Published by Ian on July 21st, 2010
In today’s marketplace, there are two types of saunas: far infrared or the traditional variety and we stock both variants here at Aqualine Saunas. Both products perform the basics of sauna therapy by cleansing the body via perspiration. The soothing heat causes the pores of the skin open up, releasing impurities from the body and leaving skin re-toned and refreshed. But which one is right for you? Today we’re going to examine both types and hopefully determine which one would best suit your needs.
Infrared Saunas
The far infrared sauna has been around since the mid-1960s. Using modern technology, heat is generated by ceramic heaters converting almost 100% of the energy supplied into infrared thermal heat waves. Far infrared radiation warms only the object and does not raise the temperature of the atmosphere. To understand how infrared heat works, picture yourself outdoors on a summer day with the sun beaming down. Your body feels warm from the sun and you become hot. Then a cloud passes overhead, blocking out the sun. The temperature outside has not changed, but you feel cooler in the shade. Your body was being heated by the sun’s infrared rays. Infrared heaters warm the body in the same manner as natural sunlight.
While the far infrared causes you to sweat, the composition of chemicals found in the sweat is quite different from that produced by a traditional sauna. The sweat of people using a Far Infrared sauna will not only contain water, but will also contain cholesterol, fat-soluble toxins, heavy metals such as mercury and aluminium. Normal sweat produced by other methods, including exercise, is mostly water and sodium chloride. Sweat produced in this way is 97% water and 3% toxins but sweat produced in a far infrared sauna is 80% water and 20% toxins.
Traditional Saunas
The traditional sauna is what everyone pictures when they hear the word sauna. The steam and heat sauna has been used for centuries by cultures all over the globe. A small room or hut is used and the burning of wood provides heat. Once the fire has been extinguished the sauna is ready for use. Steam is provided by water being splashed onto highly heated rocks. The steam evenly distributes the heat, which can reach 100 degrees Celsius.
Steam saunas raise the temperature of the surrounding air so that within the sauna some people have difficulty breathing. This may be considered an advantage for young people with healthy lungs but isn’t so great for the older generation or people with breathing related health problems. The steam helps release toxins and potentially harmful viruses from the lungs but for those with problems breathing, a steam sauna could worsen the condition. The opposite can be said for infrared saunas which as previously mention heat the body directly without effecting the surrounding environment. The body still perspires without aggravating breathing problems.
Another big factor in your decision is the availability of space. Traditional saunas need a large area to place the cedar-lined room with enough room to provide for benches that seats at least four people. Also, you must make sure that the room in which the sauna is to be placed is waterproof and has the necessary electrical connections so that the heater can operate safely. Sizes of units can be made to order and the design made especially for your project.
In comparison infrared saunas are require much less space and have little set-up time. Even people that live in an apartment can find room for an infrared sauna. As all of our infrared products are designed for home assembly they can also be relocated with only a little effort. However the main advantage to an infrared sauna is the set up and running costs; the infrared sauna is much cheaper than the traditional alternative and running costs are very reasonable. If you where to use an infrared for 30 minutes a day over a month the typical cost is £4pcm. For a traditional sauna you’re looking at least £30! It can up to an hour for a traditional sauna to become useable; 5 minutes is all an infrared sauna needs.
Some people really do prefer thing the old fashioned way and there’s nothing wrong with that, but infrared saunas have many more health benefits.
