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Cedar closets with heated lightbulbs

This post might strike a nerve with some but part of Saunaist’s raison d’être is providing clarity on the surprisingly diverse notions of sauna that exist on the internets. A quick search online yields a plethora of different “sauna” modalities: Finnish sauna, dry sauna, wet sauna, steam sauna, infrared sauna, sauna blanket, personal sauna tent, etc. Are these indeed all members of the same sauna family? Is a deep sweat in a generational Finnish family sauna the same as spending 20 minutes cocooned in a sauna blanket? The short answer is no.


The long answer will require unraveling how and why we got here and is a journey we will take in future posts. We will also explore ways out of this pickle as without such efforts it can be difficult to spot the Good Ship Sauna in a sea replete with false prophets. To kick things off let us have a quick look at Sauna’s chief imitator, the infrared sauna or as some like to call them: cedar closets with heated light bulbs.

A typical infrared cabin. Image source: Canadian Spa Company


Electric Light Baths aka infrared “saunas”


Interestingly, the above pejorative isn’t far off the mark. The progenitor of today’s infrared cabins (as Saunaist will henceforth call them) was the Electric Light Bath – a cabinet like structure with exposed light bulbs – which John Harvey Kellogg (yes, the inventor of Corn Flakes) introduced at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. However, it wouldn’t be until 1965 when the first “ceramic infrared sauna” was patented in Japan, a development that spurred the eventual bastardization of global sauna nomenclature.


At this point I would like to note that the seemingly acerbic treatment I have given infrared cabins above is in no way meant as an admonishment of them as an alternative form of heat therapy. The only distinction I am making is that they are not saunas which I will define below. Infrared cabins are purported to provide a host of health benefits, although the science behind the claims is not yet as robust as in the sauna world. To put a fine point on it, sweating in an infrared cabin is better than not sweating at all.

Who wants to sauna? Image Source: Human Optimization Center


What is a sauna?


There are myriad definitions for sauna available and many of them cover the same core elements. Saunas, as commonly understood by Finns and many other ethnic diasporas, can briefly be summarized as having the following elements:

  • A heat source (sauna heater) that heats the air in the room, not the objects in the room. This heat source can be powered by wood, electricity, or less commonly, gas.

  • The heater has rocks piled on top of it.

  • The ability to throw water on the rocks creating "löyly"; the effect of the steam produced from the evaporation.

  • An ambient temperature range of 70C-140C. While authentic saunas can be used at lower temperatures (with children or while bathing for example), normally the average sitting temperature fluctuates between 80C-110C.

Usually saunas are wood panelled rooms with several levels of benches, but they don't have to be. Think about erecting a tent sauna (that doesn’t have wooden walls) by the edge of the cold sea, a sauna to be sure. The underlying premise of sauna is that it is meant to be inclusive, and it can take many forms. But there are table stakes. And being able to throw water on the rocks to create löyly is one of them. Which brings us back to infrared cabins. A heat therapy to be sure. But not a sauna.


So why the outrage from the growing community of sauna safekeepers? If everyone is happily sweating and indulging in health benefits who cares what it is called? Let me draw a parallel to the use of trademarks. Why do they exist? Ultimately, to protect the consumer from confusion. Similarly with saunas, if anything can be called a sauna those amongst the sauna curious seeking a holistic sweat ritual - Finnish style - can easily meander down the wrong path, missing out on a potentially life changing experience.


Now this a sauna. Finnish style. Image source: Travelsquire / Anne Kazel-Wilcox


Sauna certification


On the list of subjects for another day is “appellation”, known in the United States as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Most commonly used to officially designate wines belonging to a specific geographical region, PDO is also used in the food industry; for example, cheese cannot be called Parmigiano Reggiano unless it meets certain production and place of origin criteria.


Unfortunately, I am not aware of any PDO-like appellations available for non-food products. Otherwise, it would have been an interesting exercise for Finland to try and register “Sauna” under a specific rubric, requiring conformation to the aforementioned essential elements of a sauna before it could be called such. Regrettably the only PDO listing I can find for Finland is “Lapin puikula”, a type of potato grown in Lapland that has adjusted to the cold climatic conditions. A potato. So Finnish.


More than just good heat


Another challenge presents itself when (Finnish) sauna is lumped in with all manner of other “sauna” modalities, especially in the relatively nascent North American market. Yes, sauna is a physical manifestation of the aforementioned elements, but that is just the tip of the saunaberg.


In Finland, sauna is at the nexus of a lifestyle that permeates family and social functions. Much more than just a wellness tool, it is a proxy for a way of life. Underpinning the notion of sauna is the Finns’ deep connection to the heat and its healing properties; physical sure but mental and emotional as well. Sauna is a springboard to a deeper appreciation for nature, gratitude, stillness, reflection, and community. To sauna is to be cleansed and reborn. It is a gateway to a more intimate understanding of oneself and a bridge to inclusive community building.


Infrared cabins will heat you up and make you sweat. They can impart significant health benefits when used consistently. And they can even look and feel like a sauna to the

uninitiated. But they are not saunas. Not even close.


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