About Us
Carefully Crafted For an Authentic Sauna Experience
Atlantic saunas founders have a burning passion for physical and mental health, fitness and wellbeing. Working in the industry for over 10 years we noticed hot and cold therapy are taking a pivotal role in health and wellness. Living in a small coastal town on the north coast of Ireland we immersed ourselves in cold water therapy via the ever-inviting North Atlantic Ocean. This led us to heat therapy in the form of sauna use.
After consuming all the information we could find on heat therapy and sauna use we were amazed at the benefits or regular sauna use and set out about sourcing home use saunas.
We set about sourcing traditional saunas for home use and stumbled quite quickly at the lack of options. We then decided to source an affordable home use sauna that could be easily installed into any living space with little effort and so Atlantic Saunas was born. Compact yet comfortable, our saunas offer the traditional experience in your own home.
The traditional sauna is typically heated to between 70 and 90 degrees and it is the heat of the room that causes the person to become warmer and sweat. Water is poured onto heated sauna stones to create the distinctive atmosphere of a traditional sauna. This atmosphere can be as humid or as dry as the sauna bather desires - although typically it is kept to around 5% to 15%. Aromatherapy can also be used as part of a traditional sauna session, either occurring naturally due to the presence of hemlock whisks or with additional sents and oils which have been added to the water.
People using a traditional Finnish sauna will typically stay in the sauna room for anywhere up to 30 minutes, after which time they may choose to get out and take a cold shower or ‘plunge’ (complete submersion in cold water) before repeating the process as many times as is desired. This cycle of sauna and plunge is used to improve circulation and muscle function, stimulate the immune system, and also release endorphins.
What are the benefits of the sauna?
Regardless of how a sauna is heated, or the humidity level, the effects on the body are similar.
When a person sits in a sauna, their heart rate increases and blood vessels widen. This increases circulation, in a similar way to low to moderate exercise depending on the duration of sauna use.
Heart rate may increase to 100-150 beats a minute while using a sauna. This may bring some health benefits.
Easing pain
Increased circulation may help reduce muscle soreness, improve joint movement, and ease arthritis pain.
Reducing stress levels
As the heat in a sauna improves circulation, it may also promote relaxation. This can improve feelings of well-being.
Improving cardiovascular health
The reduction in stress levels when using a sauna may be linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular events.
One study, conducted in Finland, followed 2,315 men ages 42 to 60 over the course of 20 years. Findings suggested that people who use a sauna may have a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
Of the participants in the study, a total of 878 died from cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease or sudden cardiac death. Participants were categorised by how often they used a sauna, including once a week, two to three times a week, and four to seven times a week.
After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, increased sauna use was linked with a reduced risk of fatal cardiovascular-related diseases.
Participants who used the sauna two to three times a week were 22 percent less likely to experience sudden cardiac death than those who only used it once a week. Those who used a sauna four to seven times a week were 63 percent less likely to experience sudden cardiac death and 50 percent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease than those who only used a sauna once a week.
More research is needed to find out if there is a definite link between sauna use and a decrease in deaths from heart disease.
Sauna use may also be associated with lower blood pressure and enhanced heart function.
While studies may be promising, sauna use should not replace an exercise program to keep the heart healthy. There is more evidence to support the benefits of regular exercise.
Skin problems
A dry sauna dries the skin during use. Some people with psoriasis may find that their symptoms reduce while using a sauna, but those with atopic dermatitis may find that it worsens.
Asthma
People with astma may find relief from some symptoms as a result of using a sauna. A sauna may help open airways, loosen phlegm, and reduce stress.
Lower risk of Alzheimer’s?
In 2016, researchers from Finland published findings of a 20-year study that linked sauna use with a lower risk of dementia and alzheimers disease. The study involved 2,315 healthy men aged from 42 to 60 years.
Those who used a sauna 2 to 3 times per week were 22 percent less likely to get dementia and 20 percent less likely to get Alzheimer’s than than those who did not use a sauna. Those who used a sauna four to seven times a week were 66 percent less likely to get dementia and 65 percent less likely to get Alzheimer’s than those who used a sauna once a week.
However, the results do not prove that a sauna causes the reduction in risk. It may be that people with dementia do not use a sauna. More research is needed to to confirm these findings.