subject: Barrel Saunas Are So Cool And Made From Selected Cedar Woods In West Virginia [print this page] The Finnish people are generally acknowledged to be the first to develop the Sauna. Originally they were a nomadic tribe and may have adopted a sweat lodge similar to the American Indian from Central Russia before the 16th century when the Sauna was already well establishe in Current Finland.
Essentially the Russians, Finns and Swede's have always had and still have a tradition of sweat bathing. This was partly explained that their climates are cold for much of he time and in ancient times where hygiene was not what it is today and people would wear their heavy clothing for weeks at a time. The need for an external dry heat source was found to be a useful way of making the individual perspire and thus cleansing themselves from the inside.
Traditional practice has the participants sitting in the Sauna until their bodies are hot and perspiring freely, after which they go out and roll in the snow which has the effect of washing the sweat off, as there was unlikely to have been much freely liquid water when the prevailing temperatures are well below freezing for months at a time. The process of getting very hot and then rolling in sub zero snow is repeated a few times which has legendary beneficial effects in blood circulation, improved metabolism, raised heart rate, Relief from Arthritis in the joints, clean skins amongst other benefits.
Finnish saunas are made of pine wood which is logical as there are a great number of pine trees in Finland.
The American Barrel Sauna made by Almost Heaven Saunas in West Virginia is rather made of Cedar.
Each work is a masterpiece of design and build by master craftsmen with nearly 40 years experience of building saunas. Using only the fines selected Cedar woods the sauna is constructed using the ball and socket method. The is interior constructed with beautifully integrated slatted wooden benches and duck boards on the floors at the ideal height for sitting and lying on.
Almost Heaven Saunas have pioneered the Barrel Sauna which instead of being a normal cube interior is in fact a huge barrel lying on its side and as big as one would like. Space for two, four or six people to lie on the benches and enjoy the pleasant relaxing sensation of being heated and having an interior cleansing as the body perspires and ejects many of the toxins that inhabit it. With one's pores freely open and sweating a cycle of heating and perspiring, rapid cooling in a shower, pool or even in the snow and then a short period of relaxation before returning to the hot sauna is really beneficial for one's mind and spirit.
They do do other designs as well or can build a custom Sauna to suit one's own specifications or aesthetic requirements. The Barrel sauna though is a thing of beauty and will fit into any place one selects in one's garden. Ideal for personal use and does not consume excessive electric power.
