This Scandi trend has us fired up
Scandinavian influences aren’t new when it comes to South African homes. Light coloured wooden furniture with clean lines, pale earthy colourways and the whole Hygge trend has brought the Scandi-magic straight home.
But what about the Scandinavian wellness trend that is heating up?
Ice packs have always been a thing in sports recovery regimes, and working with varying temperatures (swopping between hot and cold compresses for example) can greatly relieve aches and pains and increase mobility.
Can the same be said for whole body temperature swops? Is there a real benefit to a so-called polar bear swim and sauna regime?
For more information on the proposed benefits of cold immersion and cold water therapy – check out the Wim Hoff Method
Not ready to embrace the cold just yet?
If ice baths sound unpleasant, lets get steamy and talk about the benefits of saunas. Sauna bathing, as it is called has been practiced in Finland specifically for centuries. There are two basic types of saunas. Wet saunas and dry saunas.
According to a study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, the benefits of sauna bathing are medically proven.
“Emerging evidence suggests that beyond its use for pleasure, sauna bathing may be linked to several health benefits, which include reduction in the risk of vascular diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and neurocognitive diseases; nonvascular conditions such as pulmonary diseases; mortality; as well as amelioration of conditions such as arthritis, headache, and flu”
While dry saunas use hot rocks or infra-red elements to achieve dry heat, wet saunas use steam to increase the temperature and humidity. Both of these are beneficial in their own way. Wet saunas are also called steam rooms and for a full comparison between the two types of hot-room, click here.
Wet saunas have a humidity of near 100% and dry saunas have humidity nearing 0%.
Depending on your skin condition (wet saunas are much better for people with chronic dry skin and eczema) and preferences, you can decide which type of sauna you want, but one thing is certain – sauna bathing is addictive. The health and relaxation benefits you gain will have you heading back into the heat again and again.
Treat yourself to a sauna session in the comfort of your own home.
Skip the other home spa devices like hot tubs and massage chairs, and rather invest in a sauna. They can be built annexed to your house, as stand-alone units in a garden or can be installed inside a gym room or bathroom in your house.
Your sauna can be as big and luxurious as your budget allows. We love the idea of a wood and stone “sauna cabin” with built in wooden benches and a proper hot-rock heating system.
For some serious sauna inspiration, we found 9 of the world’s most beautiful saunas and our bags are all but packed for a sauna vacation!
Something for every budget
If this doesn’t fit in your budget, smaller individual options exist and there is a heat-therapy solution that will work for you. SA Sauna offers a two person Infra-red Sauna at a very reasonable price…but they also have a portable sauna. Yes. A fully functional, portable sauna offering all the benefits of sauna bathing, wherever you are.
Sauna Tech offers a whole range of different saunas and even have a side range of massage chairs and other luxury feel good treats
Viking-steam offer various therapeutic steam room installations. They have simple units, usually meant for a single person, or larger steam rooms which gives you the communal benefit of a sauna, but with the added health fix of a high humidity steam room.
For more information on the various benefits of Sauna bathing and why you should jump on the heat therapy train, read on!
Make the most of your sauna experience
Also read our article on Wood-fired Hot Tubs.
