Hot tubs and saunas are an all-time favorite for boosting relaxation. Or you can enjoy time out for your body to stimulate more health benefits by heat therapy in either a hot tub or sauna.
We all know how great a hot bath feels like when our muscles are sore. Well, hot tub owners know how soaking in a hot tub takes that experience to new levels of enjoyment.
There are similar health benefits from using both hot tubs and saunas. But, there are also some differences to highlight. For example, it is not uncommon to find some people enjoying a glass of champagne while soaking in a hot tub outside in nature.
When using a sauna, it is not recommended to consume any alcohol. Nor will you find anyone doing so in public saunas. Using either a steam room or sauna is equal to undertaking a mild form of exercise and the norm is to avoid alcohol when exercising.
The same rules apply when using the sauna. This is why it is advisable to drink plenty of water during a sauna session. Excessive heat exposure leads to dehydration. Here is everything you need to understand about sauna vs hot tub. RELATED: Infrared Sauna Vs Traditional Sauna
Sauna and Hot Tub
Hot Tub vs Sauna Health Benefits
One of the great benefits of being a hot tub owner is enjoying the beautiful sights of nature while soaking. You can also have a glass of champagne in your hand.
A hot tub therapy will lift your spirits whether you’re out at a luxurious ski lodge or in your backyard. Hot tubs are for pure indulgence and have great health benefits too.
It brings back the feeling of well-being to your body, mind, and soul. There’s nothing more soothing than some heat exposure in a hot tub after a day of skiing. It can also be your final call after a long day at the office. This is the great value attached to hot tubs.
To some degree, the same is true about sitting in a sauna. Your sore muscles will ease from tension when using both the hot tub and sauna. You also enjoy the benefits of improved cardiovascular health. Most people opt for both to enjoy the spa-like effects of the hot tub and the sweat benefits of the sauna.
Building a hot tub outhouse or a sauna log cabin out in the forest can be a great indulgent choice. Finland is a great example of a nation embracing this culture. In Finland, there are more than 2 million hot tubs in city apartments and country lodges. It’s become a Finnish culture to use a sauna often.
Heat therapy used in water has the tendency of embracing your body in a way that a sauna doesn’t. Water is always comforting to relax in at the right temperature.
There are around two million saunas in Finland. This is astonishing, given the Finnish population of 5.3 million.
Another commonality between hot tub and sauna is that neither will help you lose weight in the long run. It’s great for many things, but don’t count on it to lose weight. Even with exposure to excess heat you will not achieve weight loss this way.
Other Hot Tub Vs Sauna Health Benefits
Hot tubs offer the added benefit of massage. You can use Spa water jets found in a hot tub to massage certain pressure points in your body. It’s a great way to say goodbye to chronic lower back pain and other physical discomforts.
Enjoying a long soak in your hot tub definitely improves a person’s quality of sleep and rest. There is nothing more soothing than relaxing a tired tense body in a hot tub before heading to bed. This is important. A lack of good rest and sleep can have an adverse effect on a person’s health and state of being.
Generally, insomnia has its root in a stressful lifestyle. The water jet in the hot tub can remove stress from your life. It also helps reduce anxiety and pain.
There are some similar health benefits derived from both sauna and hot tub sessions. The warm temperatures improve medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Other similar benefits include the quality time that can that couples enjoy. byb couples for example.
Hot tubs and saunas make a great romantic retreat for a relaxing getaway right at home. Ever thought of watching some television or a movie while soaking in the hot tub? Now, this is something that you can’t enjoy in a sauna session due to excessive heat exposure.
Here’s a list of specific health benefits you can enjoy by using saunas and hot tubs.
- Hot water and jet massage can help reduce anxiety and pain.
- Both hot tubs and saunas improve your circulation and ease headaches and congestion
- Heat therapy in a hot tub can ease rheumatoid arthritis as can excessive heat in a sauna or steam room.
- Soaking in a hot tub will also help ease lower back pain and fibromyalgia.
- When using the hot tub your blood vessels widen which is great for health.
- The warm temperature of the water in a hot tub reduces swelling.
- Both saunas and hot tubs improve how the brain functions. This is achievable through relaxation which stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system.
It is advisable to consult a medical practitioner before using a hot tub and sauna. The consultation is important especially if you suffer from specific medical conditions like low blood pressure or heart disease.
Also, pregnant women should reduce the temperature of the hot tub for a nine-month period. They are also advised to reduce the amount of time spent in a hot tub to ten minutes at a time.
Hot Tub Installation & Maintenance Vs Sauna
Installation and Maintenance of Hot Tub & Sauna
In order to make an informed decision on whether to install a hot tub or sauna at home here is some information to explore.
A hot tub is easy to install at home. It does not require plumbing but electricity is a prerequisite. This will enable to to enjoy your water at higher temperatures. Electricity warms the water in your hot tub.
It really isn’t complicated to get water into your hot tub. Simply fill your hot tub with water from a hosepipe and voila it is ready to be heated. Both hot tubs and saunas can be purchased prefabricated or built separately.
Unlike the hot tub a sauna will have to be scrubbed and well maintained to avoid mold growth. A sauna also needs to be built in a place that ensures moisture escape of the heat give off. A ventilation system may be required for an indoor sauna.
Installation costs will vary in both cases depending on the size and materials chosen for the sauna or hot tub. Depending on what kind of sauna you opt to go for, a chimney or a monoxide detector may be required. You can keep your installation costs down by choosing simple options for a hot tub or sauna.
Hot tubs can be more energy efficient. You can use solar energy instead of electricity to heat the water. When it comes down to maintenance, a sauna will need more attention.
Scrubbing the extensive interior area of the sauna requires proper cleaning aids. Sanding the wooden benches of the sauna using fine sanding paper once a year is important. This is how you can keep your sauna in pristine condition.
Failing to clean your hot tub could turn it into a breeding ground for bacteria. Clean and scrub your hot tub often. Failing to do so could turn your hot tub into a breeding ground for bacteria. Use a mild detergent for the job. Most hot tubs are easy to clean.
Saunas and hot tubs are luxurious amenities. They provide heat and you can enjoy using them at home for a small investment. It will transform your backyard into a luxurious private area. This will make an ideal space for a proper escape to enjoy with family and friends. RECOMMENDED: Sauna vs Steam Room