Our team keep a close eye on the latest health and fitness trends in general and particularly those promoting wider wellness benefits so we have been intrigued by the recent surge in hot yoga classes. This high energy, high heat style of yoga (commonly known as Bikram Yoga which is understandably but sometimes misleadingly referred to sauna yoga) is derived from a technique widely used and promoted during the 1970’s by Bikram Choudhury.

Participants undertake a series of 26 Yoga Poses (Asanas) and 2 breathing exercises in a room heated to approximately 40°C with humidity, if following the precise Bikram techniques, of around 40%.  The specially designed exercise studios are said to provide the ideal environment for yoga practice, reducing the risk of injury whilst improving the effectiveness of the exercises.  According to Birkram circulation is vastly improved, as too is lung capacity, joint mobility and physical strength. So what’s our verdict?

We know that the sauna helps to support a general improvement in health and wellness with regular bathers reporting a reduction in blood pressure, improved circulation, fewer coughs and colds with improvements in skin and muscle tone so it comes as no surprise that Bikram Yoga clams much of the same.

The very act of being inside a hot and humid room will deliver some of the benefits we see with sauna bathing activities, without the exertion of exercise. Couple this then with the known benefits of Yoga practice and there certainly appears to be some supportive indicators that Bikram Yoga could be beneficial.

However, for obvious reasons we wouldn’t recommend you try out Bikram Yoga Poses in your Klafs Home Sauna or Sanarium just yet. Undertaking strenuous exercise in such hot conditions does not appear to have been subjected to rigorous, long-term testing so if you are intrigued to try out Bikram Yoga, do some online research then talk to attendees and if you have a medical condition, take the sensible approach and talk to your GP first.

Wellness trends come and go and are often cyclical in nature as education on health and wellness improves but by the very nature of the internet, ideas spread faster than ever so if you are looking to try something new or alternative take time to research it fully before diving in at the proverbial deep-end!

If you have tried Bikram, or other forms of hot yoga, we are intrigued to hear what you thought, how you got on and what benefits you have seen to your personal health and wellness.

August is drawing to a rapid close and brings with it the end of an extended holiday period, signaling the return back to school and the usual working hours.  If you, like many of our team (and our European counterparts), have just returned home from a week or two of holiday making you will know all too well the speed at whilst the deeper sense of relaxation dissipates.

Holiday time offers an opportunity to relinquish day to day responsibilities for a while, to kick back and recharge those batteries, to give ourselves permission to just ‘be’ for a while but how many of us have returned to work feeling very quickly like our holidays were last year instead of only last week? You may even be one of an increasing number working through your holidays, not allowing yourself permission to take time out and so not enjoying even a brief respite from a continual work-life cycle.

The pressures of time affect us all in different ways, our working days become longer, working weeks stretch out into the weekend and our mobile devices are on permanently  delivery second by second updates.  It’s no wonder that our internal ON switch is never turned off and although many of us thrive on being busy, it doesn’t always improve our productivity or our sense of wellbeing.

Carl Honore, a Canadian born journalist now based in London writes and speaks extensively on the merits of slowing down both in life and in business.  His first book, In Praise of Slowness: How a Worldwide Movement is Challenging the Cult of Speed, eloquently explores why it is not only beneficial to our health to slow down but how our relationships both at home and the workplace can be dramatically improved.

The team here at Klafs knows how important achieving the right work-life balance really is; one of our core values is Family for example, making reference not only to our relatives at at home but also our teammates here at the office.  We aim to nurture our working family relationships just as well as those outside our working day in order to achieve a sense of wellbeing that makes coming to work enjoyable.  That means working in a health promoting not health degrading way (which why you will often find us taking a regular sauna when things get hectic!).

Carl’s approach is interesting and thought provoking. His TEDTalk, although recorded back in 2005, is possibly ever more relevant today than it has ever been historically.  Take 20 minutes out and sit and listen to his thoughts on his personal experiences of speeding through life and why he is happier and healthier for slowing things down to suit his own life rhythm.

Klafs create not only exceptional spa equipment but through our continuous and extensive research have developed a range of technologies which help to support and maintain health and wellness whilst bathing.

Enhancing the bathing environment can take many forms, the choices usually based quite simply on personal preference and wellness needs. Most of us are familiar with the various senses stimulation often available in the commercial spa environment; essence and soothing sounds are the obvious and most commonly encountered sense stimulation but light also plays a key part in the ambient cabin environment and can offer wellness benefits too.

Klafs have created a range of lighting technologies to help stimulate the senses and deliver highly effective wellness benefits. One key development in this area is LIFTLIGHT,  a clever light technology which actually helps to support the skins own structures by stimulating at a cellular level.

This technology delivers a wavelength of red light at the visible end of the spectrum to create a rosy glow within the cabin and indeed within you. This particular wavelength stimulates cellular activity, in particular kickstarting Fibroblast production which, being the precursors to collagen, help support the formation and strength of both elastin and collagen.  Increasing collagen and elastin production as we all know, helps the skin to maintain its elasticity and supple appearance. This is not a quick fix or cure to aging but when used regularly as part of your bathing routine LIFTLIGHT will help maintain and improve the overall look and feel of your skin.

LIFTLIGHT can be chosen as a stand-alone option or incorporated within Klafs COLOURED LIGHT system to deliver LIFTLIGHT benefits when needed or straight-ahead colour therapy when not. Suitable for Sauna installation and SANARIUM when operating in Sauna mode, this is the perfect technology to incorporate seamlessly into your health and wellness regime.

Klafs offer a wide range of technologies, essence and accessories to help you get the best out of your bathing experience.  There is a wealth of expertise behind the technology available so if you have any questions just ask, we will be happy to help.

Purchasing a home  sauna, sanarium or steam cabin for the first time can raise some straightforward questions for would-be buyers so we often hear the same or very similar queries coming from many of our prospective clients, for those of you thinking about making a purchase, here’s a quick rundown of those commonly asked questions:

Q: How much space will I need for a cabin?

You should allocate enough space to accommodate the cabin itself plus an additional allowance all round to allow adequate ventilation and installation.  This varies from cabin to cabin but a general guide of 100mm each side plus 250mm from top of the cabin to ceiling height should be observed.  More accurate figures will be offered when discussing your cabin in more detail.

Q: Do I need to plan for drainage?

If you are planning a sauna there is no need for drainage but a steamroom will require adequate planning for drainage. We can talk you through the requirements in more details.

Q: How many people will the cabin take?

We don’t don’t generally work in people we tend to work by the metre!  This is a really common question and our answer (or rather our question to you) is always the same; how many people will bathe at any given time, how tall is each person and do you prefer to sit or lay down on the benches? Thinking about space in terms of how it is used helps you take into account each persons preferred bathing style allowing adequate space for comfortable bathing.

Q: I favour the sauna, my partner prefers the steam room

A regular but not unfathomable problem for many households – if space and budgets allow, two cabins will easily solve the dilemma but for many only a single cabin is required. Klafs Sanarium offers the best of both worlds for each of you delivering several forms of bathing inside a single cabin. The technology creates an environment where humidity and heat can be fully controlled and although not as steamy as the traditional steam room environment, the benefits are the same.

Q: Can I order an inward opening door?

No.  Although a space saving request in those tight spaces, all cabin doors must open outwards to safeguard personal health and safety whilst bathing.

Q: How long will delivery take?

This depends on a number of factors including cabin size and special design elements but on average most saunas are delivered for installation within 6-12 weeks.  An accurate timescale can be offered based on your exact requirements.

Q: How long will installation take?

Klafs Engineers will arrive on site to accept delivery of your cabin/s. Standard single cabin installations take 3-5 days on average, longer where multi cabin or special finishes have been ordered. Details will be confirmed based on your final decisions.

Q: What about operating instructions?

Once installation is complete our Engineers will provide full instructions on use before leaving the site.  Operating manuals will be left with you but we have a dedicated office team to help you if you run into difficulties.

Q: What provisions are available for servicing or repair?

In the unlikely event that your Klafs equipment requires attention whilst under guarantee, simply call or email the office to arrange repair details. For longer-term extensive support, Klafs offer nationwide servicing, spare parts, accessories and repair available by simply contacting the office directly.

This of course is not meant to be an exhaustive list but covers key questions we often hear,  if you would like to see something else included or added, let us know.

Sauna bathing has an excellent safety record and a long-standing history with well researched and frequently documented health benefits for those of you bathing regularly and using appropriate methods. Indeed, most of us regular bathers would never have heard reports of negative effects on human health had it not been for the tragic consequences of last years World Sauna Bathing Championship in Heinola Finland, highlighting the dangers of lengthy exposure to extreme heat.

August is nearly upon on and so too the first anniversary of the competition (which has been cancelled with no future events planned) so it seems an appropriate time to take a brief look at sauna safety hints and tips to help you enjoy healthy and safe bathing sessions.

If you are sick, have a virus, cough or cold don’t sauna bathe until you are feeling better. It is better to take the preventative approach, bathing regularly to boost immunity long-term and rest if and when you do pick up the odd germ or two.

Not all chronic illness will mean that you should avoid sauna bathing, indeed many people see no change or an improvement in their symptoms with regular and careful bathing. If you suffer with high or low blood pressure, have diabetes or other long-term chronic condition talk to your GP about whether, given your own personal medical history, sauna is a safe option for you.

Bathing when pregnant is another area where there is often conflicting advice so it advisable to have a frank and honest discussion with a clued up GP. In the main, healthy pregnant women do and can bathe regularly, choosing to stay in the cabin for much shorter periods and at lower temperatures than usual. Do your research, know your own limitations and take professional advice to ensure safety for you and baby.

So, if you are healthy and well and ready for the sauna, the following should be remembered;

• Ensure that you take, and consume, plenty of fluids such water, juice or herbal teas to stay hydrated throughout your sauna session.
• Alcohol should not be consumed before, during or immediately after bathing to avoid an excessive drop in blood pressure, dizziness or more rapid inebriation.
• Avoid eating a heavy meal before bathing, instead opt for nutritious snacks beforehand and a light meal afterwards.
• Remove all jewellery, rinse your skin thoroughly and dry off before entering the sauna.
• Protect your hair with a towel if you are prone to dry and damaged locks.
• Observe bathing rules relating to mixed bathing sessions and swimsuit policy. This will differ from country to country and will depend on the facilities.
• Stay in the cabin for a maximum of 20-30 minutes each cycle. Listen to your body and leave if you feel uncomfortable, dizzy or unwell.
• Cool off in between sessions by taking a cold shower or dip in the plunge pool.
• Rest adequately before returning to the sauna.

Sauna bathing offers space and time to relax, de-stress and improve our overall sense of health and wellbeing. When following these simple, common sense rules we can all enjoy the benefits of the sauna in a healthy and safe way.