Jacuzzi, Steambath Or Sauna: Right, So Which Is It That I'm Relaxing In?

Saunas have been common for thousands of years, but for many people, they are a whole new event. The sauna phenomenon has overtaken the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa, with thousands and thousands of people discovering the social and health benefits of consistent sauna baths. But what Joe calls 'sauna' Josephine may call 'steam bath' and Jocelyn could call 'Turkish bath'. Is there a big difference? This article will look into the meaning of the various terms associated with this soothing and beneficial style of bathing.

The Sauna

The sauna is an integrated part of Finnish and Swedish way of life. Most houses possess a sauna and a lot of people use the sauna a couple of times a week. These saunas generate a dry heat between 70 and 100 degrees Celsius. From time to time water is thrown on heated stones to develop a thick cloud of steam that causes the sauna feel hotter. After spending about 10 to 30 minutes in the sauna the majority of people take a cold shower or swim in the lake. During wintertime, quite a few people even roll in the snow.

Finnish and Swedish saunas are social functions and may include close family, pals or business associates. They are usually taken in the nude. Whether or not men and women take a sauna together depends on their relationships and to some degree, their age. Public saunas however are ordinarily single-sex.

Swedish saunas have become well-liked in North America and are part of the services of many community pools. Each pool sets its own regulations on nudity. A number of pools have certain times for single-sex use when nude swimming and nude saunas are the norm. At other times bathing suits may be necessary in the sauna.

The Turkish Bath

The Turkish bath is also referred to as hamam. It is a sort of steam bath and the heat is much lower than in Finnish or Swedish sauna. The steam would scald the skin if it was really hot, so steam baths are maintained at approximately 40 degrees Celsius.

Traditional Turkish baths are good sized buildings and serve as social gathering sites as much as places to get clean. There are separate rooms for both males and females, and the bath building is divided into three locations – hot, warm, and cool.

The Steam Bath

Steam baths have a continuous humidity level close to 100%. They are maintained about 40 degrees Celsius. Many people opt for steam baths over saunas because the high humidity is less difficult to breathe and has beneficial effects on the respiratory system.

The Hot Tub

There are 3 types of hot tubs – wooden barrels, fibreglass whirlpools or bathtub spas.

The first type is crafted from wooden slats and has a water pump and filtering system to circulate and cleanse the water. It is usually placed outdoors and has benches around the perimeter so that folks can soak in comfort with their heads just above water level.

The second type has high pressure 'jets' that generate a whirlpool effect. The jets are useful for water massage or hydrotherapy. They are often set up at public pools or fitness centers. These are know as 'Jacuzzis' after the company that popularized them.

The third type is often set up in privately owned homes as a substitute for the normal bathtub. It is comparable in size to a classic bathtub but has more jets for circulating the water.

The terms 'spa' 'hot tub' and 'Jacuzzi' are often interchanged and can refer to the identical thing – a tub of water for 1 or more people that contains circulating water and/or water jets.

A spa may also be a resort where you acquire body treatments including massage and hydrotherapy. Plenty of spas have 'spas' – sauna facilities including steam baths, hot tubs and Jacuzzis.

For more information about the health benefits of saunas be sure to visit www.the-home-sauna-center.com/