Sauna guides
Benefits, etiquette and how-tos for every kind of sauna, from infrared cabins to Finnish lakeside saunas.
Health · 9 min read
Sauna benefits: what the research actually says
Heart health, blood pressure, the brain, sleep and recovery. Which sauna benefits are backed by studies, and which are marketing.
Comparison · 7 min read
Sauna vs steam room: which is better for you?
A sauna is hot and dry, a steam room is cooler and soaking wet. How they compare on temperature, feel, skin, breathing and health.
How-to · 6 min read
How long should you stay in a sauna?
How many minutes to spend in a Finnish sauna, an infrared sauna and a steam room, how many rounds to do, and the signs it is time to get out.
How-to · 7 min read
What to wear in a sauna (and what not to)
Swimsuit, towel or nothing at all? What to wear in a sauna, what to leave in the locker, and how the rules change from country to country.
Infrared · 8 min read
Infrared sauna benefits: what's real and what's marketing
Recovery, relaxation, heart health, weight loss and detox. Which infrared sauna benefits have research behind them, and which are sales talk.
Cold plunge · 8 min read
Cold plunge benefits and how to start
Mood, alertness, recovery and immunity. What cold plunges and ice baths actually do, how cold and how long to go, and who should skip them.
Health · 7 min read
Steam room benefits: skin, breathing and recovery
What a steam room does for your skin, your breathing and your muscles, how long to stay in, and the health claims that do not hold up.
Home saunas · 7 min read
Are sauna blankets worth it? An honest guide
How infrared sauna blankets work, what they cost, how they compare to a real sauna, and who should think twice before buying one.
Basics · 6 min read
Sauna temperature: how hot is a sauna?
Normal temperatures for Finnish, infrared and steam saunas in Celsius and Fahrenheit, why the top bench is hotter, and how hot is too hot.
Around the world · 7 min read
What is a hammam? A first-timer's guide
Steam, scrubbing and black soap. What happens in a hammam step by step, what to wear, and how a Turkish bath differs from a Moroccan one.
Around the world · 7 min read
Onsen guide: rules and etiquette for Japanese hot springs
How to use a Japanese onsen or sento without getting it wrong: washing first, the small towel, no swimsuits, tattoos, and what the different baths are.
Health · 6 min read
Does a sauna help you lose weight?
Why the scales drop after a sauna, how many calories you really burn, and how a sauna can still fit into losing weight.
Fitness · 6 min read
Sauna before or after a workout?
Why most people should use the sauna after training, what it does for endurance and recovery, and when to skip it.
Home saunas · 7 min read
Barrel saunas: cost, pros and cons
Why barrel saunas are shaped the way they are, what they cost, electric or wood-fired, and the downsides sellers do not mention.