temperature was about 40°F and would fall to 37°F before the evening was done. Though chilly outside, our daughters’ skillful soccer playing kept all of us running, kicking, and diving to the point of where perspiration dripped from our brows. What I had expected to be an easy game to show our daughters support of their sport turned into a serious competition through which the girls showcased the skills they had acquired during the season. All parents left the field exhausted, sore, and beaming with pride at the players our daughters had become.

At the end of 1-1/2 hours, we had seen the girls play like as we hope they will on the last game of the season Saturday. As adults, we got to fill the need of challenging ourselves against our peers. As an overweight, out-of-shape 37 year old dad who had over-exerted himself out of love for his daughter and an attempt to show that an athlete still lives inside, I knew how my night would end. As I hobbled back to our house, I could only think of my sauna and steam shower. As we entered the house, I asked my daughter if she wanted to use the sauna, since the outside temperature had dropped to 37°F by then; she said she was happy to just cuddle with a blanket and some popcorn while watching TV.

Ahh…my sauna and steambath—the perfect after soccer retreat.

As I descended the stairs, I could feel my quadriceps firing, my hamstrings and calves tightening, and my core muscles whimpering. With Gatorade in hand, I placed a towel on the sauna bench in a position where I could watch TV with my daughter, and I sat in the infrared sauna for about an hour, with a short break every 20 minutes. After the hour had passed and the tension in my legs, back, and core had been released, I turned on my steam bath generator (in retrospect, I should have pre-programmed my T100 control to turn the steam bath on 15 minutes before I planned to use it). I watched TV for 15 minutes until my steam shower had reached the temperature at which I like to enter, 90°F; I enjoy soaking up the steamy heat while the steam bath continues to heat up to my set temperature of 110 degrees. At 90°F, my seat and walls have warmed sufficiently to lean sit/lean against them without sending a cold shock through my body. To help set the relaxation mood, I added lemon grass essential oil to the steam head, and adjusted my chromatherapy lights to a dark blue. After 20 minutes, I emerged a much different man. Many of the aches and pains in my muscles and joints had dissipated, and the chill from the cold temperatures had completely left my body.

When I awoke this morning, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I knew I had gone to bed mostly pain free (without using a pain killer), but how would my body respond to the beating I gave it last night? I am thrilled to report that I could climb and descend the stairs with no issues, and I have full mobility of my joints. What do I credit with my seemingly miraculous recovery? Sauna and steam. Given the same work out 10 years ago without the sauna and steam recovery period afterward, I would have awoken stiffer than a heavily starched shirt. Yes, my muscles do have some of the soreness associated with muscle development, but my body doesn’t ache, and I have full mobility.

Are you interested in learning how you can add sauna and/or steam to your home so you can enjoy a speedier recovery after physical exertion? Contact your local dealer or you can request a brochure to learn more about the products we offer.

New Study Finds Sauna and Exercise Share Many Benefits.

Can sauna replace exercise for health benefits? Not completely, but there are related benefits.

If you are an avid sauna enthusiast or have been researching the health benefits of sauna to determine the best way to add heat bathing to your health and wellness program, you have likely read articles on:

How many calories are burned in a typical sauna session
How lactic acid is released from the muscles through the deep penetrating heat of sauna
How the cardiovascular system can be aided by vasodilation
How skin looks fresher and younger because it is clean down into the pores
How it can help a person fall asleep and stay asleep or can help invigorate a person for a day.

All of these articles contain truths, but much of the evidence has been anecdotal. Now, a study by the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science Department at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, with assistance from other departments from within the University of Iowa and the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, has been released showing the body’s physiologic response to "whole-body heat stress.”

As a sauna and steam bath aficionado, I had to remove my passionate response to my beloved safe havens of relaxation, healing, and stress relief being referred to as "Heat Stress Chambers.” However, after reading the article and considering the study was reviewing the shared benefits of heat bathing and exercise, the term made perfect sense from an analytical perspective. To cause change, physically, mentally, or emotionally, "stress” must be applied. With that understanding of the term stress, the study became a fascinating read.

To begin, the study explained the objective of the study, which was to determine if sauna could serve as a replacement to exercise for individuals who are physically limited in their ability to exercise. In order to determine the physiologic changes that occurred through heat stress, the study tested 25 young, healthy volunteers (13 men and 12 women), one at a time, beginning with placing each individual into a room with a temperature of 26°C (78.8°F) to determine base line readings. After the baseline readings, the volunteers were moved to a room heated to 73°C (163.4°F) for 30 minutes. At the completion of those 30 minutes, the participants were moved to the lower bench at a cooler temperature for 3 minutes to help transition to the room temperature outside of the modified sauna.

In the testing, the following body levels were monitored with no changes occurring during the baseline measurement and the noted changes occurring after heat stress:

Body temperature (average increase 0.86°C or 1.55°F)
Heart rate (average increase of 22.4 beats per minute)
Blood pressure (Systolic decrease of 16 mm Hg and diastolic decrease of 5 mm Hg)
Norepinephrine, which as medicine is used to treat low blood pressure and heart failure, increase 58% in the plasma
Proloactin, which has many different effects on the body, increased 285% in the plasma
HSP72, which is a protein showed to preserve muscle function, increased by an average of 48.7%

The conclusion of the study was that some physiologic changes that occurred during the study were similar to those of exercise, but exercise offers some benefits that cannot be attained through sauna use; however, for those who cannot exercise, heat bathing showed beneficial changes that could help maintain a healthier cardiovascular system and may preserve muscle function. Though, as they add in their conclusion, more studies may be necessary to show what other benefits come from heat bathing, these results are reason enough for me to enjoy my sauna and steam bath more frequently and to encourage my father to fire-up his sauna a few more times each week.

As with fitness routines, if you are under a physician’s care, ask your physician before beginning a heat bathing routine, and when they give you the green light, contact us to request a brochure or your local dealer to learn more about which heat bathing system is best for you. From infrared to traditional sauna to steam, we can help you plan and design your project to help reduce the stress of building your own "heat stress chamber”, to use scientific terms, or heat bathing sanctuary, as my household likes to think of it. To learn more visit www.finnleo.com or contact your local dealer, or you can request a brochure.

Patience is a Virtue: The easiest part of the installation was the steam generator.

First, a reminder: I am not a professional contractor, plumber, or electrician, so this post is not intended as instruction of how to install. Rather, I hope you will find some entertainment and some "what not to do” education from my experience.

If you have been following the last two blog posts regarding the bathroom remodel, you have likely seen some of the considerations and struggles I had with planning and preparing for the bathroom remodel, especially the new steam shower. What I haven’t shared is the timeline for the projects based on working on the project after work and on weekends. We purchased the bulk of our supplies on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, we began demolition the 2nd week of June, I took care of plumbing of the 4th of July weekend, I completed most tile work by the beginning of August, and I have been working on details (including one of my final coats of paint on our vanity) as of about 6:30 AM this September morning. If approaching a remodel one’s self, be sure to be patient with the schedule and with time consuming activities. Below are a few highlights of the installation.

Running Plumbing and Electrical for the Amerec AT5 Generator with T100 Touch Control:

I have worked with Amerec for over 12 years, and I am very familiar with the installation instructions. What I am not familiar with is a blow torch and soldering for installing plumbing. Total installation time for connecting all plumbing connections and electrical to the generator was less than 1 hour. Following the instructions and matching the appropriate pieces to the right pre-plumbed holes made plumbing easy, and the plug and play nature of installing the control, sensor, and even the low-voltage, chromatherapy lighting made electrical easy; however, a few miss-steps on my part resulted in about 14 hours for running a water supply line to the generator and a steam line from the generator to the room. If a person is not experienced with plumbing, I would strongly suggest hiring a professional to run the water and steam lines to ensure the joints and fittings are all installed properly and to save time on the installation. The main problem we faced was a leaky valve on the supply line that kept filling our supply line with water as we tried to solder the joint. Having water in the line makes soldering more difficult because the water cools the line, thus preventing a proper flow of the solder around the joint. In order to heat the line to a sufficient temperature to get the solder to flow, the outside of the pipe is heated to a point that renders the flux unusable, so the solder won’t flow properly, even if all water is finally evaporated, because the flux is gone. If I had it to do over again, I would make sure all of my shut-off valves work perfectly, and if they don’t, I would replace them first. Parts and a substantial amount of time was wasted by not following this path. On a positive note, we did learn about a wonderful device for making supply line connections easier (after 14 hours of sweating it): Shark Bite fittings. The Shark Bite fittings are approved for use in many applications, but since they are rated for temperatures not to exceed 180°F, they should not be used on the steam or drain lines.

Plumbing at the Shower:

Let me begin by saying, "Do as I say, not as I do.” Having taken care of the supply line and the electrical to the generator, we moved on to the steam line to the shower. Knowing the difficulties we faced with the soldering of joints and fittings to the supply line, we decided to use a thicker walled flexible copper pipe, figuring we could bend the pipe around the obstructions in framing and drywall. Yes, we met our goal, but it was not as easy as we had anticipated. Unlike rigid copper pipe, flexible copper pipe does not make perfect 90° or 45° angles, and whether the goal is to straighten the pipe or bend it to an angle, there is always the possibility of kinking the line, which then negates the work a person has done to try to avoid multiple joints. If I had to do it over again, I would purchase rigid copper pipe for a few reasons:

Cleaner Install – The readily available fittings make it possible to run the pipe through most installations without the large radius on turns that happens when bending flexible pipe.
Less Waste – I estimate that between failed parts on the supply line and the extra copper left over from the roll of flexible pipe, I wasted over $100 on rough plumbing materials. The amount credited to the use of flexible pipe is probably only $10-15, as I had to purchase lengths available in a roll instead of the lengths I needed of rigid pipe.
The Finished Look – I intend to live in our house for at least another 10-15 years, so this installation was not for others, but when I go to sell this house, it will be obvious to the next home owner that I did the plumbing myself, which may not bode well for my resale value.

Listen to a Master Plumber When They Offer Advice for FREE:

I pride myself on figuring things out and being responsible for my own projects, whether they are victories or failures. This project ended as a victory, but there were moments I wasn’t certain of that. My father and I had worked on much of the plumbing together, which was great for bonding time, but as neither of us are plumbers, we probably missed opportunities to have a more efficient installation. My father-in-law is a Master Plumber, who offered his assistance several times, but I thought I could do fine on my own. When he came to review our work, he noted that we had T’d off of a 1/2” supply line (which is not code), so we needed to change that. He then noted that in the bathroom, my plumbing for the shower fixtures was going to be too far forward, thus preventing the mixer and handle from mounting flush with the tile. I thought it was okay, so I proceeded with installing the ½” hardi backer to the walls and ceiling, mudded the joints, applied my TruGard Vapor Proofing Membrane, and screwed boards to the walls at the height at which my 2nd row of tiles were to be installed. I would soon learn that my father in law had offered sound advice regarding the plumbing for the shower controls, and my only way to fix the problem was to go in through the back of the shower and try to deepen the notch where the plumbing was run, so the fittings could sit flush with the tile. What would have been a 10 minute fix in the beginning turned into a 2 hour project later, and I had to attempt a drywall patch. Lesson learned: Listen to experts who offer professional advice at no charge.

Installing Tile, Door, and Finishes:

I had finally reached the point about which I was most excited and nervous: tile. Having spent several hours on several evenings watching YouTube videos on tiling rather than the network prime time offerings, I felt confident I had a map for how to begin. As mentioned before, I mounted a board on the three walls to be tiled, so there was a level surface on which the 2nd row of tiles could rest, as the tiles may tend to sag if not supported from beneath. The suction created by the thinset on the wall and tile usually prevents the tile from falling away from the wall. The videos and the in-store training at The Tile Shop had all mentioned that this was a crucial step to ensure the tiles are installed level. The reasoning is the floor is not necessarily level on all walls or even across one wall, so to use the floor as a guide is to invite the tiles to not be level. Also, by starting with the second row, the bottom row of tiles can be cut to match the height of the top row, so the wall has balance, and if the floor is uneven, the bottom of the tile can be cut to accommodate and the grout/caulk lines will hide the imperfections. Since I was using 12x18 tiles installed the tall direction and I was installing a stone shower seat, I started my 2nd row at 18”, thus allowing minimal trim of the 1st row and allowing the bench to sit at a comfortable height.

As noted in the first blog, I had taken the time to plan where each tile was to go and how the shower should look when installed. In the heat of the moment, I decided to go with the flow instead of following the original design. The installation came out fine, and I probably avoided extra cuts, but it also made me nervous if I had purchase enough materials for my new plans. As recommended by most every expert I could read, listen to, or watch, I started by installing the middle tile on the back wall, and I worked across the wall. Since my shower wasn’t even 36” wide by the time all substrates were installed, I needed to either shift the middle tile slightly off center to allow for only one side tile to be cut, or I needed to make cuts to both side tiles. Not trusting my ability to cut 18” tiles straight, I opted to cut 1” from 1 tile instead of ½” from two. On the two side walls, I decided to run a full piece of tile into the corner, and I would deal with the consequences of that action when I reached the front. Fortunately, it worked out, as I extended the non-plumbed wall outside of the shower to the bathroom entrance, as this was a place that had experienced water damage to the drywall before. On the plumbed wall side, the door installation made the size of the tile not look out of place. A word of advice when installing tiles: look at the back of the tile before applying tile to the thinset on the wall. Since I was not "back buttering” the tiles, I had missed that a protective sheet was on the back of a few tiles as I had placed them on the wall. When the tiles were not setting and continued to fall away from the wall, I couldn’t figure it out, so I removed the tiles and found my mistake. Easy fix, but I should have paid more attention when installing.

Two Biggest Tiling Challenges: Hole Cuts and Ceiling

I was proud of myself. I had installed most of the tile of the shower, and I had made most of my straight cuts, but now I needed to cut out for pipes, sensors, and fixtures. Again, YouTube gave a multitude of answers, and it was up to me to determine which made me feel most comfortable. My choice was a wet/dry handheld circular saw to cut the back side of the tiles, as it provided enough control that I could make round cuts, and a ball-peen hammer to knock-out the center of the holes. It worked surprisingly well, even on small 1” holes.

With the hole cuts solved, I moved on to the ceiling. From the professional installers on Bath Crashers to the myriad of skill levels shown on YouTube, everybody said installing ceiling tiles is fairly easy, as the suction of the tiles created by the use of thinset will keep the tiles mounted to the ceiling. A word of advice: do not try this with 12x18 tiles without having some way to support the tiles as they set. I had made cuts in my ceiling tiles to prepare for the Chromatherapy and regular shower light, and the holes were perfectly placed, so I was excited! I spread the thinset on the ceiling, and I mounted the first piece. I slowly removed my hands from the piece, and to my surprise, it stayed. I watched it for a minute to make sure I wasn’t going to be surprised, and when satisfied, I turned my back, and as I was reaching for another piece, I heard the suction let loose. I quickly turned and caught the piece mid-air with no damage to the tile or to me. Not wanting to take another chance, I mounted the tile to the ceiling again, and I secured it to the try portions of the ceiling and walls using duck tape. Having no fear that the tile would fall now that it was secured, I reached for the second ceiling tile, and the 1st tile fell from the ceiling again. This time, the tile shattered as I raised my arm to protect my head, and the tile crashed into the walls and seat. I took a break and regrouped. After much thought, I decided my best solution was to paint and waterproof a ¼” sheet of hardibacker and mount that to the ceiling. With multiple coats of paint and waterproofing sealant, I was confident in two things: 1. The ceiling would not fall on my head during installation or later during a steam bath. 2. I wouldn’t have to worry about my grout lines matching the walls. In the end, this was a great option for us.

Shower Door:

Steam showers often give rise to the question of what door is appropriate for the installation. There are many answers to the question. For those most concerned with creating an almost airtight installation, a door with a continuous piano hinge is a popular option. Some designs even include a vent at the transom area that is mounted to the frame of the door with a continuous piano hinge, so the vent can be opened when using as a shower and closed when using as a steam bath. Considering my budget, I opted for a standard door available through a national chain home improvement store. It was a frameless door with pivot hinges with an adjustable opening size of 34” to 36-1/2”. Given some mistakes in applying my backerboard and tiles, I needed the 34” dimension for the bottom of the door and 36” at the top. I was happy I didn’t pay for something custom and precise. The door came with a sweep for the bottom of the door and two strips for the edge of the door to ensure water (and steam) would not escape. This left the transom for me to figure out, and my current solution is a thick piece of clear plexiglass caulked into place above the door using clear silicone. When I am confident the dimension of the plexiglass is adequate, I may replace it with real glass. After the installation of the door and plexiglass had cured for 48 hours, I decided to test the steam room, and I was pleased to see minimal loss of steam from around the door.

Ready to Steam:

Though the next weeks consisted of installing the bathroom floor tiles and painting and trimming the rest of the bathroom, the biggest part of the project was completed. With immense pride, I turned on my Amerec T100 Control, set the time and temperature for the steam bath, selected my chromatherapy light color, connected my phone to my Kohler Moxie Showerhead with Bluetooth speaker, and relaxed in the steam. For a little relief from early fall allergies, I added a few drops of eucalyptus to the ComfortFlo steam head, and I felt the tension and stress melt away, along with my allergy symptoms.

As the title of this post says, patience is a virtue on a remodel. The easiest part of the installation will be the plumbing and electrical connections for the generator, as they are laid out logically and designed for the simplest form of connections when possible. The rest of the installation is as difficult as one chooses to make it. If I were to start over, I might consider the use of Swanstone for the walls, because it would have been far simpler than tiling, but I do love the custom look we ended with on the tile installation. Also, I would have not been so stubborn, and I would have accepted the advice and the offers of assistance provided to me by my father-in-law.

If you are ready for a rewarding adventure, contact your local dealer or request a brochure to begin selecting the steam generator that will begin your journey to a more relaxing bathroom escape.

LESSONS LEARNED WITH A SLEDGEHAMMER: DEMOLITION OF THE BATHROOM TO PREP FOR STEAM

After planning, designing, and purchasing the materials we thought were needed for the bathroom remodel, the sledgehammer anxiously awaited his call to action; however, a few other tools needed to properly prepare the site.

Prepping for demolition:

As mentioned in a previous post, our existing bathroom had carpet tiles, which were on top of peel and stick vinyl tiles, so to avoid the collection of demolition debris in the flooring, I removed all existing flooring. The carpet tiles were easy, but the vinyl tiles clung to the floor with all their might. To aid in their removal, I purchased my first tool of the remodel: an oscillating cutting tool. If considering demolition (or any remodeling project), this tool has many great benefits, from cutting through adhesive beneath tiles to undercutting door trim or other wall materials to make room for tiles and many more functions. Having removed the tiles, I proceeded to install the new ventilation fan/ceiling light combination unit. Upon removing the old unit, I found two things:

1. The original unit’s duct work was not connected from the fan to the exhaust opening. I made sure to connect the hose, as the exhaust fan would likely be clearing construction dust and fumes from the bathroom during the remodel, though an open window was the primary ventilation.

2. The original unit required a mirrored installation of my new unit, which meant I would need to cut a hole in the ceiling, using my new oscillating tool, to install the new fan/ceiling light.

Note: I chose to replace the exhaust fan due to a desire for a ceiling light and a quieter unit. A well-constructed steam room does not require additional exhaust, as most steam will be kept inside of the steam shower and will condense as cooler water mixes with the steam during a shower after the steam bath.

Finally, I identified which circuit in the electrical panel cut power to the shower light, and I turned off both water supplies to the shower. If you are new to remodeling, remember there is a hot and a cold line running to the shower, and forgetting one can make for a big mess later. Also, double check the plumbing to know if the toilet and sink lines are fed before or after the shower cut-offs. If they are before the shower cut-offs, then you will still have full function of the toilet and sink. If they are after the cut-off, then the valves will need to be opened to use the facilities.

READY FOR THE SHOWER:

I love the shows on HGTV, DIY, and other home improvement shows, but my demolition was not nearly as exciting as the shows make it look. While the shows often show a hammer crashing through a shower door, a mirror, or other fragile items, I needed to carry the debris from the basement through the house, so I wanted to avoid sharp fragments as much as possible. To have the safest, easiest access to aggressively remove tile from the shower, I needed to remove the shower door, so I was pleased when I saw I simply needed a razor knife for the caulk (which was already failing in some parts of the installation) and a screw driver. With the glass still in one piece, I carried the door to the curb to allow pickers to have a free shower door or for the trash truck to collect.

Now that my work area was clear, it was time for the rough stuff, or so I thought. Being careful to avoid plumbing fixtures and the shower light (electrical), I felt my inner Thor and started swinging my 10 lb sledgehammer, and I was amazed at how quickly I got tired and how little progress I had made in the demolition. I had cracked and removed a few pieces, so I was committed to proceeding with the project, but I needed to change my method. I switched from the 10 lb hammer to a Stanley Fubar, which is a 3 lb wrecking device. It was much more manageable, and it features several tools to assist in demolition. Perhaps one of the best benefits of using a smaller tool was control, as I was working in a small shower (42”D x 36”W), so I needed to be careful not to hit plumbing or any unintended targets. When it was time to remove the shower curb, I saw it had been constructed using 3- 2x4s stacked and nailed together and into the concrete, and the wood was showing signs of water damage and appeared to have been part of the water damage problem outside of the shower. Since it had been secured so well, I used a circular saw to cut the boards into smaller sections before wielding the 10 lb hammer. As expected, the boards were easily removed with this method.

Exposure results in better understanding:

When the construction of the shower was revealed, I began to understand why water damage existed outside of the shower in the surrounding drywall, and why some of the 2x4 framing showed some water infiltration: no waterproofing membrane. Even though sealed tile is essentially waterproof, and grout lines help to prevent penetration of water, over time, water vapor from hot showers or water beating on a wall from daily showers can cause water to penetrate through the joints. Once through the grout and behind the tiles, the thinset and backer board will help prevent water from penetrating into the walls; however, neither of those products are intended to waterproof, without some type of modification, so without a waterproofing membrane, a shower may eventually allow enough water to wick through the cement board to reach the walls behind. My shower had 26 years to allow the damage to occur, and had I sealed the grout lines more frequently (every 5 years or so), we might have been able to help slow the damage.

Each city/state will have a code requirement for construction of a shower, so be sure to check what is acceptable in your community before proceeding. As shown in a multitude of Youtube videos and home improvement shows, acceptable wall construction for a standard shower (and also important for a steam shower) includes the use of a waterproofing membrane or a vapor retarding membrane in the construction of the shower. Some methods use a polyethylene plastic sheeting (commonly referred to as Visqueen) mounted on top of the studs and before the ½” cement board. Another method is to mount the ½” cement board to the studs and waterproof/vapor proof between the backer board and the tile. When choosing this approach, there are several approaches, but two of the common approaches are to use a paint-on waterproofing membrane or to use a polyethylene sheeting with engineered webbing which is applied using thinset to the backer board and tiles adhere to the engineered webbing using thinset. The Schluter Kerdi system is often used in home improvement shows, like Bath Crashers, but I chose to use a product called TruGard, which is from a company based in Georgia. The decision of which application is right for you should be made after researching code, costs, and what product you believe to be the best solution based on your research or the opinion of experts (which I am not).

Reviewing the existing plumbing and electrical to prepare for installation:

After identifying some of the problems with the framing and construction of the shower, I reviewed the existing plumbing and electrical in the shower. The copper pipes for the shower did not show signs of corrosion or damage, so my only plumbing concerns for the steam shower was how to bring the steam line into the shower and where to place the generator for easy access and installation of electrical, water supply, steam supply, and auto-drain & pressure relief valve drain. As for electrical in the shower, I decided to keep the existing light in the shower, for when more light was needed (perhaps when cleaning), but I was also going to include Chromatherapy lighting to help create a relaxing environment. After reviewing the installation instructions of the light and the generator, I learned I could provide power for the light from a low voltage light connection on the AT generator, and the T100 light switch would operate the on/off function, so I did not need to worry about adding electrical outlets above the shower; rather, the connections for the Chromatherapy lights would be simply "plug and play.”

Time to reflect and to plan:

With demolition completed and the existing construction reviewed, I took a few days to complete research and to plan for how I needed to proceed with installation. The adage of "measure twice; cut once,” seems appropriate with many actions in construction, so I learned my timeline was less important than making the right decisions.

To learn more about steam generators, contact your local dealer or request a brochure.

Getting Personal: Journey with Me Through Bathroom Remodel with a Steam Shower

Fourteen years ago, my wife and I purchased our home. It wasn’t big, but it was cute and everything that we needed at the tender age of 23. Since it was still in the 1990s, décor from the late 80s to early 90s didn’t seem too far out of place; however, some looks were starting to become a little dated. Through the years, we made minor cosmetic changes to the bathroom, but as we saw water damage developing from a leaky shower, we knew a larger project was due. When planning our vacations and summer plans, we decided this was the year to spend vacation time and money on a proper bathroom remodel, complete with a steam shower.

Identifying the Challenge

Today, we will look at the early stage of the project: design and planning. As mentioned before, over the years, we had made some minor changes to the bathroom. When we first purchased the home, the bathroom walls were wallpapered, and the floor had been carpeted. Since this bathroom was in the lower level of a tri-level, the bathroom floor was a concrete slab, which was poured unevenly, thus carpet was the easiest solution (though not ideal for a bathroom). To address these issues, we removed the wallpaper and painted the walls, and we tried laying vinyl "peel and stick” tiles to the concrete floor, but because of the uneven floor, the tiles looked horrible, so we went back to interlocking carpet tiles. The design features we could not easily address were the peach shower tiles and vanity top and the leaky shower door.

Where to Begin

While the goal was to create a beautiful bathroom retreat, the reality was a limited budget, which meant the first decision we had to make was to make this a Do-It-Yourself project. A veteran of watching countless hours of HGTV and DIY, particularly shows like Bath Crashers and I Hate My Bath, I determined I had acquired the skills and knowledge necessary to undertake the project (for any contractor or DIY homeowner, you know how laughable that assumption is). Having determined I could tackle demolition, tile, drywall, electrical, and possibly plumbing (with the help of my father and father-in-law), we needed a design, so we could begin selecting materials. A simple CAD layout helped us calculate the square footage of tile needed for the shower, the bathroom floor, and the vanity top. Though I have been reading plans and specifications for building projects for over 12 years, I was surprised at how little I knew about my own space. How big is my shower? How many square feet is the floor? Exactly how big is the vanity top, and where is the plumbing access for the sink located (side or back of cabinet)?

	The Joy of Shopping Armed with the knowledge of the bathroom dimensions, plumbing access, and construction irregularities (uneven floor & walls that were not square), material selection began. Keeping budget in mind, we visited one of the most ubiquitous home improvement stores to review their selection of tiles and vanities. The product that first capture my attention was a product called Swanstone, which is available in a variety of colors and finishes and can resist prolonged temperatures of 450°F for prolonged periods (perfect for steam showers), but we thought we wanted the look of tile rather than a single slab, so we continued our search for vanities and tile.
The Vanity of Bathroom Remodeling For the vanity, my wife wanted a piece that looked like an antique piece of furniture to stand where the current vanity is installed; however, after hours of searching in-stores and on-line, we learned that because of the side access required by our existing plumbing, the pieces she preferred would not work without considerable expense of moving water lines, drains, and vents. This brought our design to plan B: re-stain the vanity cabinet using a cabinet restoration system and tile the vanity top. Knowing that our project now included three styles of tile, we moved our tile search from a big box "all-in-one” store to a specialty tile shop with offerings ranging from very affordable to luxuriously expensive. With room sketch in hand, we visited The Tile Shop for an education on tiles for walls and floor and to get an idea of sizes, styles, and colors, and we attended a class on "how to tile,” which is offered every Saturday morning. Having selected the size tile we preferred for the shower walls and the bathroom floor, we went back home and used CAD to layout the tiles, so we would know how much material we would require, including products like self-leveling concrete (to even the floor), shower pan mud (to build our shower pan), shower curb mold (to build our shower curb without using wood), shower pan membrane, thinset, grout, grout sealer, and color matched silicone caulk. Since most stores marketing to DIYers offer their best deals (discounts coupled with extended terms) during major holidays with three-day weekends, we made our purchase over Memorial Day weekend.	Our Dream Vanity (wouldn't work with existing plumbing layout) Our Tile Selections
	With a few hours left and great deals to be had, we knew the color selection for our tiles, so we could move forward with the selection of plumbing fixtures and accessories from another home improvement store. My wife loved the look of oil rubbed bronze, but she felt a little dismay when she learned oil rubbed bronze was not a universal color and finish, even by the same manufacturer. After much deliberation, we decided on the shower and sink fixtures, matched the accessories, and settled on a shower door that had polished chrome, since oil rubbed bronze was not available. Using the Amerec Sizing Calculator, the easiest decision to make was the steam generator, an Amerec AT5 with T100 Touch Screen Control with oil rubbed bronze Comfort Flo steam head and Chromatherapy lights. Besides extremely simple wiring for the control and sensor (if you can connect your computer to an internet cable, then you can wire the control and sensor), I knew the features of the T100 would enhance our steam bathing experience by allowing us to schedule the start time and temperature for our steam shower, as well as a large, beautiful display that could be seen from the shower seat or from outside the shower through the clear, glass door.

Having completed the design, planning, and selection process, we waited for the school year to end before the next step in the process: demolition, to be covered in the next post. As a sneak peak to the demolition post, a sauna (traditional or infrared) greatly assists in the recovery of sore muscles from swinging sledge hammers and hauling debris.

To learn more about planning for a steam shower, request a brochure and tell us about your project. We are excited to hear about your project and would love to see photos or floor plans, which can be uploaded on the contact form. To find your local dealer for Amerec generators, click here.

The Low EMR/Low EF S-Series Infrared: Innovative from Design to Functionality – By Craig Lahti

Finnleo’s new Low EMR/Low EF S-Series Infrared Saunas are redefining the standards for infrared saunas. In response to market-driven requests for Low EMR, Finnleo developed the new S-series. Not only does it have IR technology that exceeds the tough Swedish EMR standards, it is loaded with other upgrade features that truly make this sauna the new industry standard. The S-series, introduced in March 2012, has multiple design innovations, many of which are "industry firsts”, including:

	1. The Namesake Innovation – Low EMR and Low EF. The reason for the overhaul design was an increased interest in reducing the levels of EMR (Electro Magnetic Radiation) and EF (Electrical Field) in the infrared rooms. While previous models are safe, the new models exceed the stringent Swedish Standards, which is the recognized standard across the world. We are inundated with EMR and EF every day, from cell phones, wireless routers, baby-monitors, computers, monitors, televisions, and essentially every other electrical device. Even taking a stroll in nature, one cannot escape the cell phone towers and power lines that emit this potentially harmful energy. Through the new S-series infrared saunas, Finnleo has nearly eliminated this radiation while still maintaining the positive effects of infrared sauna.
Visually Stunning –The S-series is visually stunning! The all glass front, sleek new TouchScreen control, and valance and bench skirt lighting ensure beauty and user comfort in all seven models of the S-series . As an added touch of elegance to the room, the door handles complete the makeover. There is not one part of the room that was not rethought and improved, which is impressive considering the excellent design of the previous models. Somehow, the juxtaposition of elegance and deep perspiration are in harmony in this room.
	2. New Touch Screen Control – As is most of the world, I am in love with touch screen controls. I enjoy the added feeling of control and interaction by letting my "fingers do the walking” to borrow the line from the old Yellow Pages ad. With the new touch screen control inside the sauna, a bather has complete control to change the time remaining or temperature while in the room. Also, the control has the radio/MP3 player built-in as an application of the control. Simply press the "Radio” button and choose to listen to the radio or select an MP3 player from which to choose a playlist. While taking the sauna, the zone controls will help the bather customize the heat bathing experience. Are your calves feeling tight after a Saturday morning long-run? Turn on the calf heaters. Does the ceramic floor feel a little cool? Turn on the floor heaters. Want extra heat on your seat? Turn on the bench/seat heater. The entire experience is customized. As you finish your sauna, set the timer to do it all again tomorrow, since this control includes a 24 hour delay timer.
3. Other "Hidden” Innovations you will love – To achieve the low EMR/low EF and not hinder the performance of the saunas, the Finnleo engineers had to rethink everything. The results are amazing. a. More uniform heat distribution: The Finnleo "High Performance System” includes an integral heat distribution system to more evenly distribute heat throughout the room. If the heat is trapped at the ceiling by the sensors, like in most infrared sauna designs, the emitters will not work as efficiently.
	b. Speakerless sound system: Hidden transducers have replaced the common speakers. Not only does this innovation reduce the exposure of EMR and EF to the bathers, but the rich, surround sound fully envelops the bather. The whole sauna has become a speaker, without the exposure of extra energy. c. From a "Green” perspective, the saunas are a hit as well, as the wattage has been reduced by 24% from previous models of equal size while maintaining or even improving heat up time and maximum temperatures. A 24% reduction usually means a compromise has been made in features, but in these new rooms, it is because of the increased features and quality that the rooms have seen such a dramatic savings.
For any of these items to be an improvement over a previous version would have been impressive, but for all of these features to be standard in the new S-series room is astounding. Even with all of the upgrades, the price is as attractive as the room. To learn more about the Low EMR/Low EF S-Series Infrared Saunas, call or visit your local dealer, or you can contact Finnleo directly through email or by phone at 1-800-FINNLEO (346-6536). To learn more about Finnleo, request our brochure.

Winter's Chill Thwarted: A Sauna makes outdoor household chores more manageable - by Craig Lahti

On Christmas Eve, we brought home a puppy for our daughter. For the first few weeks, Old Man Winter had stayed away, so our morning "outings" were met with mild temperatures that served as a cool welcome to the day. This week, everything changed.

In my town, trash pick-up is on Wednesday, which happened to be when the cold weather rolled in to town. Not thinking of the less than mild coolness to which I had become accustomed, I took the dog and the trash out in exercise shorts, boots, and a fleece pullover. I was the picture of fashion, with my lips highlighted with blue and my cheeks a rosy red from the frigid temperatures that greeted me that morning.

Little did Old Man Winter know that I had a defense against his perpetual chill...a sauna. The warmth greets me and welcomes my chilled body to sit, relax, and stay a while. Accepting the sauna's invitation, I relax and feel the warm embrace, as tension and the chill melt away. As perspiration replaces goose bumps on my skin, I know the damage done to my skin through dry, cold winter air will be relieved through the deep sweat I am enjoying. The sweat brings with it a replenishment of moisturizing oil from within the skin.

After 15 minutes, my world has changed. Gone are the winter doldrums of cold weather and short days. Present is an appreciation for all of the good things in life, along with a healthier, happier body.

If you are in need of a winter escape, visit your local dealer to learn what sauna is right for you. From Infrared Saunas to Traditional Saunas, with an InfraSauna to combine them both, your dealer will help you choose your heat bathing solution. To learn more, request our brochure.

How Do You Spell Relief? Sauna - by Craig Lahti

Last night, I worked out harder than I had in a long time. Afterwards, I went out for dinner, went Christmas shopping, and came home to watch a movie with my wife. This morning, I realized I had neglected an important step. I didn't take a sauna.

Though bumper stickers claim "Pain is weakness leaving the body", this body likes feeling strong, healthy, and pliable. The feeling of stiff muscles and sore joints, whether through exercise or ailment, is seldom a welcome feeling. However, a session in a sauna begins to untie my knots in my shoulders and back. My wrists and hips feel the relief of warmth entering the joints, and my mind is allowed to relax as I breathe the warm air, and I am no longer in the cold north during late autumn, but I am in Sedona, Az on a warm spring day.

About a month ago, several news articles were written about a recent medical study showing how a sauna may improve cardiovascular health and that it has the added benefit of simply making people happier. For years, the Finns have known the health benefits of sauna, and over the last 30 years, numerous medical journals have set forth to prove it. If you have also felt the wonderful relief a sauna can bring after a workout, perhaps it is time for you to have a sauna at home, so you can feel better in the covenience of your own home.

For more information on a Finnleo sauna for your home, you can request a brochure or contact your local dealer.

Sauna | My Place of Rest by Joe Eskola

The following guest blog is an essay submitted by Joe Eskola to the publication Further North (volume 2: 2011). Joe Eskola is a Research Associate at Michigan Technological University and a part time student of Scientific and Technical Communication. He, his wife Kathryn, and their kids live in Ahmeek, Michigan. He shares a love of ice hockey with his boys, an addiction to reading with his girls, and a need for sauna with sensible people everywhere.

Sauna | My Place of Rest by Joe Eskola

In my world a sauna is essential, falling somewhere between food and shoes as a life or death necessity. I’m not talking about one of those clammy, chlorinated, electric hotel saunas with hours-of-use posted next to the key-card swipe. I mean a genuine, backyard two-room, wood fired, steam-crashing, 175 degree, spirit scouring Finnish sauna. It’s a thing I’ve been blessed to enjoy with deepening addiction all my life, but never actually owned until I built one for myself last year - it’s a very big deal.

A proper outdoor wood-fired sauna is like nothing else on earth. However often I use it, I’m left feeling reborn. Even when I try, I find it impossible to hang on to any consideration of a weekday mental stressor while taking a sauna. These things are just scoured away by the steam and water.

The first time I fired up my own sauna, my joy and fulfillment felt almost like getting married did eleven years ago. My wife, Kathryn, and I bought a house in Ahmeek MIne Location, Michigan - a small town in the maw of the wolf’s head that Lake Superior resembles on a map. What would become our sauna was a century-old stable in the backyard which I’d been renovating in my daydreams since before we had met any of our six children.

What I call a stable was a simple 12-foot square building of rough-sawn northern white cedar, wrapped in heavy tarpaper, which sat on just a plank floor over dirt. As far as I know it dates to the construction of our house and the village in the early 1900’s by the Calumet & Hecla Mining Co. I told Kathryn from the beginning that it would be our sauna eventually, although it took some imagination to see and I don’t think she quite believed me. Last spring I pulled dense wads of straw out of the loft and walls; it had apparently been used as insulation for livestock against the bitter winter winds that blow in off the lake. I jacked the building up onto beams and pulled out the rotting floor and deritus that was packed between its joists. With indispensable help from a couple of my stout brothers I installed plumbing, wiring and a permanent concrete slab.

I was thrilled to find dozens of artifacts in the course of the work, including a neatly preserved stash of antique beer bottles from some of the many breweries that were active here before Prohibition shut them down. Like much of the Keweenaw Peninsula’s former industry and populace, the brewers never returned - the copper mines closed and our company town became lodging for a few university commuters, independent tradesmen, and retirees who are too stubborn or too smart to move away from our punishing climate to join the crowds of the South. I found other thinks like wood slats from dynamite crates (stamped "Danger-High Explosives”), which were salvaged from mining operations and used to patch over knotholes in the walls. They will remain as part of the rustic decor of my sauna’s dressing room. The original whitewashed shiplap boards are untouched as the primary wall covering.

I think it’s my Finnish heritage that compels me to hold onto these old things.

I’m two and three generations removed from northern Finland, born of people who value the preservation of traditions like few others. In Finland, records of sauna go back as far as records themselves. The high importance placed on the act of sauna is reflected in long passages of the national epic poem The Kalevala, and it seems, in every conversation had or article written about the country’s culture; yet its importance may be understated.

While steam baths in various forms once populated nearly every corner of the globe, it was the backwater, snowbound Finns who held to the tradition of sauna through the puritanical purging of the public baths in Europe. After Western culture gained a weight of its own during the Enlightenment, it was the Finns who reintroduced sauna to the West. Its more recent broadening of popularity is surely due to something more than the sum of heat, steam, soap and water. Last year I saw Finnleo sauna stoves while window shopping in Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii-which is equally distant whether you travel east or west from Helsinki.

Finnish-American immigrants of a century ago were tough, hardened people who had in times of famine tried to subsist on bread made of a mock flour ground from the inner bark of pine trees. But the one thing they never did without was the sauna, which had already given birth to a distinct Finnish culture. When they arrived in America, the small log sauna in the middle of the glacier-scraped homestead also gave birth to the family farm they had dreamed of owning while they had been only tenants in the old country. Eventually, the farms wives would give literal birth to their children in the sauna, taking advantage of the warm, clean space as a maternity ward. It was only following the completion of a sauna that the Finnish settlers worried about less important matters like crops and houses.

The rumors of old Scandinavian ways might give pause to a novice’s consideration of taking steam. Yes, they had babies in the sauna; but obviously, the fire wouldn’t have been blazing away during labor, and the privacy and cleanliness of a small wood-paneled steam room is very restful. And I don’t blame you if you have no desire to get nude with Grandma. Believe me, neither do I-I haven’t had a sauna with a woman other than my wife since I was too young to bathe myself. In my experience, saunas are valued as often for privacy as for the unguarded conversation that makes a "visiting” sauna so enjoyable in same-sex company.

From my dad, I inherited an appreciation for the solitary sauna. On winter nights when I was a kid and he’d been out there for more than an hour, Mom would send me after him. I’d usually find him slumped over on the top bench, snoozing contentedly in the heat, the brittle stress of a week spent teaching Art and English to recalcitrant high school juniors melted away like a bar of soap someone had left behind in the steam room.

By building my own sauna, I’ve laid claim to my heritage. Now I step out the back door after a good meal and an early northern sunset and walk down the short path to its front door. The chimney smoke stands tall and white in starlight or merges with blown snow. I flick on the light and undress quickly in the cool five-foot wide dressing room, leaving towel, clothes and cares heaped on a wide varnished bench along the outside wall. I grab a couple of chunks of dried hard maple and step through a hand-made swinging door into the steam room, which is usually lit only indirectly by a tall side-light window in the partition wall.

To my right the stove throws heat like a little roaring sun, orange fire looking out through the vents, heaped with pieces of shattered granite. It’s backed by a six-foot high brick wall I’ve assembled of reclaimed bricks from a collapsed C&H "dry house” of the old days. From the top course of worn red bricks, and mottled gray, room-width stucco arch curves up to meet the pine-paneled ceiling.

I remember my maternal grandfather just ashore and alone at seventeen years old. With no knowledge of the English language or American exchange rates he had felt compelled to eat, during his long solitary train ride to Upper Michigan, a massive sack of sweet pastries he had confusingly purchased from a New York sidewalk vendor. Along with the certain knowledge that he had left his childhood home for good and was facing decades of labor to build a new life and family this side of the ocean, I think he probably looked forward to relaxing in the hot sauna he knew he’d find on his relatives’ lonely farm in Daggett.

I stoke the fire, clunk the stove door shut and check that the hot water tank is full and perking. I move to the other end of the room, around the kid-sized tub and cold water spigot with its coiled hose, and climb to the highest penkki [bench], I lean back against the wall twice, first testing and then accepting its heat against my awakening skin. In the quiet I can hear embers popping and the iron stove expanding around the flames. A mail order catalog might provide a resting place for my eyes, but I won’t remember anything I read.

I dip warm water from the bucket in the lower bench, and toss it on the rocks. There’s a prolonged, tapering crash that sounds like a breaking whitecap, as if the ocean doesn’t divide us after all but is here echoing loud in this little room. The steam climbs the bricks and jumps out to fill the room, surging right through the light from the dressing room window. It descends on me, a blessing from above; my ears, then neck, shoulders and back sting. Every extremity pinks up. Sweat leaps out and washes away uninhibited. My lungs relax, my body wilts. I’m here, at home. Maybe I’ll close my eyes for a while.

For more information on building your own sauna, request a Finnleo brochure or contact your local Finnleo dealer.

Autumn and Saunas - The Perfect Combination - By Craig Lahti

Leaves are falling. The air is cooler, with the occasional strong wind bringing us closer to winter. People are wearing sweaters while raking leaves, walking through the woods, watching football, or a plethora of other outdoor activities inspired by the splendor of the change of season. To me, a sauna is the perfect complement to fall and winter activities.

We live in great times for the multitude of options for sauna bathing. For traditionalists with space for an outdoor sauna, a wood burning sauna may be the perfect choice. For a family looking for the perfect place to warm up after a day of playing outside together, a panel-built or custom-cut traditional sauna can be customized to make a cozy family retreat. If a quick warm-up is desired before or after venturing into cooler weather, an infrared sauna will do the trick. And for those who want the best of infrared and traditional saunas, there is the Finnleo InfraSauna. Let's look more closely at the different options and determine which choice is best for you.

The wood burning sauna is a traditionalist's dream, and it brings together many elements of the fall. To prepare for the sauna, the kindling and fire wood must be harvested. While working in the yard, collecting fallen twigs and sawing branches that needed to be trimmed, you are preparing your stocks for many winter saunas. Half way through your yard work, you take a break to fire the wood stove, knowing that when you are done with your work, it will be time to enjoy the sauna. As you finish your work, the aroma of wood burning completes the fall scene, and you are ready to relax and enjoy your sauna bath. With the large rock capacity and available water jackets, you can truly bathe in the wood burning sauna room. Add water to the rocks to create a great steam. When you feel your perspiration has reached a desirable level, take some water from the spigot of the water jacket, begin the bath. After 10-15 minutes, sit in the changing room and cool off. If you have running water to the sauna, rinse off in a shower. After you have cooled, go back in for another session. Again, take time to cool down after the second session. I remember stories from my grandparents about how many hunters, trappers, and lumberjacks would come to their sauna on Saturday evenings to enjoy the bath and to share stories of the week. Perhaps your sauna can restore a sense of community in your neighborhood as well.

For the family who enjoys outdoor activities and loves the convenience of modern appliances and equipment, a custom-cut or panel-built sauna with an electric stove will serve them well. With options ranging from simple built-in controls to programmable digital controls, the family can integrate the sauna into their lifestyle. After watching the kids play their favorite fall sports, the whole family can enjoy time in the sauna. If the athletes have sore muscles, the heat will help soothe the aches and pains of activity while helping the spectators warm-up from the time spent faithfully supporting their favorite sports stars. With options like speakers and the Finnleo iPod docking stations to full entertainment systems including flat screen televisions, the family can choose to relax in the quiet of the room and talk about the events of the day, or they can watch their favorite family shows on the entertainment center. For those who have built a home with smart home technology, many digital controls can be used in conjunction with these systems.

Infrared saunas are the perfect answer for a quick warm-up before or after cool weather activities. Because infrared heat penetrates deep into the body, an infrared sauna can help a person stretch muscles before going for a run or walk. The same warm-up can be beneficial before raking leaves or any other yard work. When the snow begins to fall, there is little better than going out to shovel the snow knowing the warm embrace of the infrared sauna awaits you upon completion of the task at hand.

Finally, the InfraSauna is the perfect choice for those who enjoy the deep penetrating heat of infrared saunas, and they enjoy the option of pouring water over the rocks in the higher heat of a traditional sauna. When using the infrared option of the sauna, a family could enjoy a quick warm-up before or after time outside. For times when a traditional sauna experience is preferred, the traditional sauna heater will bring the higher temperatures and the option of using water, perhaps mixed with eucalyptus or some other aromatherapy, to help enhance the experience.

Are you warming to the idea of a sauna? Contact your local dealer to discuss which option is best for you. Trying to figure out a family Christmas present, there is plenty of time to order and have your sauna ready in time to hang stockings on the outside of the sauna and for Santa to stop in before finishing his deliveries. For more information, request your Finnleo brochure.

A Dream Weekend in Helsinki: What I would do if I won the Finnleo contest - by Craig Lahti

As one may tell by my last name, my ancestry is from Finland, and I have always wanted to visit there. With Finnleo's Win a Weekend for Two in Helsinki contest, I have started dreaming about what I would do if I won a trip to Helsinki. Since the contest is for a weekend, my dream focuses on my first taste of Finland.

Upon arriving in Helsinki mid-day on a Friday in September, I check-in to my hotel and board a tram for a Guided City Tour to introduce me to the city and to let me make final decisions on where I want to visit. Sites seen while on the tour include the historical center, the Presidential Palace, City Hall, the Parliament House, Finlandia Hall, and the Opera House. The tour stops at the Sibelius Monument and when possible, at the Church in the Rock.

After the tour, I decide to stretch my legs and begin my more intimate experience with the city by walking down Esplandi, a wide esplanade with trees, flowers, and benches, towards the Market Square. At the Market Square, vendors sell fresh Finnish food and souvenirs. With City Hall to the north, the harbor to the south and Uspenski Cathedral to the east, a view can be enjoyed while sipping a cup of coffee and eating a traditional meat pie. My interest in architecture draws me into the Uspenski Cathedral, where I view the ornate details of the church interior. The church serves as a reminder of the time when Finland was the Grand Principality of Finland and a part of the Russian Empire.

Uspenski Cathedral - Helsinki

Being satiated from my time in the Market Square, I walk back to my hotel to dress for a concert at the Helsinki Music Centre, the orchestra hall which opened in August of 2011. I make sure I leave in time to enjoy the architecture of Finlandia Hall (located next to the music centre and designed by the famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto) and the Parliament House, which is across the street. I make a mental note to revisit both locations on Saturday, when I can tour the Parliament House. After the concert, I begin my walk back to the hotel, reflect on the day's events, and begin to plan the day ahead. I sleep well that night.

Saturday morning, I awake, but it is the sauna that will help me fully prepare for my day of walking and exploring the city. As I leave the hotel, I set my course for the Market Square to enjoy breakfast and coffee at a cafe, and then head to Senate Square to see the government buildings and Helsinki University buildings on two sides of the square and boutique style shops and restaurants on the 3rd. The square is completed with the majestic Helsinki Cathedral, the most famous landmark in Helsinki.

Senate Square and Helsinki Cathedral

From Senate Square, I head north to the Parliament House to take a tour of the building. After the tour, I cross the street, back toward Finlandia Hall, to see what used to be the main orchestra hall and where special sessions of congress are held.

Desiring to see a magnificent modern marvel, I head further north to Temppeliaukion Kirkko, Church in the Rock. This church was finished in 1969, and it was created by blasting 43 feet down into a solid granite outcropping which rose 40 feet above street level. It is illuminated by 180 vertical windows connecting the granite to the copper wire roof. The pictures are amazing, and I understand to hear music played in the church is awe inspiring.

The Church in the Rock

If I am fortunate enough to hear the pipe organ while visiting the Church in the Rock, I will likely be inspired to visit the Sibelius Monument in Sibelius Park, both of which are named after the great Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius, who is largely credited for helping establish the Finnish national identity through his musical creations. Probably his most familiar piece to Christians around the world is Finlandia hymn, which is the tune used in Christian hymns like Be Still My Soul and I Sought the Lord, among other hymns. Sibelius also used the Kalevala, the epic Finnish poem, as inspiration for his piece Kulervo, a symphony. Besides honoring the man who did much for Finland, the park serves as a nice break on the walk to perhaps my final destination for the day: The Olympic Stadium.

In 1952, Finland hosted the Summer Olympics, and some would say that was the beginning of the "sauna being brought to the rest of the world when the Olympic athletes came back reporting of the sauna experience." Besides the connection to sauna, the Olympic Stadium has a 13 story tower, which is great for viewing the city. Perhaps, if I time it right, I can start to see a sunset before the stadium closes at dusk.

As I walk back to the hotel, I think of my first taste of Helsinki, and I realize that I have only begun to know the greatness of this city and country. There is so much more to see, to experience, and to learn. Since I am traveling home on Sunday, I head to the hotel to rest for the remainder of the evening. Of course, my legs and body could use another session in the sauna, so I head to the hotel sauna. While feeling the relief in my muscles as the heat soothes my body, I begin dreaming of what else I would have done, had I decided to stay longer. I could have visited the multitude of art museums, the historical Suomenlinna (an old fortress), and I could have traveled to other regions of Finland. I could have found a wood burning sauna and jumped in a lake, or perhaps I could find a savusauna and experience the difference of the smoke sauna. If I made it the Lapland, I could have visited a reindeer ranch and Santa's elves in the Arctic Circle.

What is your dream weekend if Helsinki? Not sure you can see it all in one weekend? If you win, you can plan for an extended trip, and you are simply responsible for what is beyond the prize package. Since your airfare and 2 days of hotel and food are covered, why not stay on for a few more days. When you are back home, contact your local Finnleo dealer, and tell them all about your trip and how you can't wait to get a sauna of your own. For now, you can request a brochure, and turn a dream of a sauna into a reality.

Woodburning or Electric Sauna Heater? - by Craig Lahti

To sauna enthusiasts, the unique environment of the sauna bath welcomes them to enjoy a time-out from the rest of the world. To many, the type of heater used can further enhance the enjoyment. Which heater is right for you? Woodburning or electric?

Let us begin with woodburning stoves. Woodburning stoves provide the pure sauna experience. From collecting the firewood to building the fire in the stove, the sauna experience has begun before the rocks are heated. The heat is soft, as the fire in the chamber below the rocks brings the rocks and the room to temperature. When water is sprinkled over the rocks, the water hisses and sizzles as it dances on the rocks. The smell and sounds of wood crackling as it burns in the heater complete the transition from a hot room to a sauna

Woodburning stoves are the dream of many. With advances in design, the woodburning stoves heat more efficiently than they used to, and they are more accessible to both urban and rural settings, though you will want to consult your local building code before beginning. Because a chimney needs to be installed with the woodburning sauna heater, most woodburning saunas are built outside or in a separate garage or pole-building. With some design assistance, a woodburning sauna is a great addition to your home or cabin. The requirement of a UL or U.S. safety listing can hamper other woodburning heater installations, particularly when part of or attached to the home. Due to the relatively low volume of woodburning heater sales (compared to electric) none of the major sauna manufacturers offer a UL listed woodburning heater. While the heaters they build are safe, especially when compared to regional or local welded models, the manufacturers (including Finnleo) still only offer the European version.

For those who do not have the space to build a woodburning sauna or who prefer a more hands-free approach, electric sauna heaters provide a great sauna bathing experience as well. Finnleo has designed their heaters to maximize the amount of rock mass in the heater to replicate the large rock mass of woodburning heaters. Today, there are many options from which a sauna enthusiast can choose. For those wanting a simple sauna, heaters with built-in controls allow for great ease of use. Many bathers enjoy separate controls, which are usually mounted on the wall just outside the sauna. These controls range from simple dial controls to the latest digital offerings. Some controls can even be wired to SmartHome technology. Still, there are many people who enjoy the soft heat and massive rock capacity of woodburning stoves but enjoy the convenience of electricity, and for them, the heat storing Saunatonttu sauna heaters or heat-as-you-go Pikkutonttu series heaters provide the convenience of electricity with an excellent steam experience due to the huge rock mass equal to or greater than a woodburning stove.

Through the years, I have spoken with many customers who have chosen to install an electric stove for their primary residence and a woodburning stove for their cabin. Since our daily lives are more demanding of our time, the convenience of an electric stove allows them to make time for a sauna several times a week. When they go to the cabin for a relaxing weekend, they have time and can enjoy the full experience, and if a water jacket is installed on the heater, the sauna can serve as a bath for the cabin. There are instances of others who actually install both in their outdoor sauna. They often find they use the electric 80% of the time and woodburning 20% of the time when time and ritual allow.

To learn more about heater options and sauna designs, contact your local dealer. For a full sauna brochure, click here. For information regarding woodburning stoves, click here.

Commercial Saunas and Water Use - By Craig Lahti

Simply stated, sauna heaters, whether electric or wood burning, are designed for water to be sprinkled over the rocks. By definition, a sauna is a wood lined hot room where the bather has the ability to change humidity levels by ladling water over the rocks. Ideally, all saunas, commercial and residential, should allow responsible bathers to use water on the sauna rocks; however, many clubs choose to not allow bathers to add water for a variety of reasons. In an effort to restore the sauna to the experience it is meant to be, we will address a few of these reasons.

1. Reason: "It is an electrically powered unit, and water should not be poured on electrical devices." This is sound reasoning, if talking about toasters or hair dryers, but we are talking about neither. Think of a sauna heater more like an electric kitchen range which has water or moisture around or on it constantly. Sauna heaters are safety listed grounded appliances and are designed for water to be poured over the rocks. To be sold in the United States, a sauna heater should be safety listed by a U.S. safety listing agency. As part of the testing procedure these heaters undergo a multitude of tests, which includes the use of water, and is part of the strict and vigorous testing a heater undergoes.

2. Reason: "Our bathers have damaged our heater by pouring water over the rocks." Pouring too much water over the rocks, especially if the heater has yet to fully heat the rocks, can eventually damage the heater, but if patrons are instructed on proper use of water and fresh water (not pool water) is provided in a bucket with a ladle, most patrons will respect the privilege of using water on the rocks. Chances are the people who would abuse the use of water already are by pouring water from their water bottles over the rocks. At one club I attended, the facility did not allow water to be used, so patrons would bring in liter bottles of water and empty the bottle all at once, then refill the bottle and pour again. A typical ladle of water is 4-6 ounces. A liter is 33.8 ounces, or between 5 and 8 times the amount of water recommended to be used at a time. By not providing a way to pour a measured amount of water, the club was actually doing more harm than if they would have provided the bucket and ladle. Sauna heater element sheath thickness can vary from one manufacturer to another which can be why some clubs experience element burnout sooner than others. Go with a well proven company that has been around for years or even decades. Lastly, sauna heater rocks settle over time and need to have new rocks added regularly. The tops of your elements should remain covered with rocks. It’s one of the simplest steps a club can take in increasing the life of their sauna heater elements.

3. Reason: "Some people don't like water in the sauna." This is true, but a majority do enjoy water. The reason for not liking water is varied. One reason is the poor design of some sauna heaters where there is simply a small tray or pan that houses only a few rocks and steam created from this system can be very harsh (a quick frying pan type heat—not enjoyable to most users). Another reason can be someone pouring too large an amount of water at one time. While everyone’s taste will vary, when users are provided a standard sauna ladle, with a bucket, this encourages the proper amount of steam. Otherwise many clubs are left with someone pouring water straight from a large water bottle, ice bucket or some other non desirable means of getting steam. When water is used appropriately, the increased humidity can help the nasal membranes remain moist, which can make breathing more comfortable and encourage a person to stay longer. There are many other benefits of using a sauna with water.

4. Reason: "Our members like to stretch and work out in the sauna and do not like getting their clothes wet.” We believe this is a liability for clubs to even allow members to work out in their sauna. Exerting yourself in the high heat of a sauna is not recommended and is not considered a safe activity. One should relax by sitting or lying down when in the sauna. Bathers can adjust their comfort level quickly and easily by choosing to sit/lie on the lower or upper bench accordingly. Heat stratifies dramatically in a sauna. For those clubs that want to provide an atmosphere for their members to stretch or workout in a warm room, we recommend building ‘warm yoga rooms’. You can still use a traditional sauna heater, but about half of the kilowatt output and can go with or without benches.

This image shows the stratification of heat in a sauna (left has an 8' ceiling and the right is a 7' ceiling).

If your club does not presently allow water to be poured over the rocks, please share this blog with them. If you own a club, please feel free to contact us to ask questions about how to monitor the water use and how to educate bathers on proper sauna etiquette, including the use of water. When you are ready to reintroduce water to the sauna, your local dealer will be able to offer a variety of buckets and ladles to meet your needs. Also, if you are ever in Europe or Asia, please take time to visit their club sauna. We have not met one yet that did not know how to properly use a sauna. All allowed steam with sensible water use.

For additional reading on using water in saunas, read this blog.

Löyly - the Essence of the Sauna - by Craig Lahti

Löyly is a Finnish word, which has deep meaning in Finnish culture. Loosely, it means the steam radiating from the rocks when you sprinkle water. More deeply, it has an almost spiritual meaning for the entire feeling of enveloping heat and steam which fills the room when one ladles water over the rocks. It is even a point of honor, when taking sauna with a group, to be given the duty of adding the löyly to the room. Most sauna afficianados take great care to find the right amount of steam for all bathers in the room.. To most, this löyly, or steam, is the essence of what makes a sauna different from any other heat bathing experience, because the bather works with the heater and water to create the perfect environment for his experience. The sauna is the only heat bath in the world where the user controls both the temperature and the humidity.

Today, many sauna bathers, whether new or well-seasoned, have questions about pouring water over the rocks. Since many modern heaters utilize electricity as the power source, some bathers are concerned about safety issues of pouring water over the rocks. Sauna heaters built and sold by reputable manufacturers have passed safety regulations established by UL (Underwriters' Laboratory), ETL (Edison Testing Laboratories), or in some cases CSA. These regulations ensure the heaters are constructed with safety mechanisms in place to protect the electrical components from water to provide a safe bathing experience.

In commercial venues, like health clubs, hotels, and day spas, the use of water may be limited or prohibited, depending on the facility's experience with saunas. Often this is due to a health club running the temperatures too high, and then only the most polished users enjoy steam at such a high temperature. Many a club would have happier sauna bathers and a cheaper electric bill, by lowering their temperature, and providing a bucket and ladle for fresh water to be sprinkled over the stones. Though the facilities strive to provide the best experience for each customer, they also need to create a standard experience, so customers know what to expect each time. Part of the Health Club logic, by not providing water, the sauna experience is standardized. Since the bulk of all sauna users prefer some steam/humidity in the room, a club would likely be best served allowing some level of steam use and backing their temperature down 10 to 15 degrees.

For personal saunas, the use of water will help transform your experience from one where the bather controls the heat to one where she controls every aspect of the environment, from heat to humidity to fragrance. Shangri-La can be found in a sauna.

Let's start with the basics. Before water is sprinkled over the rocks, the air temperature should be 150°F or greater to ensure the water evaporates immediately. As the room is heating, fill the bucket with water. Now is the decision time - to add essential oils to the water or leave it natural? What do you want the sauna experience to be this time?

To some, fresh, clean water is perfect. The steam produced is cleansing and refreshing. To others, the fragrance of essential oils can help them achieve the experience they desire. If congested or suffering from allergies, or they just want a clean invigorating smell, a few drops of Eucalyptus Oil in the water gets them back on their feet. If at the end of the day a person wants to relax and unwind, a few drop of Lavender Oil will help stress and tension fade away. With a little research into aromatherapy, a bather can learn ways of enhancing the sauna experience in ways they had not anticipated.

Others will state the added humidity increases their ability to induce a sweat. Much like a humid day feels hotter, so too does a sauna with water sprinkled on the rocks.

Lastly, in terms of getting a handle on the combination of heat and humidity, there is a tenet called the Rule of 200. This rule is the combination of temperature Fahrenheit plus the % humidity added together. This states that anything over this combination is typically uncomfortable for most bathers. Under that combination, it’s typically comfortable. For example, if you are running your sauna at 180" F, the comfortable level of humidity in a sauna would be 20% or less. This is very dry compared to ambient, but considering the sauna can lower to levels of 5% to 10% at full operating mode, this can feel quite comfortable. By comparison, if you like to sauna at low temperatures, say 150 degrees F, one can typically handle humidity levels of 50%.

To learn more about constructing a sauna so you can start enjoying löyly, contact your local dealer, or you can request a brochure. Your dealer may also have some recommendations on popular aromatherapy scents.

Traditional Sauna and Infrared in the Same Room? InfraSauna Gives the Best of Both, without Compromise - by Craig Lahti

Most people researching saunas to help decide which room to purchase have read about both traditional saunas and far-infrared saunas. Most websites will strongly defend one and will discuss the faults of the other. With an InfraSauna, you can focus on the strengths of both, and you can forget about any weaknesses.

Traditional sauna enthusiasts love the higher heat, the ability of changing humidity by sprinkling water over the rocks, and having a room large enough to lie down or to share the experience with several friends and family members. For far-infrared lovers, the deep penetrating heat with lower temperatures provides a relaxation and experience unlike any other heat bath. Because of the lower temperatures, the infrared bathers can typically stay in the sauna longer and enjoy more amenities, like music and television.

With an InfraSauna, the best of both heat baths is combined into one room. An InfraSauna can be designed for a space as small as 4x4 and as large as 7x8. It can be a custom-cut package to install on the homeowner’s framed walls or a free-standing panel-built design. The design can follow the contours of existing walls, or it can be a standard rectangle. The Designer Series saunas are also available as InfraSaunas.

For those couples who do not enjoy the same heat bathing experience, the InfraSauna is ideal. While only one heat source can be used at a time, a couple could use the far-infrared panels first to allow the person who enjoys lower temperatures to have her experience, and when the first person is ready to exit the sauna, the heat source can be changed to traditional sauna. Since the infrared bathing time will have preheated the room, the wait for the sauna to achieve traditional sauna bathing temperatures is reduced. When used in this manner, a couple that enjoys two different bathing experiences may find a time of overlap where they are each able to enjoy the room together.

Others use the dual sauna types according to mood or time of day. Many prefer infrared bathing in the morning—as a "perk-me-up, start-the-day” sauna prior to a shower, and the traditional sauna as an evening activity. With an InfraSauna, each bather can truly choose the sauna type that fits their mood.

Custom designs and dual heat sources make the InfraSauna an attractive option to many. Besides the room basics of design and heat sources, the InfraSauna incorporates more amenities, like Color Light Therapy and a digital control. Because a person can spend more time in the low temperatures of infrared, an entertainment center with a TV, DVD, and an iPod Locker can be included in the design. However, for those traditional sauna enthusiasts who like these amenities, don't despair, the same options exist, but with a few more features added to allow them to handle the higher temperature and humidity.

For more information on InfraSaunas, contact your local dealer, or you can request an InfraSauna brochure.

Proper Illumination is Not To Be Taken Lightly - By Craig Lahti

	The big part is done. You have planned the location and size of your sauna, and you are finishing the layout of the room for optimal use. One of the final considerations is how you will choose to light the room. It used to be that a "Jelly Jar" wall sconce was the main option for sauna lights, but advances in electronics and a demand for more custom and better looking lighting has broadened the selection from which to choose.
In most commercial applications, the wall sconce remains the standard. With the amount of use a commercial sauna receives, the wall sconce provides plenty of light, and it is one of the easiest lights to maintain. To change the bulb, unscrew the globe, replace the bulb, and screw the globe back on. It may not be the most beautiful light, but there is beauty in its simplicity. Another simple way to utilize this simple light, but dress it up is to mount the light directly in the corner and use a corner lampshade from Finnleo. These louvered lampshades soften the light, but allow for simple hook-up, easy bulb replacement and look great.
	For high-end spas and home saunas, specialty lighting continues to gain popularity. As mentioned above, some saunas may utilize a wall sconce with a shade or wood covering to conceal the brushed aluminum finish, many saunas now include valance lighting, ceiling cans, small spotlights mounted in the ceiling, lighting beneath the benches, lights on dimmer switches, and even colored lights for chromatherapy. Which light is right for you is dependent upon how you intend to use the sauna and what amount of light you prefer.
Valance lighting is usually installed on the wall with the longest benches. In large rooms, a second valance may be installed above the return benches. The valance lighting consists of a strip of LED lights mounted behind a decorative wood covering. The lights are wired to a transformer that is mounted outside of the sauna and is usually wired to the On/Off switch on the sauna control. This option provides enough light to comfortably converse with others without being overwhelmed by bright lights. The slightly subdued light creates a sense of relaxation and invites the bathers to be more open to talking with others or to enjoy the peace of a softly lit room. A similar effect may be achieved by running the lights beneath the benches to illuminate from below. For those who enjoy reading in the sauna, this may not be the best option, since the lighting may be too dim. These lights, from Finnleo, are also available with a special dimmer transformer which allows you to dim or brighten the light with a remote control.

Ceiling Cans are another popular option, though proper installation can be difficult. In a sauna, the temperature at the ceiling can exceed 190°, even when the rest of the room is between 160° and 180°. If a properly rated insulated ceiling can is not installed, then there may be problems with the breakers tripping and other electrical problems due to build up of heat in the can assembly. If properly installed, the ceiling cans provide plenty of light and can often be wired to a dimmer that allows a bathers to choose the appropriate level of light for the activity in which they are participating. If the bathers wish to read or if they are with friends with whom they are having a sauna party, then a brighter, more energetic room may be appropriate. If the bather is by himself or with a spouse and wants to relax, then a more subdued lighting may be more appropriate.

For a break from the traditional lighting, consider chromatherapy lights used in conjunction with small spotlights to add just the right amount of light for reading or relaxing. The chromatherapy lights consist of 6 different LED lights that can be set to a specific color or can be set to change at regular intervals, depending on the bather's preference. It has been suggested that different colors are linked to moods. Those who are familiar with the 7 colors of the Chakra are already familiar with this concept. For those who simply want a different ambiance than standard lighting provides, the lights can be enjoyed without the associated meanings behind the various colors.

Other options do exist beyond the lighting described above; however, be careful to choose products that have been tested and proven to work well in a sauna. While it is rare, I have received calls from clients who chose a light based on appearance rather than function. When the lighting failed due to the heat and environment of the sauna, the clients had to reconsider lighting options, and in some cases, particularly ceiling cans, wood paneling had to be removed and replaced to accommodate the new lighting.

If you need assistance in deciding which light option best meets your needs, contact your local dealer for design assistance for your sauna and proper lighting. For more information on saunas, request our brochure.

Why should I purchase a custom-cut sauna? - By Craig Lahti

You have dreamed of a home sauna for years, and now you are finally ready to make your dreams come true. As you move towards purchasing a sauna, look at the space you intend to use for the sauna to help you decide which package is right for you. In many cases, a custom-cut sauna package will be a great choice for your installation and perhaps more reasonable than you realized, when you hear the word ‘custom’. (I’m referring to cost here…many people think "custom” equals expensive.)

Whether you are building a new home, moving into an existing home, or investing in the home you already have, a custom-cut sauna will give you the most options for both design and installation. Though a panel-built room may be easier to install in an existing home, and can go up in minutes or hours, a custom-cut room will transform an area into a room that fits seamlessly into the design of the home.

When building a new home, you choose the layout of the home that best meets your needs. If a sauna is planned early enough in the design stage, it can be designed to fit into the master bathroom suite. In many master bedroom designs, His and Her closets have become standard. Larger bathrooms and walk-in showers are becoming common place. Many times, a sauna can be incorporated into these spaces that will allow you to enjoy a sauna first thing in the morning or just before bed. With a custom-cut package, the sauna can be constructed to virtually any size that is available, though we recommend a room no smaller than 4'x4'. The most popular sizes, for most homes, are 5x7 and 6x6. These allow enough room for a family of four to use comfortably, or to have two adults lie down at the same time, without being so large that it dominates an area.

In existing homes, whether new to you or redesigning your existing space, custom-cuts can turn the storage area of a basement into your own day-spa. Regardless of the space available, a custom-cut sauna will meet your needs. Because the packages are so flexible, leftover space becomes usable space. From saunas beneath stairwells to saunas following the curves of a basement wall, custom-cut packages take the shape of your imagination and creativity. If you are fortunate enough to have a wide open space, consider designing your sauna close to plumbing, so you can design a nice shower or steam shower close to the sauna to shower after using the sauna. Also, providing easy access to water makes it more convenient to fill your water bucket, so you can enjoy sprinkling water over the hot rocks of the sauna.

For those who like to try something new, a custom-cut sauna provides a great opportunity to install an InfraSauna. With the custom-cut InfraSauna, you can have a custom designed infrared sauna and a traditional sauna in the same room. Not only will you be able to make best use of your space, but your room will have dual functionality by offering both types of sauna.

Our mantra, at Finnleo, is, if you can dream it, we can build it.

If you are ready to design your sauna and begin your project, your local sauna dealer is an excellent resource for walking you through the process step by step or contact Finnleo via our website and we will start the process with you. Whether you intend to build the room yourself or hire a contractor, Finnleo's and our dealer's expertise will make the project easy and enjoyable. If you would like to read more about what products are available, request a brochure.

Yes, I would like a sauna...to go. - by Craig Lahti

When many people think of a sauna, they picture a large room in a hotel or health club. While for commercial applications a large room is necessary to accommodate several bathers, the same high quality sauna experience can be brought home, even if you live in a condominium or apartment complex that does not allow alteration to the residence.

In many homes, a sauna will be built into the home or a panel-built room will be installed; however, for a condominium or apartment, a portable sauna would be more appropriate. While panel-built rooms may be disassembled, moved, and reassembled, most require the heater be "hard-wired" to the electrical supply, which many apartments would discourage. A portable sauna is designed for easy set-up and standard 110V/120V plug-in installation. Typically, a portable sauna can be installed in 30-45 minutes, after reading the instructions. Installation is simple with the use of an integral locking system, which allows for the panels to be fastened without the use of tools. Simple electrical connections are needed for the heater, control, lights, and stereo system. When the room is built and the electrical connections completed, the room plugs into a 120 volt 15 amp or 120 volt 20 amp outlet (depending on the kW output of the heater—you choose).

For traditional saunas, portable saunas are approximately 48"x48"x77" high and are designed with a two tier bench system. Considered a two person sauna, the room functions like a traditional sauna, and you may sprinkle water over the rocks, like you might do at a larger sauna at a hotel or health club. Temperatures will reach 150-170°F, or more, which is comparable to the temperatures experienced in a commercial venue.

Another popular form of portable sauna is the Far-Infrared Sauna. Infrared saunas were introduced about 30 years ago, but in the last 10 years, infrared saunas have become increasingly popular. Due to the smaller size, easy tool free set-up, and plug-in electrical installation, infrared saunas can be shipped directly to a home owner, who can install the sauna in less than 45 minutes. With amenities like stereos, color light therapy, heated floors, and an option to add a TV with DVD player, the infrared saunas provide a feature packed portable sauna for those who prefer lower air temperatures and who do not consider the ability to control humidity to be essential. Because of the decreased power requirements of infrared emitters and there not being a need for two tiers of benching due to a more even distribution of heat, infrared rooms are available in a larger range of sizes than a portable traditional sauna.

If you own a home and a summer/winter retreat, a portable sauna may fit your needs as well. With the ease of assembly and disassembly, both the traditional and infrared portable saunas may allow you to enjoy a sauna at both locations, without the cost of installing two rooms. I have spoken with one sauna enthusiast who purchased a portable sauna and installed it in his RV because the lower energy consumption of the unit works with the electrical capacity of his RV, and he never has to be away from his beloved sauna. We even have reports of hunters purchasing a portable sauna to haul with them to hunting camp and hook into their generator. Basically anywhere you have 110V power, you can use one of our portable saunas.

If you are planning a sauna for your home, consider your needs. If you will be using the room by yourself or with one other person, a portable sauna may be an option worth considering. To learn more about saunas and what application will best meet your needs, contact your local dealer. For more information about portable traditional and infrared saunas, read our brochure.

Sometimes we just need to vent...saunas that is - by Craig Lahti

As the Ancient Roman classical poet Ovid wrote, "Sickness seizes the body from bad ventilation." The same can be said of bad ventilation and its affect on a sauna.

When the majority of saunas were heated by burning wood, either in a pit or later in a stove, the necessity for ventilation was understood. Both the fire and the bathers required a continuous supply of fresh air to function. If ventilation was not sufficient, the fire would consume much of the oxygen, and the bathers could face suffocation. What the sauna bathers also learned was that depending on how the vented the room, the environment of the room changed. Proper cross ventilation not only provided the essential fresh air to breathe, but it also directed the convection currents flow in the room, so the heat was more evenly distributed.

With the introduction of electric stoves, the importance of proper ventilation began to be lost. Electric stoves do not consume oxygen in the heating process, so it has often been assumed that the heater did not require ventilation to work properly. Since the heater is not consuming oxygen, the bathers are not competing against the stove for a fresh air supply, so the bathers need for ventilation is also theoretically reduced. When the sauna is installed in a left over niche, ventilation is often not considered, so the location of the sauna is not always ideal for a proper air intake and exhaust vent.

Unfortunately, while the idea of less oxygen being consumed is correct, the thought that an electric stove does not need ventilation is wrong. To be clear, the ventilation to which I am referring is not a mechanical vent powered by a fan or blower; rather, the ventilation is simply the installation of an air intake valve and an exhaust valve. Though mechanical ventilation may prove beneficial in some installations, the equipment must be properly tested to withstand the heat and volume of air found in a sauna. In most cases, the cost and work involved in installing such a system would not provide a substantial benefit to the sauna experience, so for this article, we will focus on the traditional cross ventilation found in most sauna heater installation manuals.

As discussed in previous blogs, traditional saunas provide heat to the sauna room in three ways. The first is conduction with the heating elements heating the rocks through direct contact. The second form, which is what we will focus on for ventilation, is convection where the elements heat the air. The final form of heat is radiant (infrared) heat from all surfaces which have been heated by the hot air. Improving convection heat in a sauna will improve the performance of the other heat sources as well.

Why is ventilation important for convection heating? As we have heard since elementary school science classes, heat rises. Heat rises because the hot air is less dense than the cool dense air that it replaces. This movement of air is called convection current, and if you can picture a hot air balloon flying, you can see convection currents at work. When the burners are fired, the balloon rises. As the vent flap is opened or as the air cools, the balloon comes down.

In a sauna, convection currents are responsible for the stratification of heat. In a room with little to no ventilation, the hot air will rise from the heater, and it will stay towards the ceiling of the sauna. Since most saunas are well insulated, the heat does not dissipate from the room quickly; instead, the heated air slowly cools and replaces the cooler air beneath it, but since there is no place for the existing cool air to escape, the cool air remains in the room (this is why some saunas will have bathers complain of cool legs or feet while sitting on the low bench). In a sauna with this construction, the current of cool air drawn into the sauna heater is reduced, so there is an increased chance of overheating the high-limit switch that protects the sauna and sauna heater from overheating. The thermometer mounted on the back wall of the sauna one foot down from the ceiling may show a temperature of 140° to 150° F, so the bather is often confused as to why the high-limit switch has "tripped". It has tripped due to poor ventilation.

In a well ventilated sauna, the heat is more evenly distributed from floor to ceiling. There will still be a stratification of heat, but it will be less pronounced. With proper ventilation, a cool air intake will be installed in the wall at the base of the sauna heater, and an exhaust vent will be installed on the opposite wall, approximately 20-24" above the finished floor. The cool air intake provides fresh, cool air to the sauna heater. Though the air is quickly heated and rises out of the heater, the cool air helps to regulate the temperature of the sensor connected to the high-limit switch. Because of this air flow, the high-limit switch will seldom become overheated, so the heater becomes more reliable. As the heated air rises, the cooler air is displaced; however, unlike the poorly vented room, the cool air is pushed out of the exhaust vent. By exhausting the cooler air, room is made for the heated air that has cooled slightly to be moved to a lower elevation. This movement of heated air and replacement of cool air will allow for a more even heat distribution throughout the room. These convection currents are what make a well ventilated sauna room work so well.

There will be times where cross ventilation cannot be optimally installed, but it is important to find a way to incorporate some form of ventilation. Even installing an air intake by the heater and installing an exhaust vent on the opposite side of the front wall is better than no ventilation at all. Besides the benefits of better heater performance and a better distribution of heat, a well ventilated sauna will likely smell better and will dry quicker after being cleaned.

To learn more about installing a sauna and to discuss your installation and how to incorporate proper ventilation, contact your local dealer. For more information on saunas, request our brochure.

The Heat Is On - An explanation of how far-infrared heat works. - By Craig Lahti

"Do not Bodies and Light act mutually upon one another; that is to say, Bodies upon Light in emitting, reflecting, refracting and inflecting it, and Light upon Bodies for heating them, and putting their parts into a vibrating motion wherein heat consists?"

— Sir Isaac Newton

Opticks (1704), Book 3, Query 5, 133.

Over 300 years ago, Sir Isaac Newton discussed today's blog topic: how far-infrared heat works. In recent years, as far-infrared saunas have grown in popularity, there has been a heated debate between traditional sauna and far-infrared sauna enthusiasts about which heat is better for a bather. While this article will not identify a winner in the debate, it comes down to personal preference, the intent is to better educate both sides on the process by which a person is heated in an far-infrared sauna.

Before focusing on infrared heat exclusively, let us look at how a traditional sauna works, as many people will be surprised by the fact that a traditional sauna does heat through infrared heat, though the majority of the heat is achieved through conduction and convection. Conduction is when the sauna heater elements are in direct contact with the rocks causing the rocks to be heated. Convection occurs when gases and liquids are heated. As the air and water (relative humidity, as well, as water is sprinkled on the rocks) are heated, the hotter air/water from the heater will displace the cooler air above the heater. This displacement of cooler air by warmer air creates convection currents, which is why two levels of benches and cross-ventilation are important for traditional saunas to help keep bathers in the hottest temperatures of the room. Infrared heat is emitted from the rocks, the sauna walls, and the other heated surfaces inside the room. While this heat is infrared, the wavelength and intensity vary depending upon the surface temperature and the emissivity of the heated object, whereas the heat from far-infrared emitters in far-infrared saunas is more constant and often at a pre-engineered far-infrared wavelength. When combined, convection, conduction, and radiation (infrared heat) produce the unique environment of the traditional sauna.

The elements heating the rocks is conduction. The rocks and elements heating the air is convection (convection currents shown with red arrows). The hot walls and benches show radiant heat.

To better understand far-infrared saunas, it is important to know infrared is naturally occurring and is part of the invisible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. On the spectrum, infrared is found between visible light and microwaves, with further subdivisions of near-infrared, mid-infrared, and far-infrared. The following is a brief explanation of each subdivision.

Near-infrared has many uses. According to George Melcher in his article Different Uses of Near Infrared Technology on www.ezinearticles.com, near infrared is used in fields from carpeting to medicine. The deep penetrating waves can be used to analyze different materials used in recycled carpet as well as determining if a pharmaceutical pill has been manufactured properly. For medical purposes, near infrared imaging of the brain may some day replace MRIs, as they are less expensive and can be used on a greater variety of patients. NASA has also experimented with near-infrared technology for helping wounds heal faster. Near infrared is also known as "reflected infrared" as it is the amount of near infrared that is reflected that is used for analysis of an object, whether it is carpet or the human brain. One of the most common places to find near-infrared in daily use is the remote controls for our televisions and other electronic devices.

Mid-infrared moves into what is referred to as "thermal infrared". Like near-infrared, mid-infrared has a wide range of uses. For the military, it is used on heat seeking missiles to "lock" onto a heat signature. Mid-Infrared lasers are also being used to detect enemy infrared countermeasures (www.optics.org September 15, 2010 article Mid-IR emitters tipped for rapid market growth by Mike Hatcher). For medical use, mid-infrared has been used in arthroscopic surgery and for less invasive diagnostics. Like near-infrared, mid-infrared has great potential for advancement in medical technologies for diagnostics and treatment. Because of its heat and deep penetration, mid-infrared is also used to cook and heat food.

Like mid-infrared, far-infrared is referred to as "thermal infrared"; however, far-infrared is closely aligned with the far-infrared waves the human body naturally emits, so the far-infrared is more readily absorbed by the body than the more intense energy of near or mid-infrared light. The process by which far-infrared heat is created is similar to the heating of sauna rocks in a traditional sauna. Before infrared energy (of any wavelength) is produced, the material from which the infrared energy is being emitted must be heated through conduction. In a far-infrared sauna, the emitters, whether carbon, ceramic, or metal, must be heated before the far-infrared heat is emitted. Though this process is very quick and the sauna can be enjoyed during this heat-up process, it is interesting to note that both traditional and far-infrared use conduction as the beginning heat source. The far-infrared emitters in a sauna will continue to use conduction to produce radiant heat throughout the bathing experience. Unlike the infrared heat in a traditional sauna, the emitters of a far-infrared sauna are engineered to keep the wavelengths in what is considered the "vital range" or 7 to 14 microns, with most being in the 8.4-9.4 range.

Whether your preference is a traditional or a far-infrared sauna, you now have a better understanding of the heating process of both. Though near-infrared and mid-infrared are seldom discussed with regards to saunas, they are worth mentioning, as there are companies researching medical benefits, and possibly consumer health benefits, of these forms of infrared; however, far-infrared remains the most popular, and potentially beneficial form, of infrared heat therapy.

For more information on traditional, far-infrared, or a combination InfraSauna, contact your local dealer. To read more about traditional or far-infrared products, request our brochure. For more information on far-infrared saunas, take a virtual tour.

Sauna & Arthritis - by Craig Lahti

"As the number one cause of disability in the United States, arthritis is a painful and debilitating disease affecting men, women and children alike-arthritis has no boundaries.”
~ Charles W. Pickering, retired Federal Judge discussing The Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act of 2005

For those who live with arthritis, permanent relief from pain is a dream they hope to achieve some day. For many prescription is needed to help alleviate pain. However, with many medications, there is increased stress on the liver as it tries to eliminate the toxins of the medicine from the body. As a result, people are searching for other methods to help reduce pain and increase mobility. Fortunately, heat therapy in a sauna may provide temporary relief from pain, increase mobility, and may assist in the detoxification of the body, acting as a complement to traditional medicine.

To be clear, a sauna, whether traditional or far-infrared, will not cure arthritis, and the beneficial effects of sauna bathing are temporary, but when used as part of a regimen, an arthritic sauna bather will likely experience an improved quality of life. Through both a reduction in pain and increased mobility, a person may be more inclined to pursue a more active lifestyle than previously thought possible. By living a more active life, mood and mental health typically improves as well.

In a report submitted to The Annals of Clinical Research Volume 20 in 1988, Dr. H. Isomäki discussed research results related to the benefits of sauna bathing for temporary relief of pain and increased mobility. In the study, the pain relief was attributed to a temporary increase in the release of noradrenaline, adrenaline, coritsol and growth hormones (all of which have anti-inflammatory properties), as well as, an increased stress on the body which releases endorphins, the bodies natural pain killers. Of those studied, more than 50% of participants reported temporary relief of pain and an increase in mobility. The mobility was increased since tissues largely comprised of collagen (tendons, fasciae, and articular capsules) become more flexible when exposed to increased temperatures.

There is much anecdotal evidence that regular/daily sauna bathing can improve range of motion and reduce aches and pains of arthritic sufferers. An elderly man recently told us, "I am now 84 years old and have taken a daily morning sauna for decades. I use it to loosen up stiff joints before starting my day. Saunas have dramatically improved my quality of life and have allowed me to stay active much more than I would have without my daily sauna.”

While specific medical/scientific studies cannot be referenced, there is some thought that the increased circulation, caused by the elevated body temperatures while bathing in a traditional or far-infrared sauna, may help loosen and remove mineral deposits from joints, where circulation is usually lower therefore allowing mineral deposits to collect and create obstructions which can cause pain. Heat bathing promotes increased circulation when blood rushes through the body to cool the internal organs, and it is manifested in perspiration.

If you suffer from arthritis, talk to your doctor about including heat bathing as part of your health regimen. Combined with diet, exercise, and medication, a traditional or far-infrared sauna may help you recapture a more active, pain-free lifestyle in which you awake with a sense of adventure for what the day may bring.

For more information on traditional or far-infrared saunas or the combination InfraSaunas, contact your local dealer.

Traditional vs Far-Infrared Sauna - Comparison and contrast -by Craig Lahti

If you are interested in heat bathing, you have probably read many articles regarding the health benefits of traditional sauna, far-infrared sauna, and steam baths. Today, we are going to look at the biggest debate, which is between traditional sauna and far-infrared sauna.

To begin: "The sauna you will use the most is the best sauna.” Thus, this article is not to address the question of "What’s better—traditional sauna or far-infrared sauna?” Rather, we’ll explore the differences between the sauna types and why you might prefer one over the other.

If you enjoy steam in the sauna, higher temperatures and a more social environment, then traditional sauna may be the best sauna for you. If you prefer lower temperatures but with body-penetrating heat, far-infrared sauna may be your best sauna choice.

First, let us look at the similarities of the rooms and the shared benefits. The goal of sauna bathing varies by person, but let’s assume your general goal is to enjoy the benefits of heat bathing: relaxation and stress reduction, sweating (with the associated detoxification) and relieving aches and pains. Both sauna types provide these benefits, although the conditions under which the benefits are achieved are quite different.

The benefits of heat bathing have much to do with the sauna creating a self-induced fever. As Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine observed, "Give me fever and I can cure every disease.” While this statement is hyperbole, it does point to the healing power of an increased body temperature.

Both sauna types will be relatively dry. The far-infrared rooms tends to be close to normal house humidity levels unless it has been on for extended periods of time. The traditional sauna will be drier (10% or lower) until water is sprinkled over the rocks. The traditional sauna is the only bath in the world where the user controls both temperature and humidity, with humidity controlled to user liking by how much water is thrown on the rocks. In far-infrared saunas you control the temperature, but the humidity is whatever it is

While perspiring in either sauna, you will experience deep relaxation, sore muscles are loosened, and aching joints will likely feel relief. The process of perspiration burns some calories, though the amount of calories burned is debatable and is dependent upon the individual. Most of the weight lost in a sauna is water loss and is re-gained upon rehydrating. However, without a doubt sauna can be an important part of a healthy weight loss program.

To look at the differences between traditional and IR saunas, I will separate these into verifiable, theoretical, and fabricated differences. The verifiable differences are temperature, method of heat, heat-up time, amount of energy used for typical sized room, and the social experience.

The temperature for a traditional sauna typically ranges between 150 and 185º F. In the United States, Underwriters Laboratory (UL) dictates that the maximum temperature at ceiling level is 194º F (90º C). Thus, the hottest point in the sauna—which is at the ceiling directly above the sauna heater—is typically between 185 and 190º F. Claims that a traditional sauna exceeds 200º F is simply not true and not applicable for electric saunas sold in the US.

The temperature for a far-infrared sauna is usually set between 120 and 140º F; however, unlike the traditional sauna, the goal in and IR room is not to achieve a high temperature. Instead, in a far-infrared room, the bather wants the emitters to remain active because infrared energy is only being emitted (therefore providing the benefit of the deep penetrating infrared heat) when the emitters are on. Because of this, the temperature difference is almost irrelevant, since profuse sweating results in both sauna types, but the method of heating the body is different. In an IR sauna the bather will feel hot and will sweat profusely, but at much lower temperatures. Thus, if the goal is to spend longer periods of time in the sauna, the IR sauna is a good choice.

In a traditional sauna, perspiration is achieved when the bather enters a heated room. When a traditional sauna has been properly heated, the sauna walls are warm, the air temperature has achieved set temperature and the rocks are super heated. As an interesting side note, the heated walls and the rocks are emitting far-infrared heat, combined with the heated air, to create an "enveloping heat”. The process for heating the room most often involves an electric heater that heats a compartment of stones, which then radiate the heat throughout the room. When the high temperature is achieved, the elements cycle on and off to maintain the high temperature. Most traditional sauna users enjoy pouring water over the rocks to create steam to raise sauna humidity levels. The benefits of pouring water over the rocks include: making the room more comfortable, moistening the nasal passages, and allowing the use of aromatherapy by mixing essential oils with the water.

There is an on-going worldwide trend with traditional sauna bathing for "lower temperatures and higher humidity”—the so-called "soft sauna”.

In a far-infrared sauna, the heat waves penetrate the body to effectively heat the body and raise the body core temperature. To achieve this increased temperature, Far-infrared emitters create infrared energy which is close to the same wavelength as that which the body naturally emits—often referred to as the "Vital Range” of 7 to 14 microns), so the energy is well received by the body. The infrared energy deeply penetrates the skin and warms the muscles and joints. When the energy enters the body, it causes the body temperature to increase and ultimately results in perspiration. In an infrared sauna it’s important for the emitters/heaters to remain on almost constantly. Since there is no mass of rocks to retain heat, the sauna will cool if the emitters shut off. Thus, even though most of the energy is turned into efficient infrared energy, IR saunas are designed for almost continuous operation of the infrared emitters. As mentioned above, the sauna bather in an infrared room wants to position himself in front of operating emitters to get maximum benefit from the heat.

The heating time for the two rooms can be very different, depending on how the rooms are used. For a traditional sauna, a bather should allow 30-40 minutes for the room to achieve a desired temperature and to properly pre-heat the rocks. This heating time is dependent upon the ambient temperature from which the room begins heating, the amount of insulation in the walls, and the ventilation provided in the room. A well constructed sauna will typically achieve a temperature of 150-160º F in about 30-40 minutes. For hotter temperatures, the room may need to heat for a longer period. Once the room achieves set temperature, the heater will cycle on and off, typically operating about 50% of the time. The insulated walls and the heated rocks will keep the room hot and at stable temperatures. Many sauna users enjoy staying in the sauna after the elements have timed out (a 60 minute timer is standard on all residential saunas).

For a Far-Infrared room, a person may begin bathing when the room is turned on, since the infrared energy is being emitted by the heaters; however, many bathers would prefer to wait until the room is 110º F or hotter. Over the weekend, I worked a trade show, and I turned our infrared sauna on with an ambient room temperature of 70º F degrees, and within 15 minutes, the room had exceeded 100º F . There are two schools of thought with how to use the room. To some, 15 minutes was "wasted” while the infrared energy heated the wood panels rather than heating a body, while others find a pre-heated room to be more comfortable and believe an elevated starting temperature is necessary to begin perspiring.

The length of recommended use for each room is approximately the same (10-15 minutes per session); however, due to the lower air temperatures and the ability to feel the effects of infrared heat faster than a traditional sauna, it is not uncommon for a person to spend a total of 20-30 minutes in an infrared sauna. There are many medical practitioners, especially in Canada, who prescribe 30 minute infrared sauna sessions for their patients. Regardless of which heat system is used, the bather must closely monitor how he feels while using the room, and he must be sure to drink plenty of water during the break between sessions.

From an economic and ecologic standpoint, energy use has become a more important factor in consumers’ decision making. Neither room will cause a substantial increase in a household electric bill, but I will compare one of the most common traditional sauna sizes to one of the most common infrared sauna sizes. Traditional saunas tend to be larger (hence use more electricity) than infrared saunas, although traditional saunas are certainly available in one and two person sizes as well.

For a two-person traditional sauna, 5x6 or 5x7 size is most popular. The top bench can comfortably seat two or three people and is also long enough to lie down during the sauna session. This room uses a 4.5 kW heater, 240 volt, 1 phase power; it draws 18.8 amps and requires a dedicated line and breaker. The average cost per kWH of electricity in the U.S. is approximately $0.11 (varies by region: http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table5_6_a.html), so a 4.5 kW heater will cost approximately $.50 to run for one hour, if the heater runs continuously for one hour. Typically a sauna heater will run for 75% of the first hour and 50% of subsequent hours on since the elements cycle once the set temperature is achieved. Thus, a 4.5 kW heater will cost about $.37 the first hour and $.25 each subsequent hour of continuous use.

A two person far-infrared room is usually physically smaller than a traditional sauna, often about 4’ x 4’ or smaller. The IR heating system is typically 1.5-1.7 kW using a 120 volt 15 amp plug-in service. Since the room can be used sooner than a sauna room, we will assume the room is used for ½ to ¾ of an hour including heat up time. At $0.11 / kWH, a two person infrared room will cost $0.18 to run for 1 hour, but because the IR sauna most likely not on for a full hour, realistically the room will cost about $.10 per use.

Finally, there is a seldom discussed difference in the social experience between the two rooms. While our culture has lost some of the social benefit of the traditional sauna experience, it can be very socially rewarding. From family time in the sauna, to heart-felt conversations with significant others, to sauna parties—the traditional sauna experience can lead to intimate socializing. Traditional saunas are typically large enough to allow multiple people to enjoy the sauna for social time. Though a sauna session may only be 10-15 minutes at a time, when time allows the sauna can be used in multiple "innings”; the experience of heating the sauna, preparing to use the sauna, talking while in the sauna, and relaxing after the sauna can be very therapeutic and rewarding.

While it is possible to converse in an infrared room, due to the smaller room sizes and room design the typical experience of the infrared room is often more of a private escape. Most higher end infrared rooms include colored light therapy, AM/FM/CD/MP3 radios and in some cases TVs. The size of most rooms allow for 2 people to comfortably use the room, while some designs may allow for a 3rd or 4th person to use the room. Custom infrared rooms are available, but given the need to be in close proximity to the infrared emitters, the range of available sizes is not as great as a traditional sauna.

As you prepare to purchase your sauna, please keep an open mind to both experiences. If you cannot decide which is best for you, consider an InfraSauna which combines both traditional and far-infrared in one room—where the user decides what type of sauna he/she is in the mood for at "sauna time”.

When you research your purchase, carefully read relevant information; consider for yourself how you plan to use your sauna and what health benefits seems relevant. Carefully sort out claims by some manufacturers of superior health or safety benefits. The truth is, both types of saunas have the benefits of heat bathing. Your goal is to find a sauna that fits your wellness plan, your space available and your budget. As I stated in the beginning, "The sauna you will use the most is the best sauna.”

If you require further assistance in determining which room best meets your needs, contact your local sauna specialty dealer who carries BOTH traditional sauna and far-infrared sauna. Their interest is in meeting your needs rather than promoting and selling only one product. If you are using heat bathing as part of a recommended program by a doctor, ask your physician for her advice given your medical history.

Let's Sweat the Small Stuff - The Benefits of Perspiration - by Craig Lahti

The average American leads a sedentary life. When we go to work, we drive or take public transportation. When we arrive at our office, if our office is on the 2nd floor or higher, we take the elevator or escalator. At the end of the day, we go home, eat dinner, and relax with our family on the couch and watch television. If we need something from the corner store, we get in our car and drive the ½ mile to the store. Some people find time to go to the gym a few times a week, but we list that lower on our priority list than many other activities. The end result is we seldom give ourselves the opportunity to break a healthy sweat.

In future blogs, I will discuss the benefits of perspiration in conjunction with the use of traditional saunas and infrared saunas, but as a basic premise, I want to examine the benefits of perspiration, without the perceived marketing behind the benefits of a specific product.

At its most basic level, the function of perspiration is to cool the body. With each person having 2-4 million sweat glands, the amount a person perspires depends on several factors including: body chemistry, physical activity, fitness level, sex (women have more sweat glands, but men tend to perspire more), and many other factors. Most commonly, perspiration is attributed to physical activity; however, anxiety, stress, medication, high temperatures and other factors may cause the body to initiate the perspiration process, in an attempt to cool the body.

When perspiration begins, sweat (comprised of water, minerals, and some waste) begins to move towards the pores of the skin. With this movement of fluids, blood is also moved closer to the surface of the skin, which is why a person may appear to have rosy cheeks or slightly reddened skin when exercising. By moving the blood away from the core and closer to the surface of the skin, the blood is able to be cooled and then recirculated throughout the body to cool the body. To promote this circulation, the heart rate must increase to pump the blood faster. This extra exertion results in burned calories, though the amount of calories burned varies depending upon the cause and severity of the perspiration.

In a deep perspiration, usually resulting from an intense workout or from heat bathing, the perspiration helps to cleanse the body. Dead cells are loosened by the opened pores and the perspiration released from the pores. As the dead cells are exfoliated through bathing, the new cells are exposed to reveal fresher, healthier looking skin. In the contents of the deep perspiration, it is likely there will be higher contents of ammonia, nickel, urea, zinc, and other minerals, chemicals, and heavy metals which can act as toxins to the body. After these toxins are released from the body, a cool shower washes them away and closes the pores of the skin to help prevent toxins from re-entering the body.

So, while our society is not likely to embrace perspiration as part of our office environment, it is important to remember that it is good and important to perspire. Whether through exercise, heat bathing, or both, we should try to induce perspiration daily to help maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you would like more information on heat bathing, request a brochure on traditional and far-infrared sauna rooms, or visit your closest dealer.

Infrared or Traditional? I like them both. By Craig Lahti

In the last 10 years, there has been an ever increasing presence of Far-Infrared Saunas, and as a result the question has arisen, "Which is better a traditional sauna or a Far-Infrared sauna?" As a manufacturer of both styles, we can say with certainty that the better one is the one you will use. To me, the purpose and the experience of each is very different, though the results (perspiration and detoxification) are largely the same.

My ancestry is from Finland, and my father was raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in a logging community comprised largely of Finns. Though born in the United States, his first language was Finnish, and many of the traditions from Finland were still practiced regularly. Perhaps the most important practice was the weekly sauna bath on Saturday evenings. It was a time for socializing and a time for cleansing of the mind and body. For my father’s family, who did not have indoor plumbing at the time, the sauna was their bath.

As a toddler, I remember visiting my grandparents, and though indoor plumbing and showers had been installed at the house, the sauna remained an important part of our visits. My grandfather, my father, my brother, and I would enter the sauna each thinking of different things, but after using the vihta and bathing in the sauna, we found ourselves discussing topics important to us all. We had gone in as 4 individuals, but we left as a closer family. To me, the sauna came to represent a social family time coupled with the deep cleansing a sauna provides through perspiration.

Today, my sauna experience has changed. I am married, and my wife does not enjoy the high heat of the traditional sauna, but she loves the warm enveloping heat of the Far-Infrared sauna. Though the infrared rooms are generally smaller than a traditional sauna, the wide variety of designs allows for two or more people to sit and converse while enjoying the heat bath. Because the air temperature is lower in the infrared sauna, we are able to enjoy the experience longer. Like the time spent with my family in the traditional sauna, we have had an opportunity to bond while cleansing our body and mind.

In the end, the choice of Traditional Sauna or Far-Infrared Sauna will be determined by your preference. Fortunately for me, I enjoy both. When I visit my father and my brother, we usually make time to take a traditional sauna either at home or at the health club. Any tension or disagreements that may have occurred prior to the sauna, melt away while we perspire. With my wife, the Far-Infrared allows us to share the heat bathing experience while keeping my wife comfortable.

Which experience best suits your needs? Many people have had the opportunity to use a traditional sauna at a health club or hotel, but you may not have experienced the infrared sauna. We invite you to contact your local dealer to experience the Far-Infrared Sauna experience, so you can determine which sauna you prefer. Perhaps you will find you enjoy them both, and you will choose an InfraSauna, which provides the best of both saunas.

Interested in a sauna? Visit your local Home and Garden Show.

While walking the show, you will likely get a little tired and need a place to stop and relax. What better place to stop than a sauna booth? The very purpose of the sauna is to promote relaxation and to invigorate the bather. Many dealers will bring a variety of displays to allow you to envision which room will best fit your needs. While walking the show, you will likely get a little tired and need a place to stop and relax. What better place to stop than a sauna booth? The very purpose of the sauna is to promote relaxation and to invigorate the bather. Many dealers will bring a variety of displays to allow you to envision which room will best fit your needs. For traditional sauna enthusiasts, the variety of rooms may range from a portable sauna to a luxurious Designer sauna, with several steps in between. When talking to your dealer, be sure to mention how you plan to use your sauna: how many people will use it, where the sauna will likely be installed, and any special features on your wish list. The saunas on display will likely give you new ideas for planning your own sauna project.

For those who already have a traditional sauna, but it may need some updating, your sauna dealer can show you new options for heaters, controls, and accessories. Is your heater working well, but the wood on you sauna walls and benches is looking aged? Ask your dealer for tips on how to refresh the look of your room. For those who are new to heat bathing or who have interest in Far-Infrared saunas, you are in for a treat. Because most Far-Infrared rooms operate on 120 volt power with either a 15 or 20 AMP service, many dealers are able to bring an operating Far-Infrared room to the show. If you have never experienced a Far-Infrared sauna, a Home and Garden Show can be a perfect introduction. If you have been carrying bags or pushing a stroller around the show, five minutes in the therapeutic heat of the Far-Infrared sauna will have you ready to walk the rest of the show.

If after visiting the booth you cannot decide which is better for you, Traditional or Far-Infrared sauna, don’t worry. Ask your dealer about an InfraSauna, which gives the best of both worlds. Available as panel-built or custom-cut rooms, the InfraSauna combines Traditional and Far-Infrared technology into one sauna room. When you are preparing for a workout, turn-on the Far-Infrared panels and feel your muscles and joints loosen to enhance your stretching and warm-up period. When you finish your warm-up, turn the Traditional sauna on to preheat, and when your workout is complete, pour some essential oils in your bucket of water, ladle some water over the rocks, and enjoy aroma therapy while relaxing in the enveloping heat and steam of your Traditional sauna.

To learn more about what's showing at your local Home and Garden Shows, check your newspaper or search on the internet, or you can contact your local dealer to see which shows they are attending. If there is no show in your area, click here for a brochure of sauna products.

Planning Your Sauna - by Craig Lahti

"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop." – Ovid (43 B.C. – 17 A.D.)

As Ovid observes in the quote above, at times we work ourselves too hard, and we forget to reward ourselves with rest and relaxation. It is during this time of relaxation that we can truly rejuvenate our mind, our body and our passion for life. For many people, the time spent preparing for and using a sauna is a treasured time, because it may be the only moments in the day that a person can truly focus on his or her own needs. To make the most of the sauna experience, a sauna’s design, location and features must be carefully planned.

When planning/designing your sauna, you should consider the following when determining the size and location of the sauna:

How many people will be using the sauna at one time?
Who will be using the sauna? Will it be your own private retreat, or perhaps you and your spouse? Do you plan to enjoy the sauna with family and friends – perhaps host a sauna party?
How do you intend to use the sauna, lying or sitting?
Where is the sauna going to be installed? Do you have enough physical space? Do you have easy access to the outdoors (for cooling off on a deck, or perhaps for a quick dip in a nearby pool).
Is there a shower near the sauna or is there plumbing for one to be installed?

The first three questions will help you to determine the size of the sauna you will require to accommodate your needs. If you intend for no more than 2 people to sit in the sauna, then the sauna can be as small as 4’ x 4’, but if room allow you may be more satisfied with a 4’ x 6’ sauna. However, if you intend for a family of four to use the sauna at one time, with some people lying down while others sit, then a 6’ x 8’ room with a "L" shaped bench configuration may better suit your plans.

Our experience has shown that the most popular size home sauna – year-in and year-out – is 5’ x 7’ or 6’ x 6’, due to the relatively small foot print, but with an upper L-bench providing room for two people to lie down at once, or four or five people seated on the top bench. An easy rule of thumb to use in your planning is "Two feet of upper bench per person seated".

Once you have determined what size room you require, carefully consider your home’s design. If you intend to use the sauna as a couples or personal retreat, then consider adding the sauna to your Master Bedroom Suite. If the sauna will be used as part of a work-out routine, consider adding the room to your fitness area. If the sauna is to be used by the family and friends, then choose an area large enough to accommodate the sauna as well as a changing area. For all applications, it is advisable to have a shower nearby to rinse off after the sauna.

Proper planning will allow you to fully appreciate the relaxing and restoring properties of the sauna experience. When you call or visit your local Finnleo dealer, they will be happy to assist you with the design of your sauna. For your closest dealer, click hereor call us at 1-800-346-6536. For a Finnleo brochure, click here.

Sauna Featured in Wall Street Journal

By Keith Raisanen, January 4, 2011

As further evidence of the growing interest in saunas, The Wall Street Journal featured a great sauna article in its December 29, 2010 issue. The front page of the “Personal Journal” section features the article, “The Home Improvement That’s the Hottest of Them All.”

Here’s the link to the WSJ article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704774604576035570758100808.html

Writer Anne Marie Chaker, based in WSJ’s Washing DC Bureau, did extensive sauna research for the article. I had the pleasure of having multiple phone conversations with Ms. Chaker. She said her interest in doing the sauna article began by noting, “One of the most prestigious social invitations one can get in Washington DC is an invitation to a sauna party at the Finnish Embassy.”

Chaker’s article nicely portrays the social aspects of sauna bathing—whether fortunate enough to enjoy the Finnish Embassy sauna, or with friends and family in home saunas. She notes that “…more Americans are making space for sauna rooms, clearing out basements, converting closets and even partitioning off backyard sheds.”

Chaker also points out that saunas are not only “Euro-cool” but also are growing in popularity due to their practical appeal—being less work to install and maintain than other spa-type amenities.

The WSJ article includes multiple photos of the sauna at the Finnish Embassy in Washington DC. I’ve had the pleasure of taking a sauna at the Embassy. It’s a beautiful sauna, constructed by our long-time dealer Erkki Lindstrom of “Saunas by Erkki”, Port Tobacco, Maryland. The heater used in the Embassy was a specially ordered, high kW heater from our factory in Finland.

The Finnish Embassy building is an architecturally stunning facility. For a photo tour of the Finnish Embassy, visit the Embassy site: http://www.finland.org/public/default.aspx?nodeid=35836&contentlan=2&culture=en-US

Finnleo launches new website and 80 page catalog

Keith Raisanen Blog entry for 12/28/10

The December snowfall for our area of Minnesota has broken an all-time record—making the sauna feel extra special. There’s nothing like a heat penetrating sauna after snow-blowing, shoveling or doing outside snow activities.

This Blog is the beginning of a new era for our company and for my Blog. We recently launched a new website: www.finnleo.com . Accompanying the new website is a new 80 page Finnleo sauna catalog. You can contact us for a copy of the catalog or you can download it from the website.

As part of the new website I plan (hope) to make more regular Blog entries; perhaps shorter entries than in the past but more timely.

The Finnleo website has several new features including a “Sauna Builder” where you can create your own sauna including your choice of wood, bench layout, heater model, etc. When completed with your dream sauna you can click on the Facebook link and submit your sauna to your Facebook account to show off the design to your friends.

Coming soon on the Finnleo website will be a fun campaign, “Win a Piece of Finland”, where Finnleo website visitors can enter to win an all-expense paid trip for two to Helsinki. More information will come out in January.

In thinking about 2010 and how so many of us are ‘recession weary’, perhaps feeling stressed out by our unsettled economy, I hope you have found a way to regularly enjoy your own “SaunaTime”—in your own sauna or perhaps at your health club. Make sauna a part of your 2011 personal wellness program—a sanctuary to refresh body and soul. It’s an investment in something that not only feels good, it’s good for you!

Happy New Year.

SaunaTime

Welcome to our new website and to my new Blog, SaunaTime. My goal is to create a place where people interested in sauna can go to learn more about the sauna experience and to find out what’s going on in our industry and in our company.

I hope the interactivity of this site will give you a chance to express your opinions and will help you and other readers get the most enjoyment out of your personal "SaunaTime”.

About me
Since this is my first entry, perhaps it would be appropriate to share with you a little about me and my personal connection to saunas. As you may be able to tell by my family name, I am of Finnish descent. All four of my grandparents emigrated from Finland to Minnesota around the turn of the century. One of their most dear connections to their homeland was the sauna.

Sauna has been an inseparable part of my entire life. SaunaTime to me and to my family is something extra special. A sauna is a quiet retreat where you can shut the door on the rest of the world, a place to relax, and a place where deep heartfelt communication is as natural as the sauna experience itself.

We have two saunas at our home—one indoors and one outdoors by the pool. We also have an outdoor wood burning sauna at our cabin on Lake Superior. For our family, SaunaTime in summer is often a sauna followed by a dip in the pool or into the frigid waters of Lake Superior—perhaps one of the most refreshing and invigorating experiences of all.

My favorite SaunaTime is the end-of-day ritual my wife, Heidi, and I enjoy. After getting our children in bed we find the sauna to be the ideal way to wind down and end the day—to share with each other the activities of the day and to relax in the soothing heat of the sauna. A sauna prior to going to bed also induces a deeper sleep—so we get the dual benefit of quiet, relaxing time together, followed by restful sleep.

About our company
This September we will be entering our 25th year of business. The company was founded in 1984, first as a hobby and as a good way to stay connected to Finland. Starting with no market share, our company has grown to become the largest sauna company in North America.

Through product innovation, a dedicated team of employees and through an incredibly committed network of specialty dealers, we have become the industry leader. We take the leadership role very seriously and are doing all we can to bring sauna and steam products to the marketplace to maximize the sauna experience.

What’s next?
I will be writing monthly about a variety of topics, including sauna history, health benefits of saunas, tips and guidelines on choosing a sauna, building a sauna and using a sauna. From time to time I’ll share personal stories and stories from other sauna enthusiasts. My goal is to create a place where people interested in sauna can go for information, news and fun. Keep this bookmark hot; there’s more to come.

Saunas and Dog Sledding

The most ancient sauna traditions go back thousands of years to Finland. Saunas offered welcome respite, particularly in winter months, to a tough physical life working in the arctic region fields and forests. It’s easy to imagine how great the soothing heat of a sauna was to those who spent their working hours in the snow and cold.

Another ancient winter tradition—dog sledding—was recently linked with saunas. Along with companies like Starbucks and Subaru, Finnleo Sauna was a corporate sponsor in the January 29, 2009 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon http://www.beargrease.com/about.htm. As a participating sponsor in this prestigious event, Finnleo provided a working wood-burning sauna for use by the mushers and race volunteers.

The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon course follows Lake Superior’s rugged and scenic shoreline. It is considered one of the most prestigious sled dog races in the lower 48 States, attracting mushers and spectators from around the world including many from the United States, Canada & Europe. It is one of the longest races outside Alaska, covering nearly 400 miles of difficult terrain.

The event kicked off in Duluth, Minnesota the last weekend in January. Over 4,000 spectators gathered in Duluth to view this spectacular event and 22 teams with up to 12 dogs tested their skills against this grueling course.

In addition to the challenges of the physical landscape, sub-zero temperatures provide a greater concern throughout the long event. Nature’s dominance in this region reigns first and foremost in the minds of the participants as they compete against some of the nation’s leading mushers.
After leaving Duluth, one of the race checkpoints was in tiny Finland, Minnesota. It was only fitting that our heated sauna was parked at the Finland checkpoint. Volunteers and mushers alike enjoyed the therapeutic heat of the sauna.

The Beargrease Race illustrates the camaraderie between mushers, the race volunteers and the communities of Lake Superior’s North Shore. We’re thrilled to have been a part of this great event.
As in Finland, “life in Minnesota and saunas” go hand in hand. One of America’s oldest Finnish saunas (perhaps oldest in North America) in located in Cokato, Minnesota—our corporate home. If you’re ever in this part of the country, please stop by to visit our facility as well as the Finnish Historic Park just outside of town http://www.cokato.mn.us/cmhs/fahs.html

The Christmas Sauna

As I think about the Christmas Eve sauna that my family and I will enjoy tomorrow, I reflect on what it means to me and why I enjoy it so much. Here in Minnesota the weather is much like the weather in Finland. It’s cold, it gets dark early and the ground is snow-covered. Stepping into a Finnish sauna triggers an emotional response that is difficult to describe but has deep, ancient connections to the time of my ancestors.

To many sauna enthusiasts, particularly Scandinavians, the Christmas Sauna is the most special sauna of the year. It’s easy to imagine how the Christmas Sauna became a tradition. In olden days the Christmas Sauna provided relaxation and soothing relief to manual labor.

The traditional Christmas Sauna is taken on Christmas Eve Day. This tradition dates back to past decades when the majority of Finns were still living in the countryside where life was quite hard, with work being primarily manual labor (e.g. farming and logging). Christmas was a time when everyone took time to relax and eat. Perhaps the best Christmas treat of all was to enjoy a sauna during the day—instead of working.

There is an old Finnish saying that can be roughly translated to something like this: “I wish it would always be Christmas so I could take sauna during the day and eat during the night.”

Christmas remains a special time to relax. During modern times the sauna offers the ideal way to get rid of the pre-holiday stress—simply close the door on the rest of the world and enter the peaceful and soothing sauna.

Today the Christmas Sauna tradition continues; most Finns go to sauna to bathe and relax before attending the Christmas Eve celebrations. The typical sauna routine is to go to sauna in the evening, but the Christmas Sauna is enjoyed before sunset on Christmas Eve. Following the sauna, many visit the graves of their families and friends before gathering together for a specially prepared Christmas dinner.

Imagine a Christmas Sauna: Outside it’s cold and dark. Entering the sauna you immediately feel the enveloping warmth, you smell the lingering scent of a Finnish forest, your skin turns rosy and feels new, muscle aches start to fade, you breathe clearly and deeply; wrapped in a soft, warm daydream, you know you’ll sleep soundly tonight. Isn’t this how people escaped the world hundreds of years ago? The good things in life never change.

May your Christmas Sauna be special. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a New Year that brings personal joy and satisfaction.

A ''Sauna and Swim''

Soaking up the sauna’s heat, one more ladle-full of water on the hot rocks; one more blast of soothing steam over our backs. On cue, someone says, "OK; let’s go!" Out the sauna door, a quick jog to the water’s edge and a quick dive into the water. From 180 degrees to 70 degrees in ten seconds. The exhilarating feeling of a sauna followed by a swim is pure bliss-something most sauna enthusiasts look forward to, yet is misunderstood by those who have never tried it.

In short-a Finnish sauna followed by a cold water swim is an experience that ranks right up there with some of life’s greatest pleasures. It creates a sense of well-being which is impossible to describe; it must be experienced.

A sauna at the lake
There are 470,000 summer cottages in Finland with 99.9% of them having a sauna near the water. As noted on the website for the International Sauna Society, "Everyone’s best sauna is bound to be at the family’s own summer cottage."

I would certainly agree with that. As much as I enjoy my sauna at home, my favorite is our wood burning sauna at our cabin on the shore of Lake Superior.

Lake Superior can be numbingly cold. Yet anyone who has done a "sauna and swim" at our cabin marvels at how enjoyable the experience is-even in water that is in the 50s or colder.

A sauna-by-the-lake may be ideal but a sauna-by-the-backyard-pool is also a real treat. A sauna can extend the backyard pool season by a good month on each end of summer-simply because it is so enjoyable taking a swim following a sauna. Even here in cold Minnesota, we begin using our pool in late April (followed by a sauna session, of course) and continue to use it until well into October. And that’s with no pool heater!

A backyard sauna can also double as a pool house. Many outdoor saunas include a changing room; perhaps even a shower and toilet. Thus, the sauna becomes a multi-use backyard amenity. The family can change into their swim suits there, can rinse off after they’re done swimming, and-of course, sauna and swim.
Exhilarating but soothing: extreme contrasts leading to contentment.
I hope you have an opportunity to try a sauna and swim-if not in your own backyard, perhaps at a friend’s cabin, or at a health club with a sauna near the pool. I’m certain you’ll agree it provides a unique kind of enjoyment. Following the swim you’ll be relaxed like never before; you’ll look better, feel better and sleep better.