Saunas and Stuff CA

Having your own sauna is a great investment in your physical and mental health. If you are a new sauna owner, however, the world of saunas can be a little daunting! The first thing you really need to decide is whether you want an outdoor sauna or indoor sauna. Both have their benefits and drawbacks. Choosing between the two boils down to your own preference, available space inside or outside your home, and your budget.

Indoor Saunas

Being located indoors means that indoor saunas, in general, have better access to electricity and water. This makes for easier, quicker, and cheaper installation as there may be no need for water hook-up or wiring installation. You also wont need to insulate the sauna against weather, as your home will be providing that protection. Often, indoor saunas make use of one or two exisiting walls, which reduces construction costs. Often, you can easily convert an existing room. Best of all, the sauna is located very conveniently and is comfortably accessible regardless of weather.

The drawbacks are that you will lose space or maybe even an entire room to the sauna. You will need to create proper ventilation for the sauna, and it also may be difficult to create proper drainage. Overall, however, indoor saunas are the more affordable of the two options.

Some great indoor saunas offered here at Saunasandstuff.ca include the 2 Person Corner Carbon Fiber, DYN-6225 LeMans and the RED CEDAR 4 Person Carbon Fiber, MX-K406.

Outdoor Saunas

photo by Härmägeddon via Wikimedia Commons

Outdoor saunas have benefits indoor saunas can't offer. Because they are constructed outside, you are only limited by the available outdoor space and your imagination. Also, you can build an outdoor sauna to take advantage of a good view or good light. They are also easier to ventilate and drain.

However, as it is exposed to the elements, you will need good quality outer paneling and insulation, which increases the cost over an indoor sauna. You'll also need to consider hiring a contractor to ensure all wiring for the sauna is up to code. The sauna will also need a solid foundation and you may need to run wiring and plumbing out to it. These all tend to increase the cost. However, you don't sacrifice any space inside your home, and an outdoor sauna can be an attractive addition to your property. It's also much easier to host sauna parties with an outdoor sauna.

What kind of sauna do you think you'd prefer? Or tell us which kind you already have! Leave your comments below.

• https://www.energymizers.com/blog/finnish-sauna/outdoor-vs-indoor/
• https://www.qualitysmith.com/request/article/saunas-for-the-home-indoor-or-outdoor/
• https://www.doityourself.com/stry/indoor-vs-outdoor-sauna#.UxEQvl5DFQM

Stillness and clear mind, by Alice Popkorn

What Can Sauna Meditation Do For Me?

• It increases exercise tolerance.
• It reduces anxiety.
• It boosts the immune system.
• It lowers cholesterol levels.
• It increases serotonin levels, leading to improved moods.
• It increases concentration and focus.
• It reduces instances of insomnia.

How Do I Meditate in the Sauna?

1. Sit upright, but not stiffly, with your back against the sauna wall. Place your hands softly in your lap.
2. As your body adjusts to the temperature, allow your eyes to fall closed. Breathe through your mouth. Pay attention to the sensation of breath moving in and out of your body.
3. Relax your body. Think about stress leaving your body with every drop of sweat. If you feel any part of your body becoming tense, focus on softening the muscles in that area, letting them relax.
4. Relax your mind. Let thoughts and worries leave your body with the sweat. If you feel thoughts surfacing, let them fall away. Try to make your brain feel "soft". If you have trouble with this, try to focus your thoughts on the way the air feels around you, or on your breathing.

Eventually you want to get to a state of perfect relaxation, with your body breathing softly and your brain unthinking. Let sensations and thoughts pass through you. Allow none of them to stop and settle in your muscles or your mind.

Meditation Aids

Music--Soft classical or instrumental music can relax without distracting. There are many CD compilations and mp3 playlists specifically for meditating. Buddhist chanting is also popular. Many saunas have built-in CD players or mp3 outlets, which are preferable to wearing headphones or earbuds: sauna temperatures could ruin electronics not designed for sauna use and having the devices on your person could distract from meditation.

Aromas--Certain aromas can contribute to relaxation and aid in meditation. Other aromas can be quite stimulating, so choose aromas with care. Popular choices includes herbs such as sage and cedar. Korean saunas like to incorporate mugwort. You can sprinkle herbs onto the sauna rocks, warm them in a metal pan set on the heater, or hang them from the ceiling. Take care they don't burn, as the smoke will be unpleasant and could damage the sauna. Another option is essential oils, which can be mixed with the sauna water and poured over the rocks. Lavender and chamomile are popular essential oils and are conducive to relaxation. Oils can also burn, so use them carefully. Mix the oil into the water outside of the sauna, as bottles should never be taken into the sauna.

Color--Though your eyes will be closed, the color of your surroundings will have a subtle effect on your ability to relax and meditate. Certain colors are known to stimulate or subdue. Many sauna models come with color therapy lighting options. Choose blues or purples for the most relaxing effect. Never take lights or light gels into the sauna that are not designed for sauna use.

Protips

• Meditation take practice. If you find you are having trouble relaxing and emptying your mind, keep trying. Practice daily for a few minutes at a time and build up to longer periods of meditation.
• Do not meditate alone or, if you do not have a meditation partner, set an alarm for yourself. You do not want to inadvertently fall asleep in the sauna, as that can be very dangerous.

• http://www.saunatimes.com/tag/how-to-meditate-in-a-sauna/
• http://saunascape.com/2010/10/creating-your-own-sweat-ritual/
• http://www.refinethemind.com/guide-to-meditation/

When is a sauna not a sauna? A sauna is generally defined as a room or house kept at high temperatures to induce sweating. If you move those high temperatures outside of the room or house, is it still a sauna? Here are a few products that feature some of the elements of a sauna, but outside of the traditional wooden box.

Sauna Pants

Slip on these bright orange shorts, plug yourself in, and start sweating in minutes. These sauna pants claim to help you lose water weight in just the areas covered: the abdomen, thighs, hips, and lower back. Can also relieve muscle tension and joint pain in those areas. Does it work? Try it out and let us know!

Sauna Suits

Used by athletes looking to drop weight quickly or who simply want to heat up their workout. These seem to be particularly popular with boxers. They come in a variety of styles, from sleek to not-so-sleek, so there's plenty of options to choose from based on your budget.

Facial Saunas

This handy gadget focuses steam on the face and neck to open pores and hydrate skin. As an added bonus, it also clears nasal and sinus passages. A great device for allergy sufferers! And it only looks a little bit like a popcorn popper.

Pet Sauna Beds

Yep, a sauna bed for your cat or dog. These stylish beds use Far-Infrared heat technology to warm and soothe your pet without risk of burning. These beds are especially great for older pets with arthritis.

Know any sauna-like products we could put on this list? Comment and let us know!

There's still time to sign up for the 2014 European Sauna Marathon in Otepää, Estonia! Signups are open until January 26, 2014, and the marathon takes place on February 2, 2014. The event is free to enter. You just have to get yourself to Estonia.

We are very proud to announce the launch of Saunasandstuff.ca! We've been selling high-quality, affordable saunas and supplies online since 2005, and we are excited to now offer these great products in Canada. Our goal is to provide Canada with the best saunas available at discount prices.

We carry an amazing selection of top-of-the-line sauna rooms, pre-built infrared sauna kits, pre-cut sauna kits, sauna heaters, sauna equipment, and other sauna accessories. Want a deck sauna for the whole family? We got several options to choose from. Want a small sauna for the corner of your bathroom or fitness room? We can help! Or maybe you just need a gift for a sauna lover in your life? We carry sauna scents, chromatherapy lights, portable and stationary towel warmers, cute accessories like a clock made from a sauna bucket, and amazing infrared room heaters.

We also have ever-changing coupons, so keep an eye out for new deals and discounts, including free gifts. Also, be sure to sign up for our newsletter below to get monthly product and discount updates! And this thing you are reading now is our blog--read it regularly to get up-to-date news, product updates and features, and informational articles. We also have a Twitter feed for regular sauna-related tidbits, a Google+ page in case you prefer to get your articles that way, a Tumblr blog with links and sauna-related reflags, a Pinterest board where we share products and sauna-related repins, and a Facebook page where we'd LOVE for you to Like us for regular sauna news. We have a lot going on!
And when you shop with us, you get free shipping and superior customer service. We look forward to being Canada's foremost supplier of quality, affordable saunas and sauna supplies. Happy steaming!