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Finland's 2,000 Year Sauna Tradition
GREAT SAUNAS ships home sauna kits and infrared saunas from its 30,000 sq ft sauna factory-outlet. A leading sauna manufacturer since 1974, Great Saunas ships at factory-outlet prices on 100+ sauna kit models (to home sauna page).
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Sweating
Cooling Off
Beating Yourself In the Heat
Washing & Rinsing
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Sauna, which is actually a Finnish word, has a long tradition in the daily lives of Finnish people. People were using saunas in Finland 2,000 years ago. Today there are over 1.8 million saunas in Finland, which translates to a ratio of one sauna for every three Finns!
The sauna means a lot to the Finns. It is not only a place to get clean, but also a place to relax and socialize. Many important business deals have been made in the sauna. This might seem a bit unusual, but when compared to a formal meeting, the atmosphere is more relaxed in a sauna and usually contributes to a positive outcome.
Most people think of the Finnish sauna as a dry heat bath, but in fact, the Finns throw water on the hot stones that warm the sauna to create what is known as "loyly"- the sudden burst of steam that creates a moist heat in the sauna. The steam raises the relative humidity in the sauna from a very dry 6 to 8% to a more comfortable 18 to 30%. Without the moisture, some people find the heat irritating to the mucus membranes.
In this, the Finnish sauna is not unlike its Russian counterpart, the "banya," a hot vapor bath, which is a popular cleansing, relaxing, and beauty-enhancing treatment. Moscow alone features more than 50 of such large "banya" with room for up to 70 people at a time.
There are three types of saunas used in Finland today. A modern sauna with an electric heater is popular because of its convenience. The more common type in rural areas is a sauna with a woodburning heater. Many Finnish people prefer this type over the electrically heated one.
The third type is the original smoke sauna or "savusauna". It has a huge woodburning "heater", with 200# to 300# of rocks and no stove pipe at all. The smoke is allowed to remain in the sauna while the sauna is heating up to temperature. Before the sauna is used, the smoke is released through a small vent. This type of sauna can still be found in the rural areas.
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GREAT SAUNAS ships 100+ home sauna kits and infrared saunas from its sauna factory-outlet. Our sauna sale prices are much lower than the prices sauna dealers charge for Finnish saunas. For years Great Saunas has featured factory-outlet prices on home sauna kits and infrared saunas.
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