The research is in! According to the Mayo Clinic, “Sauna bathing, an activity that has been a tradition in Finland for thousands of years and mainly used for the purposes of pleasure and relaxation, is becoming increasingly popular in many other populations. 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. The beneficial effects of sauna bathing on these outcomes have been linked to its effect on circulatory, cardiovascular, and immune functions. It has been postulated that regular sauna bathing may improve cardiovascular function via improved endothelium-dependent dilatation, reduced arterial stiffness, modulation of the autonomic nervous system, beneficial changes in circulating lipid profiles, and lowering of systemic blood pressure.”
In other words: you can enjoy your relaxing sauna and gain potentially long-term health benefits from it at the same time!
Why cedar?
Cedar is naturally antimicrobial. This is great for keeping mold and bacteria from forming and colonizing in your sauna. The wood is rich in natural resin, which is a complex mix of acids, alcohols, and phenols that has an antiseptic effect on bacteria and mold. To dig deeper, acidity disrupts the metabolism of microorganisms, alcohols cause cellular leakage, while phenols interfere with the cellular function of the microbes. Together, these create a natural defense system that prolongs the lifespan of your sauna and your investment! This is why we use untreated wood, allowing it to naturally breathe and release moisture as the sauna heats up and cools down. Paints, varnishes, and sealants can trap mold and prevent this natural release from occuring, creating a conductive enviornment for mold to grow over time.
One last cool fact about cedar, it keeps pests away! Its natural aromatic scent is particularly toxic to insects making it an ideal material in outdoor sauna use!
Why the barrel design?
Barrel saunas are unique in their circular design by causing the hottest air to constantly be in motion, resulting in a steady, efficient heat throughout the interior space. This allows the barrel to take less time to heat up than your typical sauna, ultimately using less energy. Barrel saunas also require only a small amount of space, making them ideal for any type of backyard.
Our saunas
Our custom cedar saunas are handmade using western red cedar in our own shop right in Port Republic, NJ. There are multiple options available for each sauna, including heater sizes & quality, door & window options, and a guard rail for your heater. We are open to more customizable options to suit your needs and can answer any questions you may have.
The exact dimensions of each sauna will change depending on circumstances of each customers needs, but the standard estimated size is two feet deeper than the number of occupants listed on our site. So a two-person sauna is four feet deep… etc. The standard diameter is six feet.
Delivery: Up to 100 miles only. Each sauna will be delivered fully assembled by us and we can offer our recommendations for local electricians for all of your electrical needs. Heaters and light come with the sauna, but hook up is NOT INCLUDED.
Check out these links for more information on the benefits of sauna use!
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(18)30275-1/fulltext
https://youtu.be/YhaBQdX8KaA?si=s8CSGkDNc_WjQ4qW
https://youtu.be/veZlasPrtTY?si=aqBEJn0D_khJ7AeE
