What are the different types of saunas?
Finnish saunas are the oldest known saunas dating back to 400B.C.E, Korean style saunas were found as early as the 15th century and the Infrared Saunas are new (20th century)
There are many types of saunas you’ll find across the world, Himalayan Salt saunas to music saunas. Below are the three most common kinds of saunas you’ll find at your local health spa.
Finnish Saunas
A traditional Finnish sauna
It is contested if Finnish saunas is where the practice began as there is evidence of saunas found in the rocky Orkney islands dating back to 4000 BCE. But at a minimum Finland gave saunas their name (meaning to bathe oneself in ancient Finnish) and popularized them during the industrial revolution. These styles of saunas you typically find across Europe. Heated stones by a furnace where water is poured onto the stones to produce a dry steam. This is kept in check by having strategically placed ventilation creating a pleasant experience and what the Finnish call Löyly.
Infrared Saunas
Infrared sauna interior
Infrared saunas a brand new invention by comparison. First created in 1891 in America and first made popular when the Kings of Germany and England had them installed in their castles. Infrared saunas use infrared light to internally heat the body whilst keeping the temperature of the surrounding air far cooler. Generally, the health benefits of infrared against traditional saunas re not clear. Both have been studied (but infrared saunas less so) and found significant evidence for helping with: blood pressure, chronic pain, sleep quality, muscle recovery and blood flow.
Jjimjilbang (Korean Sauna)
A Jimjilbang Room
Jimjilbangs and health spa culture is huge in South Korea, their way of heating the sauna is also entirely different. Some do use infrared heaters for the lower heat rooms. But for those looking for a more intense experience (50°C to over 90°C) the unique shape of the structure itself combined with underfloor heating and the thick insulating materials (yellow clay or stone) create an intense high heat sauna. Heating the room from the top of the structure the shape and material of the Jumjilbang rooms slowly heat the entire structure without the need for steam.
