Sauna Bath

A sauna is a sauna is a sauna - right? Well no, not actually, and there are differences between a wet sauna vs. dry sauna. The differences may mean you have added options depending on what type of sauna treatment you will benefit you the most - the wet sauna vs. dry sauna.

It's not surprising the many confuse the wet sauna vs. dry sauna, or for that matter confuse a wet sauna with a steam room. They are different though, as you will soon find out. All saunas use a radiant air heater that has volcanic stones in it. Just because the heather is in the sauna room does not always mean it is a wet sauna - it can be operated without moisture - hence the term dry sauna.

A dry sauna may have temperatures of up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. And that is extremely high and dry to breath. However, the humidity is very low, meaning your perspiration would evaporate quickly. These two factors would mean the high heat is more tolerable.

The converse is true for a wet sauna. Pour a small amount of water slowly over the rocks in the heater and watch the vapor created seep into the sauna walls. This may actually drop the temperature in the sauna, however it also raises the humidity by about 20 - 30 percent and the effect of the heat is intensified. As you can see, the differences between the wet sauna vs. dry sauna are a matter of degrees and amounts of water. Many European countries follow the practice of indulging in the dry sauna first, followed by a rest period outside the sauna. Then they go back in and sling water on the rocks for the wet sauna. Of course, as per sauna etiquette, showers are taken before and after the sauna.

If it's a question of a wet sauna vs. dry sauna in terms of benefits to your health, both sauna baths and steam baths stimulate circulation and respiration, reduce muscular tension and cleanse and rejuvenate the skin and body. How? By sweating.

During a 10-20 minute sauna session, your heart rate increases by 50-75% (the equivalent to a brisk walk). That's about the same response as you would get doing physical exercise. Blood vessels become more flexible and circulation to the extremities is increased.

In the final analysis of the wet sauna vs. dry sauna, both induce sweating that enhances cleansing of the skin and sweat glands. In fact, 30% of body wastes are passed through the skin, and profuse sweating boosts the detoxifying capacity of your body by opening pores and flushing impurities. Fascinating fact: spas and some other theraputic facilities use saunas and steam baths together with massage to loosen fatty tissue to battle cellulite.

Sauna Bath |