Saunas: Hot Air or True Therapy?

By Marcus Sheridan

It was a cold November day. The wind chill was in the 30's and the last thing I wanted to do was jump in a near freezing lake. But this was exactly the position I found myself in last year during a sauna conference our supplier, Finnleo, put on for all of its dealers. Allow me to explain.

Modern technology and medical research can now verify what the Finns have known for 2000 years: A sauna not only makes you feel good, it's good for you. Numerous studies in Scandinavia and throughout Europe have focused on how the body responds in a sauna. The research demonstrates that when you raise the core body temperature in a sauna, several very good changes occur.

First of all, you sweat (now wasn't that obvious). This allows toxins to be flushed from your body. You also burn calories, as much as 300 per 15 minute session. You get a cardio-vascular workout; blood vessels dilate and heart rate increases. During the sauna process, (where temperatures range from 160 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit) your body naturally produces endorphins, which in turn leads to less mental stress, soothes muscles and joints, and helps induce a deeper sleep. Considering I use a sauna on average 3 times a week, I have verified for myself that these benefits are true, and there aren't many things we can do as natural as a sauna to get such an array of health benefits.

Customers often tell us they have concerns over how much space is needed for a sauna. Our answer to this question is simple. By carrying Finnleo, the largest manufacturer of saunas in the world, we have the ability to get any size sauna we want, and even customized to fit when necessary. We also give our customers the option of an outdoor or indoor sauna. With such a diverse line of models and sizes, there is no reason why anyone would not have the room for a Finnleo Sauna, which brings me back to my Minnesota Experience.

With the owner of Finnleo being a true Finn, he wanted all of his dealers to experience what he called the "Sauna/Swim" phenomenon. The first thing we did was relax in his wood burning, outdoor sauna, which was kept around 200 degrees. This was the hottest sauna I had been in my entire life. Normally, I like the temperature to hover around 175-180, but being the inexperienced red-blooded American I am, the 200+ degree temperatures were intense. After having sat for about 15 minutes, the leader of the group jumped up and instructed everyone to follow his lead. The next thing I knew we were running in a line toward a pier. Everyone ahead of me, including my partner Jim, dove in head first into the ice cold lake water. Without much thought myself, I followed the pack. Expecting my heart to stop beating when I hit the water, I was pleasantly surprised with the refreshing coolness that swept my body. After a few minutes in the lake, everyone was out and back in the sauna. We all did this sauna/swim about three times, and then called it a day. It was an experience I won't soon forget, and has certainly helped me to further understand what the Finns have always known: A sauna is an easy means to refreshing the mind, body, and soul.

If you would like to set up a private appointment to use one of our saunas or have any questions, just call our Tappahannock store today to find out more.