Tuesday, October 18, 2011

A Look Back At Past And Current Saunas

By Adriana Noton


The many health benefits of saunas is not a recent discovery. Using the steam and smoke baths to clean the body along with reducing stress has long been a part of various religious and social traditions in a number of different cultures for many thousands of years. Romans along with Mediterranean cultures all had bathing facilities which were important in private and public life.

However when it comes to the development of a modern sauna, the Finns will be attributed this credit. Historical records have clearly shown they constructed the very first wooden sauna many thousands of years back. Generally these were built into embankments, later as tools started getting more advanced they were built over the ground and used wooden logs. Rocks were heated inside stone fireplaces by a wood fire and smoke filled the room, leading to very warm air.

When the temperatures reached a certain level, smoke was allowed to clear which was when bathers would enter. Eventually these went from being manufactured of wood to metal and had a chimney. Air temperatures would become very hot and steam vapor would be created from splashing water over heated rocks.

All this heat and steam would cause the bather to begin perspiring, this led to flushing away any impurities or toxins from within the body. Birch twigs were used also to gently stimulate the persons pores and cells.

The saunas also were used as a place where people could clear their minds, rejuvenate and refresh their spirit, and additionally prepare their recently deceased for brutal. It really was a highly important part of daily living, many families actually bathed together in their home sauna. Also, since they were extremely clean and water was usually accessible, women typically would give birth inside the sauna as well.

The present day sauna currently has numerous selections and features as they are highly technologically advanced. Heating options now incorporate not just wood, but additionally electricity along with gas and even methods that are unconventional such as solar energy. One of the latest modern developments would be the infrared sauna that employs a heat tank which can produce infrared radiation rays much like those made by the Sun.

A sauna can be installed in a home or an apartment, or even in the backyard. There have been some cases when clients have even installed these on their rooftop. There are many different possibilities and innovative designs, yet the biggest attraction today as in past centuries are the many health benefits that they offer. With their increasing popularity, these health benefits have started to become much more widely documented. The biggest is typically its cleansing action due to heavy perspiration.

Apart from cleaning an individuals pores, the intense temperature from saunas will stimulate white blood cells in addition to enhancing circulation considerably. This leads to the promoting of healing infection and muscle injuries. Many additionally believe they will attain pain alleviation from arthritis. An additional gain is alleviation from muscle stress and pains, plus the fact that for many people it's a highly soothing experience. The overall satisfaction from a sauna continues to attract many worldwide today.




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