The Different Types of Saunas: Finding the Heat That Fits Your Ritual

January 22, 2026

Saunas have officially left the gym corner and entered gardens, spare rooms, sheds, rooftops, shepherd huts — anywhere people can carve out a warm little sanctuary. And honestly? It makes sense.

Heat is one of the oldest wellness practices in human history. But there’s more than one way to sauna, and each type comes with a different vibe, sensation, and ritual energy. Let’s break down the main types so you can decide which one fits your lifestyle (and personality).

1. Traditional Finnish Sauna

The Classic. The OG. The “sit in wooden room and sweat like you mean it.”
Heated with wood or electric stove. Temperatures around 70–100°C.

Low humidity — until you throw water on the stones. Known for deep heat that feels grounding and deeply cleansing

Feels like:
Winter cabin. Pine wood. The meditative silence between crackles.

Hot, strong, timeless.

Perfect for:
People who like ritual, tradition, and a little fire-spirit energy

2. Infrared Sauna

The modern, science-y, “heat you from the inside out” sauna. This sauna uses infrared panels to warm the body directly. Runs cooler — 45–60°C — but still makes you sweat.
Great for muscle recovery, circulation, and gentle detox.

Photo Credit: tylo.de (2025). TylösandTM Infrared Sauna for the home – Relaxation and wellness in one. [online] Tylo.de. Available at: https://tylo.de/blog/tylosand-infrared-cabins [Accessed 22 Jan. 2026].

Feels like:
Warming sunlight on skin. Slow, steady heat.

Sweating without the blast furnace sensation.

Perfect for:
Athletes, recovery-focused folks, and anyone who wants heat therapy without the intensity

3. Steam Room (Turkish Hammam Style)

Less heat, more spa cloud. Warm: 40–50°C, but high humidity.Thick steam envelopes the body. Excellent for skin, breathing, and general “I’m becoming a fancy dumpling” vibes

Feels like:
Spa day. Slow exhale. Everything softening and loosening.

Perfect for:
People who love warmth, moisture, and sensory cocooning

4. Wood-Fired Barrel Sauna

The rustic garden favourite. Same principles as Finnish sauna — but in a curved timber barrel. Usually outdoors (so you get forest / sky / stars / cold air / birdsong). The roll-out-of-bed-into-nature sauna

Feels like:
A wild dip in a lake after a bonfire.

Simple. Raw. Just you and the elements.

Perfect for:
Garden sanctuary seekers, cold-plunge lovers, weekend reset people.

5. Smoke Sauna (Savusauna)

The ancient, dramatic one. Fire heats stones inside the sauna room. Smoke fills the space, then is vented before use. Deep, woody aroma + incredibly soft heat.

Feels like:
Time slowed down. History. Ceremony.

Perfect for:
The contemplative, poetic, “ritual is life” enjoyers.

What Makes Saunas So Powerful?

• Regardless of the style, you get:
  
• Relaxed muscles
  
• Improved blood flow
  
• Nervous system reset
• I actually feel like myself again” energy
  

Heat brings us back into the body. Cold wakes us up again.
Together? Chef’s kiss.

And that’s where your outdoor shower comes in.

Complete the Sauna Ritual With an Outdoor Shower

Hot → Cold → Rest → Repeat
This is the rhythm.

If you have a sauna — or you’re planning one — an outdoor shower completes the cycle in a way no indoor bathroom ever could.

Our copper and brass outdoor showers are ideal for sauna setups because:

They give you instant cold exposure right in nature
They require minimal plumbing (hose-fed or mains-fed)
They look at home next to wood, stone, water, and natural pools
They age gracefully, gaining character season after season
They turn your garden into a wellness space — not just a yard.

View the collection:

https://www.propercopperdesign.com

Your sauna is a sanctuary.
Your cold shower should honour it, not interrupt it.

Up Next: Outdoor Showers for Surfers

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