Why Choose a Traditional Sauna?

When deciding on the type of sauna to purchase, consumers are given a variety of options which include traditional saunas, infrared saunas, steam saunas and even hybrid models that combine steam and heat. You can get overwhelmed quickly with so many options available. As a sauna manufacturer that produces all types of saunas we have put together a series of helpful guides that can assist you in determining the right type of sauna for your needs.

In this guide, we will be discussing traditional saunas. We will cover both the pros and cons of traditional saunas so you can determine if this type of sauna is right for you. We will start with how traditional saunas work, the health benefits, and then discuss the distinct benefits and drawbacks of traditional saunas when compared to other types of saunas so that you can make an informed decision based on your lifestyle preferences and needs.

How traditional saunas work:

·       Traditional saunas use a wood burning stove or an electric heater with hot stones to heat the air inside the sauna cabin. Most people use an electric heater in lieu of having to supply their own wood, especially in saunas that are located indoors. Some outdoor enthusiasts, on the other hand, utilize wood stoves to heat their traditional outdoor sauna. Outdoor traditional saunas with wood burning stoves are more prevalent in densely wooded parts of the country with seasonably longer climates and wood supply is abundant while most indoor saunas use electric heaters.

·       By the nature of the heat source, traditional saunas take longer to heat up and prep for the sauna session (imagine collecting wood and stoking a fire to get it up to temperature). Electric sauna heaters are a cleaner, more effective way to heat the sauna cabin as they use heating elements inside the sauna heater to radiate heat throughout the sauna cabin. The heater elements take time to heat the sauna up. While electric sauna heaters range in power output, they are matched to the size of sauna cabin therefore the heat up time is relatively the same for different size sauna cabins. On average a traditional sauna takes 35-45 minutes to reach full temperature. While the time it takes for the sauna to heat up may be considered a drawback to time-constrained users, many electric sauna heaters today can be controlled with timers or remote access allowing users to pre-set their sauna to be ready when they are.  

Traditional sauna benefits

Traditional saunas offer several advantages over other types of saunas like infrared or steam saunas.

·       High heat – Traditional saunas provide higher heating ranges than other saunas typically ranging from 150–195°F. The high heat encompasses the entire sauna (air and surfaces) which product a more authentic sauna experience. This high level of heat encourages more profuse sweating and a more intense sauna experience. Comparatively, infrared saunas have maximum temperatures of 150°F and steam saunas are lower with a maximum temperature of 120°F.

·       Humidity-traditional saunas use rocks located on top of the heating source to radiate the heat more effectively. Pouring water over these rocks produces high levels of steam and humidity which accelerates the release of endorphins in your body resulting in stress relief and relaxation.

·       Shorter sessions- Due to the intensity of the heat, sauna sessions are shorter and typically only require 10–20 minutes to achieve the same results of other saunas.

Health benefits of traditional saunas

While the overall health benefits of traditional saunas are similar in nature to all saunas, there are specific wellness benefits of traditional saunas that need to be considered.  

o   Relaxation and Stress Relief-The intense heat of traditional saunas heat helps relax muscles, reduce physical tension, and promote mental calm. Many users report a profound sense of relaxation after sauna sessions, in part because increased body temperature and sweating stimulate the release of endorphins ("feel-good" hormones).

o   Cardiovascular and Circulatory Benefits-Regular use can boost heart rate, improve blood flow, and may help support cardiovascular health—similar in nature to a mild to moderate cardio workout.

o   Pain Relief and Muscle Recovery: The high heat of traditional saunas can also soothe sore muscles and joints more effectively than infrared or steam saunas and can aid recovery from exercise or chronic pain conditions such as arthritis or back pain.

o   Detoxification: Profuse sweating helps flush out impurities from the skin. While infrared saunas are designed to penetrate the skin deeper than a traditional sauna with radiant heat, the intensity of the heat from a traditional sauna may be more effective in enhanced detoxification processes through sweat.

o   Immune System Support: There is evidence Immune System Health

that regular sauna use can stimulate increased production of white blood cells, potentially strengthening the body’s defenses and reducing occurrence of colds and other minor infections.

o   Sleep Quality: Sauna use, especially in the evening, has been linked to deeper, better-quality sleep, likely due to the relaxing effects and the natural drop in body temperature afterwards.

o   Community and Tradition: For many, the communal and cultural aspects of traditional sauna (especially in Nordic countries) are an important part of the appeal, offering opportunities for socializing and shared wellbeing.

Drawbacks of Traditional Saunas

Now that we have discussed benefits of traditional saunas, let’s talk about some of the drawbacks and additional things you should consider before investing in a traditional sauna.

·       Due to the high levels of heat that traditional saunas create, models with electric heaters are required to be placed on a dedicated 240V circuit capable of supplying up to 50 amps of power, similar to a dryer outlet. This may not be feasible in smaller homes or condos and require an electrician to install a separate circuit.

·       Traditional sauna heaters require more maintenance and have less temperature control especially if you use a wood burning stove. Because of the ash created by wood burning stoves and the residue that results as the rocks disintegrate, traditional saunas require more maintenance and cleaning than simple plug and play infrared models. Maintenance includes cleaning residual ash or rock from the stove, ensuring proper ventilation of the sauna if you are using water over the rocks, and wiping the sauna down occasionally  with a  water and baking so mix to keep in clean and sanitized.

·       Traditional saunas with electric heaters also use more energy because they are slower to heat and require more power to operate. This can result in higher utility bills making them less energy efficient than infrared models.

Summary: Is a traditional sauna right for you?

The answer as to whether a traditional sauna is right for you depends on several questions that you need to ask yourself.

1.       Your lifestyle (e.g. do you have time to commit to the process?) If you are willing to incorporate the sauna into your daily routine given the time it takes to heat up?

2.       Heat preference-if you currently use a sauna in a commercial environment like a gym or spa then you are already accustomed to the high heat and humidity. A sauna with less heat and no humidity will not feel the same or produce the same results as you are used to at the gym so a traditional sauna would be a better fit.

3.       Maintenance requirements-are you content with cleaning the sauna on a routine basis and willing to make the financial investment of hiring an electrician to provide the necessary power requirements?

In summary, a traditional sauna is ideal if you desire intense, authentic dry heat combined with humidity and value this time-tested wellness tradition. If you have time to commit to the process and understand the maintenance involved then a traditional sauna would be the right fit for you. If you would like to see the traditional saunas we offer you can visit https://sunraysaunas.com/traditional/indoor-traditional