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People have often asked me what a proper sauna experience is. How hot should the steam room be? How humid? How many steam sessions should you have? Twenty-nine years of engaging in sauna rituals are yet to show me the one and only way to have a sauna.Just the level of humidity varies massively in different types of sauna. In a Finnish-Estonian sauna, the hot stones are in the steam room and thus the room is dry (if moderately heated). Humidity persists for only seconds, depending on whether and how much water was thrown on the hot stones. In comparison, a Russian sauna is very humid since the stones that generate heat are hidden inside the chimney and the vapour comes entirely through an opening behind a trapdoor on the side of the chimney. And to get your body hot, lots of water need to be splashed on the stones through the chimney opening. However, the Turkish sauna is the most humid of them all where sauna goers basically are sat in a hot room saturated with vapour. At the same time, temperatures at the Turkish sauna are significantly lower than those in Finnish-Estonian saunas. It is quite natural since 75–100 degrees of heat in a dry sauna – considered by many to be the best kind of sauna – would in a Turkish sauna be comparable to hovering over a boiling tea kettle, risking to get burned instead of enjoyment. When measuring heat in a sauna, it should be taken into account that commercially available sauna thermometers serve mostly a decorative purpose and are not particularly precise. The results of measurement are also very much dependent on the height of the thermometer location..Nevertheless, based on physiological aspects some tips can be shared to help everyone find out which sauna procedures would suit them best. If there were a golden rule about sauna, it would be: in order for a sauna experience to be one of enjoyment and beneficial to health, you should proceed from and observe your well-being. This is the only reliable yardstick to dispense a “dose” to get steamed, slap the skin with birch twigs or bathe (to cool yourself after steaming in a shower, water or snow). Even if someone were to want, for whatever reason, to test their limits of tolerance, they should proceed moderately and with respect to their body. If you stick to this rule, you are guaranteed a pleasant and healthy sauna experience.

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How to get a proper sauna experience?

Liis Ots

Q: Is it healthy to exercise in the sauna? How about yoga or other types of exercise?Bikram Yoga practice suggests that 40 C degree sauna and 40-60% humidity is the perfect combo that allows for your muscles and ligaments to relax, enhances the toning and stretching of ligaments and joints, enables oxygen-enriched blood to reach every cell, and helps to achieve the maximum effectiveness of asanas. The flexibility of the body increases even further in the sauna, while enhanced sweating boosts metabolism. Therefore, a well-ventilated and moderately hot sauna is perfect for conducting different yoga practices.At the same time, it is important to take notice that physical activities in the sauna should be limited considering the loss of liquids and electrolytes (especially Na+, K+ and Cl-). Such a loss calls for the consumption of compensating liquids like mineral water (or sports drinks) that should be consumed with small sips while keeping the drink in the mouth for a few seconds before swallowing - for the essential minerals to start digesting.  At the same time, consuming liquids with no minerals only enhances sweating and might cause discomfort and even muscle cramps. It is not recommended to do yoga in the sauna in case of low blood pressure, as in the heat blood vessels dilate and blood pressure drops even further. The golden rule of sauna - that you should always pay attention to your well-being - also applies to training. If you listen to your body, you can enjoy great flexibility and increased effects of asanas without discomfort. I have met different people who practice meditation and yoga in the sauna during my 32 years of experience with sauna rituals. They have all brought out that the effects of yoga and meditation in the sauna are faster to come and results more concentrated. Start your Iglusauna experience here: <a href="https://iglucraft.com/en/outdoor-saunas/">https://iglucraft.com/en/outdoor-saunas/</a>

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Should you exercise in the sauna?

From shingle-clad cabins to shipping-container homes, the nine nominees for Best Prefab in the 2020 Dwell Design Awards also includes Iglucraft cabins and saunas.We are so proud to be nominated.  A big thank you to all of our fans and clients who appreciate Iglucraft unique Estonian design.  Don&#039;t forget to cast your vote!

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Iglucraft Nominated for Dwell 2020 Design Awards

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Dwell | TOP 9 Prefabs of 2020

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The Sun | Gordon Ramsay gets permission to build Igluhut

Selected as the most inspiring projects of 2020 the winners were selected based on innovative solutions and creative context-driven design by a panel of experts as well as Dwell readers.Being chosen as the runner-up undoubtedly makes our team proud and proves that people value natural materials, unique traditional design, and craftsmanship that Iglucraft is devoted to.As Dwell put it, Iglucraft has a storybook appeal that fascinates people who are looking to escape the mundane to reconnect with nature in the most romantic and dreamy way. This recognition definitely helps us spread the word about our mission of making the world a better place by encouraging people to take time for themselves. So they could dream, discover and understand what makes them happy.And keep checking in with our web-page as new developments are on their way. Check out the Dwell Awards page here: <a href="https://www.dwell.com/design-awards">https://www.dwell.com/design-awards</a>

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Iglucraft voted runner-up in Dwell 2020 Design Awards!

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Dwell | 15 Outdoor Saunas that Bring the Heat

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Hello Magazine | David Beckham has made an unexpected addition to his home

Cold water swimming or winter swimming is a training that strengthens the resilience and protection systems of your body and similarly to the sauna, and its sudden changes in temperature, the flood of helping hormones brings along an intense feeling of well-being. At the same time, it is important to pay attention to the fact that cold water swimming brings along an extreme sense of excitement that causes the blood vessels in the skin to rapidly close and your heart to begin working harder, and as your muscles receive less blood flow and oxygen you are facing the danger of muscles cramps. In most cases, especially in case of insufficient preparation, shortness of breath might also occur.Therefore, winter swimming and sauna can be seen as two members of the same family, but the general adaption reactions in case of winter swimming are substantially greater than with the sauna’s cold-hot experience, and require previous physical as well as mental preparation.  Only the thought of taking a cold dip into the icy water, not to mention swimming, is too much to take for most of us. Going to the sauna can be a wonderful springboard to any beginner cold water swimmer – you can always warm yourself up in the sauna. In addition to the sense of security, sauna also allows your muscles to adapt to the shock of cold without being scared of muscle cramps.The main advantages of the cold water swimmer’s sauna experience was summarised by my good friend Andrei Kulagin, who is one of the leaders of the winter swimming culture in Tartu (the second biggest city in Estonia): “Swimming in the cold water gives you a great sense of pleasure. But if you also wish to spend quality time with similar people and speak about the matters of the world, then sauna is the perfect place to do that. Otherwise, you wouldn’t, would you?”Start your Iglusauna experience here: <a href="https://iglucraft.com/en/outdoor-saunas/">https://iglucraft.com/en/outdoor-saunas/</a>

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The benefits of cold water swimming combined with sauna

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In order to be sure that all of the systems are in working order and operating as they should, it is recommended that you get the chimney of your sauna cleaned at least every 6 months. Consider the do’s and don’ts below to understand the more specific safety requirements of your sauna. <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/vh0s5kknwc1y8cf/Stoveman%2013_SAUNA%20HEATER%20INSTALLATION%20AND%20OPERATING%20MANUAL_ENG.pdf?dl=0">In case of any doubt consult the Sauna Stove User Manual</a>DO have your chimney cleaned by a professional sweeper twice a year or more often if it sees heavy use. This eliminates soot and creosote buildup that can easily catch fire. DO take extra caution in case the sauna hasn’t been used for a longer period – check the condition of the ash box, the chimney and the smoke flue, and ask for a professional opinion in case of doubt. DO burn resin-free woods like alder and birch as they produce less creosote.DO make sure your wood is seasoned (at least six months to one year) as it will burn better and leave less creosote residue. DO use a proper fire starter like crumpled paper / newspaper, birch bark or a special wood fire starter to ignite the fire as the use of wrong substances can easily cause chimney fire. DO empty the ash box each time before heating the stove and put the ash in a metal container. As the removed ash may contain hot embers, do not keep the ash container close to combustible material or the sauna. DO keep the ash box slightly open when heating the stove, but close it when the sauna room is heated to decrease wood consumption. DO take measures to lengthen the life span of your stove:  - Excessive draught to the fire will cause the stove body to become red-heated, which will shorten its life span considerably;  - Burning large amounts of wood of high thermal value will shorten the life span of the stove;  - Excessive heating (several full loads in a row, for example) will make the sauna room, stove and chimney overheat, which shortens the life span of the stove and may cause a fire;  - The use of seawater will corrode the stove very rapidly;  - Empty the ash box before heating the stove so that the combustion air would cool off the fire grate and lengthen its life span. DO rearrange the sauna stones once a year as the large variation in temperature disintegrates the stones in use. Remove any pieces of smaller or cracked stones from the stone space and replace disintegrated ones. DO check the stove once a year as to the wear and tear of the metal parts of the stove. DO take time to heat up your sauna and do not try to get the sauna hot quickly as overheating might cause a fire. If you do feel that the sauna takes longer than usual to heat up, conduct a thorough inspection of the sauna as this might indicate a serious problem. DO wipe dust and dirt from the stove with a damp cloth every month. DO get acquainted with the instructions in case of fire: • Close the ash box and stove door; • Call the fire department; • Do not try to extinguish fire using water, but a special fire extinguisher. DO NOT start fire with flammable fluids, such as gasoline, lighter fluids, solvents or anything else not labelled as wood fire starter as this will cause chimney fire. DO NOT ever burn the following materials in the stove: • materials of high thermal value like chipboard, plastic, coal, brickets, pellets • painted or impregnated wood • any waste (textiles, leather, rubber, disposable diapers, PVC plastics, etc) • garden waste (grass, leaves, etc) • liquid fuel that might seem like an easy way of starting the fire DO NOT leave the door of the stove open when burning wood in the stove. The amount of draught can be adjusted by opening the ash box. DO NOT let the fire burn unattended.DO NOT leave the firewood, matches, or any other combustible material in the hot room of the sauna. DO NOT keep the ash container close to the sauna as the removed ash may include hot embers and catch fire.

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When was the last time you had your sauna chimney cleaned?

The fact that the sauna is used happily both in summer as well as in winter, even in the Mediterranean climate, may be assumed on the basis of a historical fact that by the 3rd century, approximately 850 saunas or terme were built in Rome - the centre of indulgence of the era, or sudatoriums, were heated up to 70°C. But why on Earth? Here are 7 excellent reasons why sauna is a great choice in the summertime.1. Sweating, sitting on the sauna bench - deep cleansing of the body. In order to keep our body in the best possible condition, we must be able to get rid of residues on an ongoing basis, some of which accumulate under the skin and can only be excreted during long-term sweating. Especially in the summer. It can be successfully and pleasantly done in the sauna, which does not require to heat the steam room too hot. To sweat properly, moderate heat (approx. 70°C) is sufficient, at which it is nice to sit on the stage for a long time or, if the dimensions allow, also to lie down. Steam could also be created by pouring water on the hot stones of a sauna stove very moderately so that condensation does not block the sweat glands. The possibility to beat yourself with the whisk of twigs is like a cherry on top of a cake, which can be applied, in order to raise the body temperature even more to activate the function of the skin and the intensity of sweating.

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2. Fresh twigs / herbs bound together in the sauna whisk, which are freely available only in the summer, fill the steam room with a pleasant aroma. Also, the active ingredients of herbs are usually the most intense in the recently collected whisks. According to the folk medicine, many different herbs may be bound into whisks, the use of which has traditionally been varied. However, it is certain that massaging the body by beating it with whisks helps to transport the heat into deeper layers of the skin, it intensifies metabolism, lymph and blood circulation and improves skin elasticity - thus, it has a rejuvenating effect on the skin. The impact is especially noticeable immediately after the sauna, but with frequent sauna visits, interaction with relaxation and reduction of stress, the duration of the rejuvenation treatment is more durable.3. Muscle relaxation after intense physical activity, effort. Traditionally, in Estonia, the sauna was heated after each working day, when the body had to put up with extreme load performing the field work. Nowadays, the source of muscle tension has become sedentary work and lifestyle, as well as physical exertions during trainings and hikes, after which the heat of sauna is a great way to relax tensions in the muscles. Once again, there is no need to try to create extreme heat. Rather, it is recommended to contribute to a longer stay in the steam room, upon which the effect will be long-lasting and relaxation more thorough. The massage performed by beating oneself with the whisks is also of a great help, especially if it is possible to entrust somebody else with the task and at the same time lie down and enjoy oneself.4. Cardiovascular training. The influence of self-heating and subsequent cooling in the sauna is like a massage of internal organs and blood vessels. In the steam room, the blood vessels dilate, the heart activity intensifies, oxygen-rich blood is directed from the &quot;reserve&quot; of the internal organs onto the surface of the body to support cooling processes, sweating. The opposite process takes place when plunging from sauna to a much cooler environment - a pool or a body of water or pouring oneself over with cold water. The blood vessels narrow, the heart activity intensifies as a result of a shock and then slows down to a considerable extent. The whole process strengthens the heart and improves the elasticity of blood vessels, which helps to prevent / alleviate hypertension, especially if you can use spring water for cooling. In summer, it is also possible to stay in the water for a longer period of time after taking a steam bath as if floating in the mother&#039;s womb, which is an extremely relaxing and sometimes even ecstatic undertaking. This sort of luxury, though, can be afforded only in a perfectly warm water, instead of plunging into an ice hole during the winter or in a water body during the autumn or spring coolness.

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5. Stress relief, holiday travel. If, after an active day, it is possible to take a steam bath in the sauna, let the heat warm your body, sweat, massage yourself with fresh, pleasantly smelling whisks and then cool down, by plunging into a natural or artificial water body or, in their absence, taking a cool shower, the body&#039;s defence mechanisms activate. Intracorporeal hormones, which come to the rescue in a stressful situation, should ensure the stability of the body&#039;s functioning and find a solution in case of the emergence of any problems. Anyhow, since we have already relieved the muscle tension in the steam room by pleasantly massaging the body with the whisks and then only simulated a stressful situation by alternating cold and hot, we have tricked our body to obtain a lot of extra relaxation. It is also not uncommon that after the relaxation of internal tensions one reaches unprecedented peace and bliss, or in other cases be brought to ecstasy, lying and meditating alone in the sauna. 6. Improved skin, which tends to be a problem especially during hot summers. The intense and controlled heat of a sauna stimulates circulation within your body. This helps remove dead cells, relax facial tensions, improve skin elasticity, and detoxes out unhelpful bacteria. Ultimately leaving your skin refreshed, nourished, and glowing.

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7. Sauna - an enjoyable social pastime that is always special. One goes to the sauna only in a good company, leaving all worries behind so that one may feel free and unforced. Such wisdom has been shared mouth-to-mouth for centuries. By doing this, all the tensions in the body and mind may be blown off in the four corners of the world, in order to relax, to be purified. In this peaceful mood, special sensations and experiences of wow-effect have occurred that are good to be shared with friends and loved ones.This how special and trusting the atmosphere may become in the sauna may perhaps be illustrated by a memory of mine, when once during another sauna seminar that I was holding in Saaremaa, a former manager of an agricultural holding came up to me and said that all the agreements concluded in the sauna at the time worked and lasted long, thus there was no need to write them down.