Women and Saunas

In a luxurious sauna women and men alike can sit back, socialize, be themselves and relax. All of these are wonderful for your outlook and health, not to mention friendships. But beyond just being social or relaxing for a man or woman sauna can also have other benefits that are happening without you even knowing it. While the steam penetrates your muscles to relax them and even help repair strains and sprains, there are other things going on underneath the surface.

While enjoying sauna women tend to sweat as much if not more than men. That is because women tend to retain more water than men, especially right before and during her monthly menstrual cycle. It is here that a sauna has a lot of extra benefits for a woman. Sauna, when used during her menstrual cycle, can help shed the extra water weight gain that plagues many women during this time of month. It also can help alleviate the uterine cramps and/or back aches that are often associated with PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome).

In a sauna women also shed toxins that can build up in their bodies. The reasons for these toxins are numerous- illness, smoking, stress, environment and many other factors can all contribute to this. The steam of a sauna can be therapeutic by releasing these toxins. This is also good news for menopausal women. Women who no longer have a monthly cycle or an intermittent one have one less way to rid their bodies of toxins. While on her period a woman often sheds toxins through the blood flow. But without this monthly cleansing, some toxins can stay in the body. Menopausal woman sauna to help get rid of some of these harmful chemicals and arguably enjoy this type of cleansing more.

While in the sauna women tend not to think of these alternate effects. Instead, they focus on how good the sauna feels on their skin or their tired, achy muscles. If a woman is particularly active and/or athletic, this may be especially true. But they rarely realize that being in a sauna also helps with their nervous system. The steam in a sauna stimulates parts of the central nervous system, making sure to keep this important system functioning properly.

Woman sauna benefits also include gland stimulation. The pituitary and adrenal glands, as well as the ovaries, are positively stimulated. Some believe this can lead to increased fertility, while others think it helps ease symptoms of not only PMS but also menopause while doing so.

But all health claims aside, the most important thing is that while in a sauna women feel good. The physical benefits to the reproductive, nervous and glandular systems are only part of enjoying the experience. If a woman is relaxing and destressing or even detoxing, these things will have an immediate and tangible effect that is worth the price of admission into a spa or health club to use them.

How To Build Sauna

Have you ever wanted to build your own sauna, but the thought of it was too daunting? Well believe it or not, the instructions are relatively easy to follow - and you can save yourself up to half of what a ready-build sauna would cost you. But saving money is not the only reason to learn how to build a sauna- there is also the reward of accomplishment that comes with taking on such a task, not to mention how impressive it is to do so.

If you do choose to build, the first thing you have to decide on before you shop for supplies is size. Believe it or not, some companies offer a kit where you can build your own sauna right in your apartment or condo bathroom! Of course, your landlord may not approve an apartment-build sauna, so it is more likely you would buy supplies or a kit for a separate area from your home.

If you own your home and build your own sauna, you will likely construct what is called a sauna cottage. If you buy a kit with all the materials, the only other things besides tools that you will need is a reputable book. Believe it or not, most kits don’t come with one!

If you choose not to buy a kit, you will have to buy all the wood and other materials yourself to build sauna rooms successfully. You will need enough wood for the cabin itself and for the benches, as many as you desire to have. You will also have to buy either a heater or collect rocks that are smooth and big enough to conduct their own heat and use those. Either way, the most important purchase is the wood- because you can’t use just any wood.

The wood you use to build your own sauna will determine your overall success. You must use a wood that won’t warp with moisture, such as knotty cedar or spruce, or moisture-resistant pine. Your benches should be made with a wood such as spruce or abachi. But of course the most important thing on your list it to make sure you get a book that explains how to build your own sauna so that you can put it all together.

Once you have the raw materials, then you need to get all the little things out of the way in order to build sauna baths effectively. For instance, you can’t just have a dark room- you need light. Deciding on cosmetic things such as light fixtures, doorway decorations and the like don’t seem all that important, but they are. You must make a blueprint of some sort and decide these things in advance- refer to your sauna-building book for details. Once you have decided all the little things and have your materials in hand, you will find out just how enjoyable and rewarding building your own sauna from scratch can be - not to mention the joy of bathing in it once it's completed.

Build Your Own Sauna or Sweatlodge

Whether to use an electric, gas, or wood burning stove is the first decision in saunas building. Geographic location may influence your choice. If you live in the country where firewood is plentiful and fires have minimum of environmental impact, the wood burning stove is the best performer and must be considered first choice.

Electric or gas stoves hardly match the pleasing aroma and smoothness of the wood stove. But in cities, electric and gas heated saunas are the most practical. No preparation like cutting and carrying wood and priming the fire is needed; they are easy to clean and leave no ashes. Although electric stoves outsell gas stoves by far, gas is three times cheaper than electricity in most parts of the country.

Local building codes may also determine the type of saunas you build; for example, ordinances, which vary from community to community, may restrict the use of wood burning stoves. Some times they require specific types of stoves, fire insulation, flues and chimneys. But generally, since most saunas are not used as habitual rooms, building regulations are minimal.

After you have chosen a stove begin planning for the following:

Size of the sweat room where the heater will be placed. Size depends on the number of bathers, the capacity of stove and bench arrangement. Specific dimensions are discussed later.

A provision for washing. A separate washing room is preferred, but space or budget limitations may necessitate washing inside the sweat room (a common practice in Finnish countryside saunas.) In either case, plan a means of producing hot water.

A dressing/relaxing room or some protection against the elements. This can be a simple placement of wind breakers or even an open porch adjoining the sweat room.

A clean, simple design using wood. This warm, friendly material inspires quiet socializing, meditation and a retreat from the rigors of the day.

Location. Since a place to cool the body after a session in the sweat room is needed, the ideal place for a sauna is near a lake, river or an ocean. However, a swimming pool or a simple shower will serve well. Be considerate of your neighbors. Locate your cooling area (where you don't want to be hampered by clothes) with discretion.

Orientation. Know the course of the sun and moon and plan your windows, doors and porches to catch their light. This will beautifully enhance the mood of the saunas.

Here are a few Finnish words which apply to the sauna and I use throughout the text. They are easy to learn, at least as easy as cappuccino.