How to Build a Sauna

The worlds first Sweat Therapy Sauna was completed on 8/6/07! See: www.PsychSymposium.com.

What the hell is a Sweat Therapy Sauna, you ask? The Sweat Therapy Sauna was designed specifically for group work. The design was influenced by the Finnish Sauna, the American Indian Sweat Lodge, and modern technology.

Like a common sauna, it was built with conventional wood-framed construction with insulation between vertical studs, the interior lined with cedar walls and benches. It is heated with an electric heater. Like an American Indian sweat lodge, the Sweat Therapy Sauna allows people to sit in a circle to promote group cohesion. The heating element is placed in the center. It is windowless to control lighting to promote intimacy and introspection and contains a stereo system to make use of the therapeutic benefits of music.

The dimensions of the Sweat Therapy Sauna are 10 x 10 x 7 and can accommodate about 12 people. The 15 KW electric heater is a stainless steel floor model purchased from Finlandia Sauna. Four recessed ceiling lights operate on a dimmer switch. The stereo is a waterproof marine audio system that includes an amplifier, MP3 connector, and four speakers purchased from Poly-Planar. A shower is installed on the outside of the right front wall.

This project was a long time in the planning. I completed my doctoral dissertation in 2005 - THE EFFECTS OF SWEAT THERAPY ON GROUP THERAPEUTIC FACTORS AND FEELING STATES. The primary purpose of the study was to examine the efficacy of sweat therapy as a group counseling technique by investigating the effects of sweat therapy on group therapeutic factors with 85 college students. Overall, I found that participants in sweat groups had superior group cohesion and interpersonal interaction than participants in non-sweat groups (groups held in a standard office setting). It was clear that the sweat experience accelerated and intensified group dynamics. It seemed to me that the differences between the sweat and non-sweat groups would have been even greater if participants in the sweat groups were able to sit in a circle (a fundamental technique in any group work). One of the studys limitations I identified was that -

the seating arrangements in the saunas used were set in an L shape rather than a circle. Use of a sauna with circular seating would lend itself better to group processing.

Soon after I completed my dissertation, I began looking into obtaining a circular sauna and quickly found that . . .there was no such thing. Saunas are either built with one wall of seating or with two walls of seating in an L shape. At the very most, there are designs for 3-sided seating in a U shape.

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Howto & Style

Tags:

• Sweat Therapy
• sauna

[SColmant]

The Navajo Mountain song is a culturally specific practice. Music is a common practice to all cultures. Integrating practices that are common rather than culturally specific help keep one out of the realm of cultural appropriation. I also challenge people to explore cultural specific practices that are consistent with their own background.

[SColmant]

I offer two general guidelines to avoid negative aspects of cultural appropriation. First, learn as much as you can about any of the rituals/practices that you plan to use. Where did the practice come from? How did it develop? What other groups use it? What are some of the meanings attributed to it? Secondly, consider the differences between common practices versus culturally specific practices.

[SColmant]

But what about burning sage on the rocks or praying in your sweat? Is this cultural appropriation? Is there any practice that didn’t originate somewhere else first? There are often no clear answers on the subject of cultural appropriation.

[SColmant]

When developing one’s own sweat procedure and rituals, it is important to consider the idea of Cultural Appropriation. Most people would find it exploitive for a non-Indian to start calling himself “Medicine Man” and charging people money to participate in ceremonies he knows little about.

[SColmant]

Human beings are hardwired to use rituals and symbols just as we are to develop language. Rituals and symbols are used to honor our values. They are often the grease for the wheels to get the process moving to a deeper level more quickly.

[SColmant]

Looking at the ancient forms of sweat practices, there are common adjunctive practices that people have found complementary to sweating. Some of these practices include meditation, music, aromatherapy, and close interpersonal interaction. I encourage people to be creative with their sweat procedure and experiment with different practices to create their own rituals.

[31EsoxLucius]

Cool as fuck, I've got enough room to build one of these! I love the sauna!

Well done!

[astronuf]

Great job at ruining a perfect outdoor sauna by installing an electric stove. Forget the mp3, it's more enjoyable than listening to firewood crack out in the country. Unless this landcape is a fake as this sauna. Also people, there is no such thing as a dry sauna. Infrared is not a sauna and they should adopt another name. Anyways the rocks are not heating the room. They are there to absorb the heat just like a real finnish sauna from the fire below; so steam can be surfaced when water is met.

[Tezikovka]

huge mistake!!! You didn't leave any space between the finishing wall and your vapour barrier by installing horizontal forenzes which is a must in building a sauna. But I guess you didn't know :)

[coolmanben99]

That would be nice to have one in your backyard

[CarlosMacMartin]

Nice job on your dry sauna.Personally,I prefer the a steam room that is humid as

opposed to dry heat.Just my own preference though.As far as American Indian Inipi

the lodges are circular,not square.That's a whole other topic for discussion and very

delicate one at that.Peace

[onebigyooper]

even though its electric instead of a real sauna with a wood stove it a pretty nice outfit ya got there. good job