When it comes to health and fitness, backyard steam saunas are one of the best-kept secrets around. Not only do they provide a host of health benefits, but they also offer a level of comfort and luxury that is hard to beat. If you’re looking for a way to improve your health and add some extra comfort to your pool area, then adding a steam sauna may be the perfect solution. In this article, we will discuss the many benefits of adding a steam sauna to your pool area and talk about some of the different options available.

Experience Maximum Health Benefits By Taking a Sauna After Swimming

There are many benefits to swimming for your health. Swimming is a great cardio workout, it’s low-impact so it’s easy on your joints, and it’s a great way to stay cool in the summer heat. But did you know that taking a sauna after swimming can enhance those health benefits?

When you swim, your body temperature rises and your heart rate increases. This all happens because water conducts heat away from your body faster than air does. That’s why when you get out of the pool, you feel cooler than when you first got in. Having a relaxing sauna after swimming takes advantage of this effect and can help your body recover from strenuous exercise more quickly.

Detoxifying

One of the main benefits of a steam sauna is that it can help you detoxify your body. When you sweat, your body releases toxins and impurities that can be harmful to your health. However, when you sweat in a steam sauna, these toxins and impurities are quickly removed from your body through the pores in your skin. This helps to cleanse and detoxify your body, leaving you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Improving Circulation

Another great benefit of a steam sauna is that it can help improve circulation. The heat from the steam dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow throughout the body. This increased circulation can help to reduce pain and inflammation, as well as improve overall cardiovascular health. In addition, the increased blood flow can also help to reduce cellulite and give your skin a healthy glow.

Relax & De-Stress

If you are looking for a way to relax and unwind, then a steam sauna is also a great option to reduce stress and anxiety. The heat from the steam helps to loosen tight muscles and relieve tension headaches. The humid air can also help to clear congestion and ease respiratory problems. In addition, the calming atmosphere of a steam sauna has been shown to help reduce stress and promote relaxation.

Choosing a Backyard Steam Sauna That Fits Your Lifestyle

There are many different types of steam saunas on the market today, so make sure to find one that fits your lifestyle as well as your needs and budget. If you’re thinking about adding a sauna for the health benefits, you may be wondering if an outdoor sauna makes more sense than an indoor one.

One of the main advantages of a backyard steam sauna is that it’s typically easier to install than an indoor model. This means you can enjoy your new sauna much sooner. And, since most outdoor saunas are made from high-quality materials, they’re built to last.

The installation of a sauna outside may be a smart idea, but there are a number of things to think about first:

Installation Cost

In addition to the sauna’s purchase price, you almost certainly will need to run electrical and water lines from your home to the sauna location. Even though it’s a short distance, you still have to consider hiring several experts and possibly even installing a concrete pad for your spa to sit on.

Weather

Weatherproofing your new sauna will increase the cost if you reside in a region that experiences exceptionally cold winters or excessively hot summers. There are numerous options available for insulating your sauna from the elements.

Privacy

Your personal sauna may sound like the perfect place to unwind, but how private will it really be? Consider the noise from your surroundings, including your neighbors, bystanders, and even the nearby road. Privacy fencing is a must for those who will be concerned about prying eyes.

Permits

You can require permission to build any form of outbuilding, even on your own land, depending on where you live. To maintain the cohesive look of all the homes in the community, HOAs may have particular laws prohibiting such installations.

Most residential communities don’t require building permits for structures 120 square feet or smaller. For your unique needs, you’ll need to speak with a building contractor or get in touch with your local permitting office. Find out whether you’ll need permits for any necessary plumbing or electrical work while you’re speaking with them.

Sauna Kits

One of the best barrel saunas available is the Thermory No. 61 Barrel Sauna. This premium barrel sauna kit is ideal for relaxing with guests. It seats 4 people and even comes with a front porch. The innovative design means that with a 7’3″ inside diameter, it’s tall enough to comfortably stand in; making it a popular option with those looking for a larger outdoor steam room.

Adding on a 9kw electric sauna heater provides plenty of heat for your outdoor sauna room. The HUUM DROP 9 heater which is compact and designed for sauna rooms up to 530 cubic feet, is the perfect add-on for the Thermory No. 61 Barrel Sauna. An add-on digital controller means that you can easily adjust the heat inside the sauna without going outside. Convenient WiFi temperature controls allow you to adjust the temperature from an Android or iOS device.

Modular Sauna Rooms

For those looking for a more contemporary backyard steam sauna design, the Auroom Cala Glass Cabin Sauna Kit certainly will not disappoint. The 3-person Glass DIY Sauna Cabin Kit is easy to use and economical to operate. Perhaps the single most thing you’ll enjoy about the Cala’s compact indoor sauna design is the exquisite attention to detail, featuring a sophisticated glass front wall and door.

Ultimately whether you are thinking of a DIY Sauna Kit or a Modular Sauna Room, the Auroom Cala and the Thermory Barrel Sauna are priced competitively to start at around the $8,000 range making them one of the more affordable outdoor amenities to add to your backyard.

Investing in Your Health & Your Home

Ultimately, adding a sauna to your home is an investment in your health. If you’re looking for backyard amenities that add value and a way to improve your health and well-being, adding a sauna is a great option. The initial investment may seem like a lot, but the ROI is worth it when you consider the health benefits you’ll enjoy.

There’s no doubt that saunas have a plethora of health benefits, from improved circulation to better skin. But did you know that adding a sauna can also add value to your home?

That’s right – not only will you be able to enjoy all the benefits of regular sauna use, but your home will also be worth more if you ever decide to sell. So if you’re on the fence about whether or not a backyard steam sauna is worth the investment, consider all the ways it can pay off in the long run.

Featured Photo Credit: Auroom Wellness
Additional Photo Credits: Thermory USA

Adding a sauna to your backyard is becoming more and more popular. As far as outdoor home improvements go, it nears the top of the list for those that are health-conscious. It comes of no surprise, many of the same folks who purchase a pool are also in the market for a sauna.

With summer right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about backyard improvements. A sauna is one that make your home’s outdoor living area a more enjoyable experience. Most homeowners long for a place to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, to unwind. A sauna provides the type of respite they are looking for; complete relaxation in a natural outdoor setting.

Why Purchase a Sauna For Your Backyard?

Folks who visit a sauna regularly, have most probably considered saving themselves the recurring cost. Its also inconvenient having to go to a steam room for a 15-45 minute session. It stands to reason that when evaluating what outdoor amenities provide the best value, more homeowners are considering a sauna.

Health Benefits of Owning a Sauna

There are many well-known benefits to owning a sauna. A 2018 Mayo Clinic Proceedings study states, “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.”

While associated with improving conditions such as respiratory issues, bronchitis, and other breathing ailments, still there is a large percentage of consumers who purchase a sauna for other reasons. Many will purchase a sauna for the beauty that they add to their outdoor living environment. With many elegant and contemporary design options to choose from; these days, consumers have their choice when it comes to adding a sauna that compliments the aesthetic of their backyard.

Sauna Statistics

This country loves its saunas. In fact, there are currently over 1 million saunas, representing an $8 billion market in the United States alone. Seems like a high number right? Well that’s nothing compared to Finland who really love their saunas. Finland has the highest percentage of saunas per capita than any other country on the planet. With a $20 billion market, there are over 3 million saunas in Finland today. We may be running behind them in terms of consumer demand, but we’re catching up fast.

Why Have Saunas Sales Spiked?

To get a better understanding of why the demand for saunas has suddenly spiked, we spoke with Tina Adams, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Bathing Brands. We wanted to know how the market for saunas has grown in recent years.

How Has The Market For Saunas Grown?

“Sauna sales have doubled in the past two years, mirroring unprecedented interest in backyard leisure, personal wellness, and an improved quality of life.”, said Adams.

Perhaps highest on the list for consumers thinking of purchasing a sauna for their backyard are the health benefits that come from owning one. A fact that Adams acknowledged, “In addition to making people feel good, heat therapy has proven heart-health, pain-reduction, and immune systems benefits.”

America Is Developing A Culture For Saunas

“There is a sauna bathing revolution brewing,” said Adams, “we are culturally uncovering the value heat and cold can have on us physiologically. Experiencing a sauna outdoors, and even better, adjacent to a swimming pool, offers an experience only nature can provide. The addition of a sauna in a pool setting allows for an invigorating plunge or cool down which is so essential to the sauna experience. “

It stands to reason that as swimming pools have surged in popularity over the years, the sauna sector would see a new influx of consumers as well. Being a very cold country, we can understand why Finland is so popular for saunas. America however doesn’t have the culture for saunas that Finland does, nor the climate. Yet, the demand has skyrocketed. With double the sales, the question begs to ask, why are Americans developing such an appetite for adding saunas as an outdoor amenity?

How Did Saunas Suddenly Become So Popular?

There was a point in time where you where a sauna was an unlikely amenity to find in the backyard. These days, finding a sauna in an elegantly appointed outdoor setting is far more likely. The market penetration has been considerable in recent years. Sauanas are now on the list of top amenities one will find in the backyard along with pools and spas.

“One of the hottest trends in the backyard right now is the installation of outdoor saunas,” said Adams, “but it’s the pool and spa dealers who are really the ones facilitating this trend. Modular or barrel saunas are easy to display, simple to install, and can help grow their business.”

It’s a fact that as the gatekeepers of the backyard, pool builders and designers are the ones with the greatest influence on the homeowner. In terms of swaying buying decisions to particular outdoor living products and amenities, no one has more influence in this regard.

The ease of installation, small space requirements, and relatively low cost in comparison to other outdoor amenities such as pools and spas, make it an appealing value added service builders can add to the list of products they offer their customers.

The fact that stoking demand starts at the dealer level begins at the dealer level is not lost in Adams. “Local pool and spa dealers are the most viable resource for displaying, promoting, and satisfying consumer demand,” she explained.

During trade show season, saunas definitely had an enormous presence on the exhibition floor this year. “We have seen growth in all markets,” said Adams. “Where there is a pool, there is the highest potential of outside sales sauna growth,” she explained.

Adams is hoping for even higher adaptation in the near future, “Featuring an outdoor sauna kit into existing projects is a sure-fire way to grow sales. We’re excited to see our dealers leading the sauna revolution at the retail level.”

Featured Photo Credit: Thermory USA