Home saunas can be installed in your home, an out building or they can be a complete stand-alone unit.

Do You Want an Indoor or Outdoor Sauna?

If you have enough room inside your home, you can assemble an infrared sauna indoors. Maybe you have an extra room that’s being used as a home gym? An infrared sauna will make an excellent addition to your family gym. If you are fortunate enough to have a very large bathroom with some extra space consider installing a sauna. In or around a bathing/showering area would be a logical choice because you must rinse off in a shower after exiting the sauna. If you have no space inside or prefer the outdoors, consider adding a home sauna specifically designed for outdoor use. Keep in mind that outdoor saunas are treated and constructed in a different manner to an indoor infrared sauna. If you wish to an infrared sauna outside it needs to be placed in an out building such as a garage, cabin or any other garden shelter that would protect the sauna from the elements.

If you’re looking for an easy, affordable way to set up an infrared sauna in your home, opt for a flat-pack sauna. This type of home sauna arrives in panel form with detailed instructions, so you can easily assemble it yourself. To install the sauna, you’ll simply piece the sides together using slots, install the roof and bench. These saunas are manufactured in various sizes and shapes to fit your tastes and room size requirements. Aqualine Saunas offers two different types of wood cedar and hemlock. Cedar wood is often preferable because it is durable, resistant to decay, aromatic and can withstand harsh weather conditions (this is why most outside saunas are cedar). Cedar wood is also pleasing to the eye, providing added beauty for your home.

Opting for a pre-built outdoor sauna does limit your choice somewhat in terms of design although your choice of wood is greater. The units come flat packed and are self assembled, but construction is a little more difficult than that of an infrared sauna. You also have the option of selecting a wood burning stove for that authentic sauna experience.

Your final option is to build your own home sauna using materials from various manufacturers. This affords you the greatest freedom as you can make your home sauna any shape and use any type of wood. It’s likely to be an expensive venture though and you have to ensure that you’re a confident DIY-er if you don’t want to employ a carpenter. You can even source stand alone infrared sauna heaters if you don’t want a traditional steam sauna. These come at a premium however and need to be perfectly placed if you want to get the most from your home sauna experience.

Aqualine stock a range of home and commercial saunas that may suit your needs so please browse our website for inspiration. You can always ask us if you are unsure, with no obligation to purchase.

Much like anything that is used – be it a car or a living room — a sauna needs cleaning from time to time. Not only for the look of the sauna, but for health reasons also. An unclean sauna can be very dangerous to the health of those who are using it. Because of the high heat conditions of the sauna, it can be a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Making sure that you keep your sauna clean will help to lower the amount of these harmful germs.

Benches and walls can collect the same amount of debris as floors, as you spend most of your time seated and leaning against a wall or lying down in saunas. When these areas are being cleaned, a mild detergent and water solution should be used. Harsh chemicals can damage the wood and should not be used. When cleaning a sauna, pay special attention to the areas most frequently touched: controls and switches, door handles, and benches. Make sure you wipe away all soap residue, but do not use too much water, which can damage the sauna’s wood.

It is a good habit to use a disinfecting spray periodically. This spray should be used on a more frequent basis than when you are cleaning the sauna. For example, you might only clean the sauna once a month or so. However, you should spray disinfectant at least once a week, if you use the sauna that often.

You can mop the floor with a mild soap or detergent depending on the material that is used on the floor. Mop the floor in a way that is similar to what you would do for other floors.

Avoid the urge to use a hose to spray the sauna as this will often cause more damage than good.

Athletes today enjoy greater technological advances that they can apply to their training and recovery programs than ever before. Research and medicine have evolved greatly, and athletes who take advantage of the best and latest tools, products and systems can see great returns in terms of their body and their performance. One such tool which has seen a huge increase in usage is the infrared sauna. Infrared saunas provide range of benefits, and most importantly, can significantly reduce injury recovery times.

Injury recovery times can vary greatly, depending of course on the type of injury sustained. A pulled muscle might take a few days to heal, while a torn muscle or ligament can take months. This of course removes the athlete from action, and limits their effectiveness and capability. Any method that can effectively reduce healing time should be carefully examined and utilised, and that’s what infrared saunas for athletes are all about.

In the past, the options for dealing with injuries were pretty limited. Typically you can treat the symptoms of the injury such as pain, but recovery time wasn’t cut whatsoever. Surgical procedures could be performed for bad injuries, and those come with their own long rehabilitation programs. Physical therapy can also be performed, but that’s an ongoing process, and one which cannot always be effectively applied.

The solution is to go back to something more natural and basic. When in doubt, a natural mode of healing and recovery is always preferable, and that’s what infrared saunas for athletes can do. It has been well documented that radiant heat is an excellent means for treating injuries ranging from sprains and strains to pulls, tears, muscle spasms and more.

So what makes radiant heat so effective, and how is it different from other kinds of heat?
Infrared saunas utilise that special form of heat transfer known as radiant heat or radiation, mentioned above. When being heated through radiation, the surrounding air doesn’t have to get hotter for the user to get hot. Instead, infrared or radiant heat directly heats the body. The heat therefore doesn’t just come into contact with the outside of the body; it actually penetrates the body’s tissues.

Joints, muscles, tissues and everything else actually receives this radiant heat directly. What this does is increases the flow of both oxygen and blood to the body or targeted area. It also relieves tension and relaxes the muscles, reducing soreness on nerves and in muscle spasms, and allows the body to heal itself more efficiently. The body will feel instantly better, but more importantly will be able to heal itself much more rapidly, efficiently and successfully.

All of this provides the body with great and profound therapeutic benefits. It’s not all conjecture either, it’s backed by some of the leading researchers in the fields of sports medicine. One expert in the field, Dr. Jeffrey Spencer, who has a Master’s in Sports Science from the University of Southern California, notes that infrared saunas for athletes increases blood flow to muscles, delivers more concentrated oxygen to the muscles and in turn creates more energy and capacity for the body to heal itself.
If you’re an athlete today, it’s time to catch up with the latest treatments so that you can perform at your best and recover more successfully, and in less time.

Infrared saunas are going to be a big feature at the London 2012 Olympic Games. This article http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/8404631/London-2012-Olympics-Oscar-Pistorius-reveals-how-he-has-changed-body-to-make-Games-qualifying-time.html from The Telegraph details how a sauna has helped Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius improve his fitness and performance is preparation for the competition.

Let’s talk about the difference between a sauna and a steam room and which one is potentially better.

Even though they’re both basically hot baths, a sauna uses dry heat and a steam room uses moist heat. Saunas have very low humidity, which means they can be much hotter than steam rooms. They’re usually between 80°C and 100°C, which is perfectly safe because they use dry heat.

A steam room on the other hand is usually about 40°C any hotter than that it could scald your skin. Steam rooms are heated with a steam generator where the steam is fed into an almost airtight room where it builds up to create a humidity level around 100%.

The construction material also differs. Saunas are usually made of wood and include wooden benches to sit on where as steam rooms need to be designed to contain the moisture created by the steam. A material like ceramic tile is often used and more recently some plastics. Steam rooms are also built with a slanted or concave ceiling most of the time to prevent moisture build-up from dripping onto the bathers.

But which one is better? This one is really a matter of personal preference, although some experts do favour one over the other but taking one or the other is better than neither.

Infrared saunas and steam baths both have therapeutic benefits.

They’re all good for the following:
• improving blood circulation
• easing muscle tension
• promoting feelings of relaxation and well-being
• enhancing detoxification processes

Steam rooms will feel warmer than an infrared sauna because when you perspire the sweat doesn’t evaporate and carry away the heat.
If you have a respiratory ailment such as asthma or sinus congestion you may prefer the moisture present in the steam bath. Steam inhalation is very effective against bronchitis, sinusitis and other allergies.

The next time you are suffering with a cold bend over a steaming hot pot of water with a towel draped over your head to trap the steam and direct it toward the face. You’ll feel the benefit immediately. With a steam room the effect is increased considerably.

Moving onto maintenance both are relatively easy and trouble free. A steam room can be washed with a ceramic tile cleaner, and the steam generator will require periodic draining.

The floor of a wood sauna should be cleaned once a week to once a month with a mild detergent to prevent or rotting and staining.

So there you have it; it really is a matter of personal preference. We here at Aqualine stock both infrared saunas and steam rooms so please feel free to browse the site. If you have any question you can comment on this blog post or contact us by phone or email.

We have recently received a video testimonial from one of our customers based in the south of France. It’s always nice to hear good things about our products and even better if we have images and videos to share. Thank you John and Dana!

Reviews are an important part of showing people how good a product is and definitely help potential buyers to better understand what they are about to invest in. There is no better reviewer than a customer who has used a product and is fully aware of its features and benefits.

We are often asked if a certain sauna would compliment or just ‘look right’ with certain decor. If any of our customers wish to contribute it would be fantastic to see some images of your sauna set ups; or even a video if you’re feeling as confident as John and Dana. We are grateful for all the feedback we receive.

You can view the video testimonial at the bottom of this article and head over to our testimonials page to see what other customers had to say about a SaunaMed infrared sauna.

As numerous research articles have discovered, using an infrared sauna has helped countless people who suffer from asthma, bronchitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and many other physical ailments. And while the condition known as Raynaud’s disease has perhaps not received as much attention as those previously mentioned, credible sources are suggesting that the use of an infrared sauna can benefit its sufferers as well. As a suffer of Raynaud’s myself this is something that I can relate to.

Raynaud’s phenomenon occurs when the extremities of the body, usually the fingers and toes, change colour and may become painful. It is due to a narrowing (constriction) of the small blood vessels on exposure to the cold, or to a change in temperature, or to emotional stress. In most cases, the cause is not known. In some cases, it is a symptom of an underlying condition such as scleroderma, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis. The main treatment is to keep warm or drugs to open up the blood vessels are used in severe cases.

As for how a sauna can help people who suffer from Raynaud’s, as well as those who wish to avoid such suffering, both the traditional Finnish sauna and the infrared sauna offer health benefits that are very relevant to this topic. For example, during a session in either type of sauna, the users heart responds to the sauna heat by increasing blood flow and perspiration production to cool the body. In this way, sauna bathing is a form of cardiovascular exercise.

Perspiring in a sauna, especially an infrared sauna, also helps the body rid itself of harmful toxins that have built up over time. With experts having already drawn the connection between nicotine, secondhand smoke and Raynaud’s, this benefit is certainly noteworthy.

As anyone who has stepped into a sauna seeking relief from muscle aches should already know sauna bathing also offers a proven way to alleviate pain. A clinical study conducted at Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Science Centers at the University of Toronto confirmed that far infrared therapy can bring about significant improvements in both subjective measures of pain and discomfort associated with Raynaud’s disease.

Lastly, sauna bathing fosters relaxation and stress relief. To those Raynaud’s sufferers whose attacks are caused by emotional stress, as well as to the innumerable Raynaud’s sufferers whose emotional stress is understandably caused by their attacks, this news is likely very welcome.

If you think you may be suffering from Raynaud’s disease or Raynaud’s phenomenon, be sure to discuss your concerns with your General Practitioner. Meanwhile, you’d be wise to investigate the many ways a home sauna, be it a traditional Finnish sauna or a far infrared sauna, can improve your health and happiness.

In recent years there has been considerable discussion and concern about the possible hazards of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Many doctors and medical experts are advising the avoidance of exposure levels of 3mG (Milli-Gauss) or higher. Electromagnetic fields are created when electric current flows, such as using a hair dryer, microwave or cell phone. Your brain even has its own EMF.

Many experts and public officials, as well as the few governments that have made an effort to offer public protection, have adopted the 3mG cut-off point. The EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) has proposed a safety standard of 3mG. Sweden has also set a recommended safety limit of 3mG.

SaunaMed found that standard infrared emitters can emit high levels of EMR and carbon heaters give off much higher levels of Electro Magnetic Radiation. EMR Neutral infrared heaters by SaunaMed give off no EMR, the patent pending technology ensures that you are never exposed to high levels of EMR in the sauna, even when on the backrest. Thorough testing only picked up any sign of EMR when the sensor was touching the actual heater.

SaunaMed is one of the most widely accepted sauna brands used by doctors and other health care professionals. Residential users receive exactly the same product that healthcare professionals use in professional environments. That’s why we here at Aqualine only stock SaunaMed infrared saunas so can be sure you’re getting the best technology has to offer.

With the cold weather firmly upon us and no sign of a reprieve just yet, now is the perfect time to use your sauna to help stave off the seasonal cold and flu.
Scientists have recently confirmed the age-old notion that hot liquids can relieve cold and flu symptoms. But what about a dose of heat on a much larger scale say, in a sauna?

With temperatures of 55 Celsius or greater; infrared saunas have been recommended for arthritis, asthma and chronic fatigue amongst other ailments. Some reputed benefits have not been examined, but there is strong evidence that saunas help speed recovery from the common cold and flu as well as reducing their occurrence.

Some researchers suspect sauna heat reduces symptoms because it improves drainage, while others speculate that the high temperatures help weaken cold and flu viruses. Why this might prevent sickness in the first place, however, is unclear but research suggests a positive effect.

In a study by Austrian researchers a group of 50 adults were split into two groups and tracked for six months. One group was instructed to use saunas regularly; the other group abstained. At the end of the study the sauna group had contracted fewer colds.

“This was found particularly during the last three months of the study period, when the incidence was roughly halved compared to controls,” the scientists wrote.
If you’re considering purchasing a sauna this is just one of the many health benefits that they can offer. No matter what your requirements we at Aqualine can offer advice and products. You can use the contact us form or telephone our sales line for advice on which sauna is best for you.

Source
Regular sauna bathing and the incidence of common colds.
Ernst E, Pecho E, Wirz P, Saradeth T.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Vienna, Austria.
New York Times

Our SaunaMed Infrared Saunas are constructed using various 2 types of wood; Canadian Red Cedar and Canadian Hemlock, but why?

Besides the disparity in price, there are several other key differences that are important to understand and we encourage our customers to do the research and learn the differences for themselves. Since the farming of wood is such a huge part of the sauna it should play a part in any purchasing decision.

Canadian Hemlock wood does not give off toxins, under high temperatures, which pine and Sitka wood do. The wood in our saunas has a fine grain and virtually no knots, which eliminates the chances of splinting or any rough surfaces and gives a softer feel. Hemlock is known for its natural strength and durability; it is naturally resistant to decay therefore ideal for sauna uses. Its longevity is 300 -1000 years, most other woods average 200 years. Hemlock is commonly used for bridge timbers, house sills; the grain patterns are dramatically beautiful so it is prized as material for flooring, panelling and trim. Hemlock is a strong, safe, very attractive and has an even grained wood texture.

Canadian Cedar wood gives off a pleasant aroma that can also have a therapeutic effect, as shown by thousands of years of tradition. Cedar wood has been used throughout the ages by various races. The first documented use of cedar wood oil was by the Ancient Egyptians 2000-3000 years before Christ. They used cedar wood oil in the mummification process and also made the coffin from cedar wood. The Egyptians and the Greeks used cedar wood oil to ward off infections and as an ingredient used in cosmetics. They impregnated papyrus leaves with it to repel insects.

Early Europeans used cedar wood oil to help heal the sick and to prevent outbreaks of disease. The English herbalists Nicholas Culpepper, had observed that cedar wood was a remedy for heart failure, coughs, shortness of breath, tuberculosis and menstruation. American Indians seemed to have used cedar wood oil for almost any health condition. When used for burning, cedar wood strengthens and harmonises, while the essential oil has a calming and soothing effect on nervous stress. The Indians used cedar wood for all respiratory problems as well as for arthritis, rashes and menstrual pain.

Below is a quick summary of the pro’s and con’s of each wood. We hope that this information will be of use to you and aid you in your choice. Don’t forget if you’re still not sure which wood would be right for you give us a call or send us an email and we’ll be happy to help.

Hemlock Wood Saunas

Light colour wood
Wood comes from the Canadian hemlock tree
Lower in price
Slight natural wood aroma
Non-allergenic
Non-toxic

Cedar Wood Saunas

Dark colour
Wood from the Canadian cedar tree
Natural cedar aroma
May cause allergic reaction in sensitive persons
Non-toxic