Category Archives: Sauna & Steam

It is widely known that there are many medical benefits to regular sauna use, ranging from improved skin to greater fitness, aiding sleep and even reducing the risk of a heart attack, but something that is not as easily measurable is how saunas can have positive effects on the mind.

Saunas could help combat SAD

During the winter season, SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, affects around 1 in 15 people, making them feel anything from the “winter blues” through to full depression which can stop people being able to function normally. Saunas could be at least part of the answer to some SAD sufferers, with their mood-boosting effects, so if you suffer from seasonal effects on your mood and wellbeing, could sauna use help you to stay positive during the winter months?

Psychological effects of saunas

Saunas can have a psychological impact on regular users, and this can relieve symptoms of stress and SAD, for example aiding sleep at night, improved alertness and energy levels, reducing anxiety, and increased positivity and happiness. All of these things can be attributed to sauna use and explained scientifically.

The scientific basis for saunas boosting positivity

The effects that saunas have on mood and positivity are undeniable, but there is a scientific explanation behind these. One reason is that the high temperatures of a sauna trigger the dilation of blood vessels around the body, which help to increase overall circulation as well as heart rate. This in turn causes hormones called melatonin and serotonin to be released, and these hormones improve mood and general positivity. These hormones can be boosted even more by following sauna use with jumping in a cold pool or shower, which decreases the body’s temperature rapidly and triggers the release of these hormones even further.

Enhancing the benefits of sauna use

To enhance the benefits users get through sauna use, they can make sure that they use their home sauna regularly. This could be every day, or a few times per week, but regular use helps users to maintain the benefits of using their sauna as much as possible. It is much better to enjoy short sessions on a regular basis than it is to enjoy one long session per week – it is not only safer, but your body can relax each day, clear your skin and airways, and relieve stress – all of which can help you feel much better during the winter months.

Find out more about the physical and psychological benefits of sauna use by giving The Hot Tub and Swim Spa a call on 0208 300 4003, or browse our full and varied range of saunas today.

Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of Dementia can be truly heart-breaking for the families and friends of those who are suffering. Although there is no exact known cause, research suggests that sauna use could actually decrease the likelihood of developing Dementia later on in life.

An introduction to Dementia

Many people will know someone who has suffered with Dementia, and it is much more common in elderly people, however it is important to recognise that not everyone develops Dementia with age. It is a disease, not just a part of aging. Worldwide, over 47.5 million people were suffering from dementia in 2015, meaning that it is a disease that sadly a lot of people do suffer with.

Caring for Dementia patients

Care for those with Dementia can be challenging since patients need increasing care over time, and caregivers may be relatives or close friends who have to make sacrifices to give this care. They may give up work to give time to the person, or fit caring for them around work, which can also be draining and difficult. Sadly Dementia has no cure, and it progresses slowly over time. Symptoms include memory loss, difficulty communicating, limited judgement and reasoning abilities – all of which often happen gradually over years or months.

Preventing Dementia & through Sauna use?

Dementia is an extremely sad condition, and although there is nothing specifically known to cause it, research suggests that there are some things that each of us can do to reduce the chance of developing the disease later on in life. One of these is to use a sauna regularly.

Research into saunas and Dementia

A Finnish team of researchers carried out a study of 2,300 men within their 40s, 50s and 60s, and studied them between 1984 and 1989. Follow up examinations were carried out 20 years later to see what the impact of each group was. The groups were as follows: those who used a sauna once weekly, those who used it 2-3 times weekly and those who visited the sauna 4-7 times per week.

The study concluded that those who visited the sauna more frequently were less likely to develop Dementia. Although this is not a direct causation, there was a correlation to suggest that the sauna use did in fact have some impact on the development of Dementia later on in life.

Health benefits of saunas

Whether or not this research is indicative of a strong pattern generally, or simply representative of the small study group, the correlation was there, and evidence demonstrated just another great benefit of regular sauna use! There are undoubtedly also many health benefits of regular sauna use, such as aiding breathing, relieving pain and de-stressing relaxation time.

If you’re interested in owning your own sauna, take a look at our wide range of designs today or give our team a call on 0208 300 4003.

The health and relaxation benefits of saunas are widely known to some level, for example the cleansing through sweating, and improved circulation, reduced heart rate and even pain relief that the heat and steam can bring. So how users take this experience and enhance it even further? Here are some ways to enhance your sauna bathing experience.

Aromatherapy in the sauna

The steamy environment of a sauna lends itself to the use of aromatherapy. Aromatic oils are a great addition to any sauna bathing experience as they produce relaxing aromas with physical benefits, such as pine and eucalyptus which can also ease breathing at the same time as producing a fresh smell.

Colour therapy

Did you know that colours can have a profound impact on our mood? One way to enhance your sauna is to use visual aids, in the form of painting the inside, or decorative items, to stimulate different emotions. For example, blues and greens trigger a relaxation and soothing effect, which can aid the overall experience for those using the sauna.

Salt inhalation

This may sound unusual, but inhalation of salt can help to cleanse the airways whilst also revitalising the skin. This is done using technology that generates an extremely fine salt aerosol, which is pumped into the cabin with the heat of the sauna and inhaled through the steam. This can boost the immune system, and relieve symptoms of hay fever, bronchitis, asthma and other respiratory conditions.

It can also benefit those who experience sleep problems, depression and skin problems, as the dry salts clear the airways, act as a disinfectant and reduce inflammation, and gently exfoliates the skin. Adding salt to your sauna using a specialised system can therefore significantly enhance your sauna use.

Increased oxygen

You can also get specialised oxygen systems which allow you to breathe in additional oxygen using a mouthpiece whilst using your sauna. In combination with the natural decrease in heart rate and ease of breathing from the steam your sauna produces, this can increase oxygen levels to enhance concentration and relaxation, leaving you feeling energised.

Take a look at The Hot Tub and Swim Spa Company’s full range of saunas on our website today, or give us a call on 0208 300 4003 to find out more about how you can customise and enhance your own sauna.

If you’re a proud sauna or steam room owner, or are considering buying one for your home, the relaxation benefits are clear. If you’ve ever enjoyed a spa experience with a sauna or steam room, the appeal is obvious for enjoyment and relaxation, but does it actually do your body any good? Here is some of the science behind the way that saunas and steam rooms benefit our bodies:

Science #1 – Sweating out impurities

The obvious effect of the heat of both a sauna and steam room is that it causes your body to sweat. This has multiple physical benefits including opening the skin’s pores. This allows salts to be sweated out and remove impurities from your body.

Science #2 – Heat and blood pressure

Heat from steam rooms and sauna use also improves circulation within the body, which allows greater oxygen flow around the body, which aids relaxation. It also causes your blood vessels to dilate. This affects the body by lowering your pulse and blood pressure, which is not only relaxing, but also can relieve certain conditions such as hypertension, congestive heart failure or post-myocardial infraction.

Science #3 – Pain relief

Steam rooms and saunas can also act as a form of natural pain relief. The heat and steam can ease pain in joints, including increased mobility for those with rheumatic disease or arthritis. Although it is not a cure, regular therapy can reduce joint pain significantly by triggering an adrenaline release in the body, as well as cortisol and growth hormones. These act as anti-inflammatories, whilst the heat also triggers the release of endorphins, which are the body’s form of natural pain relief.

Science #4 – Steam as a decongestant

As well as raising body temperature, steam rooms and saunas can also improve your breathing, since breathing in the steam acts as a decongestant. This is especially beneficial for those suffering with asthma or bronchitis, who may find it gives temporary relief from breathing difficulties, however research also suggests that using a steam room or sauna on a regular basis, such as twice per week, can actually halve the risk of catching a cold.

Science behind the benefits of saunas and steam rooms

The science behind the effects of saunas and steam rooms on the body clearly demonstrate why it is that we find them so relaxing. The Hot Tub and Swim Spa Company has a wide range of saunas and steam rooms to suit a variety of requirements so why not get in touch today on 0208 300 4003 to find out which would be the best fit for you.

For those who suffer with Fibromyalgia, pain can be constant, alongside all the other symptoms that go with it. However, research has shown that infrared saunas can, in fact, provide effective pain relief and even improve symptoms of fatigue and muscle stiffness.

Treatment for Fibromyalgia

Standard treatments that are offered for those suffering with Fibromyalgia include long-term courses of physiotherapy, as well as cognitive behavioural therapy and combinations of the two techniques to see which provides the most effective treatment for the individual. However, these treatments have been shown to be more useful when combined with infrared sauna use.

Infrared saunas as a treatment for Fibromyalgia

Healthcare professionals actually recommend infrared sauna use to people suffering with Fibromyalgia, whether or not they are undergoing other treatment. This is because it causes changes within the body that help to reduce symptoms. For example, heart rate generally decreases, which reduces peripheral resistance and allows a greater blood flow throughout the body. More oxygen can then be made available to the body, as circulation increases.

Physical benefits of sauna use

As well as blood flow, a stress-inducing hormone, norepinephrine, is also triggered to be released by the brain, which increases alertness and stops fatigue. Additionally, Beta-endorphins are released, which work to reduce pain and relax the muscles. Although this doesn’t reduce symptoms 100%, there can be a significant improvement and definite relief from ongoing pain. The overall benefit of saunas is that they can help sufferers of Fibromyalgia to live with reduced symptoms on a daily basis, and this is why it could be worth investing in your own home sauna.

Home saunas to fit your requirements

Whatever space you have, indoors or outside, The Hot Tub and Swim Spa Company can help you to find a sauna that is right for you. They are available to buy, or pay monthly for if this is more suitable for you. Their range is designed to cater to different aesthetic and personal requirements – even including their unique retractable Klafs S1 Saunas. With easy maintenance and access to the benefits of using a sauna on a daily basis, you could see an improvement with pain and fatigue linked to Fibromyalgia.

Saunas for relaxation and fun

As well as the physical benefits, your home sauna will also become an oasis for you to relax alone or a place to socialise with friends. It will become more than a treatment for pain, but a fun and enjoyable place.

Call The Hot Tub and Swim Spa Company today to discuss your requirements on 0208 300 4003.

If you’ve had your home sauna for a while, it might be time to think about rejuvenating it. Giving it a good clean and following our top tips can help your sauna to be good as new, and mean that you can get years more use by keeping it properly maintained. It also means it’s much more enjoyable to use since you know it’s in top condition all the time. Here are our top tips if you’re not sure where to start:

Maintain the natural elements

You might think that the natural elements of your sauna, like the natural wood, would degrade over time. However tempting it might be to paint or varnish over it, it’s much better to leave it natural! It will maintain the quality of the wood much more, and the original design will provide the best possible finish. Instead of painting or varnishing, the best thing to do to revitalise your original sauna wood is to lightly sand it down, particularly on the benches where there has been the most use and wear over time.

Regular cleaning processes

Regular cleaning after day-to-day use can help to extend the life of your sauna. This doesn’t mean a huge effort or difficult maintenance – in fact, simply giving the surfaces within the sauna a brush with cold water after each use could make a world of difference. Just a couple of minutes to clean your sauna after use makes it much nicer and more hygienic for yourself and your friends and family to use each time.

Spot checks for longer life

Your sauna may be in the best possible condition, so spot checking it can be useful to ensure that this high quality remains. For example staining of the wood can happen from use, and mould can occur if not dried out properly. This is easily solved by leaving the door open to aerate after use, and using a brush and warm water to remove any stains easily. Floors will be walked on all the time so simply mopping them, and cleaning glass as you would any other glass, can keep your sauna in pristine condition.

Sauna care kept simple

A few simple things like the above can make a huge difference to the time that your sauna remains in a condition that is almost as good as new. This means that sauna owners can enjoy their saunas completely stress-free.

For further sauna maintenance tips or advice, get in touch with The Hot Tub and Swim Spa Company today on 0208 300 4003.

We all know the strain that we can put on our bodies with the incredible amount of work we have to do every day to survive in today’s fast paced and competitive world we live in. Science has shown us the incredible benefits that a sauna can have on not just tired and sore muscles, but also on the stress we deal with.

High blood pressure and increased risk of heart disease and stroke are all part of the effects that this amount of stress can cause if we are not vigilant and aware of what our bodies are saying to us every day. And these are only a few of the concerns that can pop up over time.

One of the best ways to combat these and other ailments is to take advantage of what the sauna can offer and to do so in the proper way. The best way to use a sauna to maximize the benefits is to ensure that you are following a regimen of heading in for a 20 minute cycle and then taking a cool dip in a pool or a cool shower, followed by a hot tub soak of about the same length. Then, repeat this process a couple of times for a minimum sauna experience of about two hours or so. Of course, if you do not have that much time, you can spend as long as able and still reap incredible benefits.

Be absolutely certain to leave all the devices and distractions at the door when entering the sauna, not only for their protection from the soothing and stress relieving steam, but also to reap the full benefits of the mentally freeing time that you spend rejuvenating your mind, body and spirit!

Many countries have extolled the benefits of the sauna for centuries. Scandinavian countries in particular have understood the benefits of heat therapy that the sauna offers for many years and endorse the use of them for people of all ages.

As people age, they often struggle with ailments, such as arthritis that can have a debilitating effect. There is also the possibility that as we age, we encounter problems relating to heart health. In the past, it was generally accepted that using a sauna was not advised for people suffering from heart issues. Recent studies have shown that the heat therapy offered by a sauna can actually be quite beneficial to those suffering from heart ailments.

Of course, as with any medical condition, you should always consult with your personal physician to make absolutely certain that you are okay to participate in using a sauna for heat therapy.

While heart health is one of the many ailments that can be helped by heat therapy, the most common ailment suffered by seniors is typically arthritis.

The benefits of heat therapy on arthritis sufferers is greatly and widely understood and accepted. The circulation of the blood is greatly improved by heat therapy and can contribute to the easing of pain and the alleviation of the stiffening of joints that arthritis sufferers are subjected to.

Many people are now turning to infrared saunas to help increase overall circulation in the body and reap the benefits that increased circulation can offer from cardio vascular benefits to improved function in the extremities.

Do some research and find out if a sauna can help your ailment and then give it a try. You will soon realize the benefits and be a true convert!

As we know, cardiac health is of great importance. Many individuals are becoming proactive in doing many different things to help themselves to stay heart healthy. Research shows that dry saunas can actually help the heart and be as beneficial to it as some types of exercise.

What they have found is that the sauna helps those that have a risk of developing heart disease. It also helps those that are at risk for high cholesterol levels, as well as high blood pressure and diabetes. In addition to this, there are further indications that it can also be beneficial for individuals that already have developed some heart problems.

There has been some research to show that people who have suffered severe heart failure that have been treated with sauna therapy have had their symptoms improved substantially. It is believed that sauna treatments on a regularly basis helps to improve the blood vessels and the function of the heart for those that suffer with chronic heart failure.

The treatment that they have used for this type of thermal therapy is using a sauna that has been set at 140& a rule, most saunas that are used in social settings and gyms are set between 175 to 210&e low heat saunas have been more beneficial for the treatment when it comes to the coronary issues outlined. What the research is showing is that a two week period of repeated once a day sauna use was able to increase the blood vessel function by about 40% in those patients that displayed the coronary risk factors. It is most important to realize that the temperature reading is kept around 140&

Aside from the cardiac health that sauna use can offer, many find it a great way of relaxing and helping to sooth sore and tight muscles. Athletes are beginning to use the sauna on a more frequent basis and combine this with their exercise regime. There are variations in saunas ranging from dry to moist heat.