Excite Home with a sauna

Jan 20, 2006

IMMERSING oneself in the soft, invigorating warmth of a steam bath and sauna for some people, is one of the most relaxing treats, though to many this is a luxury for the rich who can afford these services at clubs, gyms and hotels. However, this shouldn’t be the case; it is possible to have the

By Roger Mugisha

IMMERSING oneself in the soft, invigorating warmth of a steam bath and sauna for some people, is one of the most relaxing treats, though to many this is a luxury for the rich who can afford these services at clubs, gyms and hotels. However, this shouldn’t be the case; it is possible to have the opulence of a health spa in the comfort of your own home.

The pleasures of steam bathing and saunas have been appreciated for centuries mainly for the moist, swirling steam surrounding your body, allowing daily tension and stress to just melt away.

A sauna is a room that is held usually between 70°C and 100°C with the intention of cooling the body through sweating, which is an after-effect of the steam. Almost every type of sauna is made of wood.

“The walls, ceilings, and floors and benches are all made of wood such as cedar or hemlock. The only non-wood materials are the stove and the rocks that are heated on it. The sauna provides a dry heat and from time to time water can be thrown on the rocks to create a cloud of steam, which has the effect of immediately raising the temperature,” explained Edmund Ssesanga of Kitchen and Office Concepts.

However, he advises that before making the decision to install a steam shower in your house, consult a plumber and an electrician to see if it is feasible. The largest size for an in-house sauna should be 5 metres by 6 metres. Its installation including imported equipment costs approximately sh10m and a small one of 3m by 2m can be installed for sh2.5m. Ssesanga adds that even in an old house, as long as a room is converted entirely for the sauna, it can easily be installed, as long as the existing bathroom can withstand steam.

“And in order to maximise steam build-up and prevent cold spots, the ceiling should be lower than 8 feet high. The bathroom should still be constructed to contain steam even if you are installing a modular steam shower. Modular steam showers have the advantage of having extra features such as multiple shower heads, built-in seats, lighting, CD players and telephones,” he said.

The steam generator does not have to be in the bathroom. It should be installed 40 feet away from the steam shower and away from the sitting area to reduce the risk of being scalded.

As for installation, David Katumwa of Katumwa sports centre and various health clubs in Kampala would readily assist in the construction of the saunas and steam baths in people’s homes.

The barrel sauna is a small cabin constructed using barrel making techniques and can hold six to eight people. Barrel saunas can be installed either inside or outside the house and can be heated with a wood or electric stove. On entering the sauna you can sit on the upper or lower benches. The upper benches are hotter, so you may wish to move from upper to lower if you find it too hot.
Sauna contributes to a brighter, healthier outlook, increases blood circulation and metabolism and provides a haven from stress.

The sauna opens pores, soothes sore muscles, increases circulation, and provides a generally relaxing and healthy experience. The elevated temperature increases your circulation for healthier skin and more energy. Just like a hot bath, this treatment will relax stiff muscles from exercise and ease swelling or tension in joints associated with arthritis.

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