Elevating Wellness and Luxury: The Growing Global Demand for Modern Saunas

The History of Saunas and Their Popularity Around the World

Sauna originated in Finland and has a history that spans hundreds of years. The earliest saunas were simple wooden huts, often located in rural areas and served as places for cleansing & relaxation. Traditionally, saunas have been more than just a bathing ritual; they are an important part of Finnish culture, used for rest, meditation, and strengthening social bonds. In Finland, saunas are believed to purify both the body and mind. It’s common for people to spend hours in the sauna, enjoying the experience with family and friends, making it a cherished cultural tradition.

With the rise of globalization, sauna culture has gradually spread across the world, especially in Nordic countries, Germany, Russia and other regions, where saunas have become an integral part of daily life. In recent years, the popularity of saunas has also surged in North America and Asia. As people increasingly prioritize health and family wellness, saunas have become a popular feature in many homes and fitness centers.

Today, saunas are no longer just a tradition in Nordic regions like Finland; they have become a global way of life, offering relaxation, stress relief and health benefits. Whether in luxury homes, hotels, health clubs, or private residences, saunas have reached all cultural and social levels, evolving into a modern investment in health and well-being.

Sauna Popularity Around the World

The popularity of saunas around the world varies depending on cultural backgrounds, health trends and lifestyles, but overall, saunas are gaining popularity around the world as a tool for health and relaxation.

1.Nordic Countries: the Birthplace of Traditional Sauna Culture

In Finland, saunas are part of almost every home, and the traditional Finnish sauna is considered an important ritual for "cleansing the body and mind." Saunas are not only used for cleansing, but also for relaxation, meditation, socializing and even as a medical treatment to relieve physical discomfort.

Sweden, Norway, Denmark: These countries have also inherited the Finnish sauna culture, and sauna has become part of the daily life of many families. In these countries, sauna is not only a tool for health and relaxation, but also often linked to social activities. Many people like to enjoy time in the sauna with friends or family.

2. North America: Rapid Growth of the Sauna Market

In North America, the sauna trend has grown significantly in recent years, especially in the United States and Canada. With the improvement of health awareness and the increasing requirements for the quality of home life, more and more families are beginning to purchase saunas, especially in high-end residences and vacation homes. Saunas have become part of luxury homes.

United States: The popularity of saunas is accelerating in the United States, especially in areas with strong health and fitness awareness such as California and Colorado. Modern American saunas are often combined with gyms, private bathrooms or home spas to become part of a private healthy lifestyle. Additionally, the rise of infrared saunas has brought new growth to the U.S. market, as they are easier to install and more energy efficient than traditional Finnish saunas.

Canada: Due to the cold climate and people's concern for healthy living, the demand for saunas is also increasing in Canada. Saunas are installed in many new homes and vacation rentals in Canada, especially in winter sports areas, making saunas an ideal way to relax after exercise.

3. Asia: Growing Demand and Emerging Markets

In Asia, the demand for saunas is growing, especially in countries such as Japan, South Korea and India. Although sauna culture is not as deeply rooted in these regions as in Northern Europe, with the rise of healthy lifestyles, saunas are gradually becoming part of modern homes.

Japan: Saunas have a long history in Japan, especially in traditional hot spring culture. In recent years, Japanese families have begun to introduce more sauna facilities, especially in high-end residences and luxury hotels. Japanese saunas usually pay attention to details & exquisite design and are often combined with other spa facilities such as steam baths and hot springs, to create a more comprehensive health experience.

South Korea: The popularity of saunas in South Korea has a certain foundation. South Korea's traditional sweat steaming room (Jjimjilbang) is similar to a sauna, but focuses more on social and relaxing experiences. In recent years, private saunas have become popular in homes, especially in high-end residences, where saunas are seen as part of improving living comfort and healthy quality of life.

India: Although India's sauna culture is relatively new, the demand for saunas is also growing with the influence of healthy living and Western culture. High-end residences and luxury hotels in India are beginning to introduce sauna facilities, especially in cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.

Classification and Function of Sauna

There are three main types of saunas.

The first type is called wet steam sauna, which originated in ancient Turkey and is also known as the Turkish bath. The temperature in a wet steam sauna is usually between 40 to 45 ℃.

The benefits of wet steam include:

① Moisturizes and keeps skin watered

② Get a good night's sleep

③ Cleans and beautifies

④ Lightens and brightens the skin

When taking a sauna, people stay in a bathroom with high temperature and humidity, which can make them feel a bit breathless. Such an environment can increase body temperature, speed up heartbeat, deepen breathing, quicken blood circulation, and dilate skin blood vessels. Taking a sauna is a great way to clean out toxins and good for our health.

The second type is dry steam, which is also very beneficial to health. It uses electricity to heat the device, which makes the sauna room warm and causes people to sweat.

The benefits include:

①Relax the muscles and improve blood circulation

②Enhance physical health and strength

③Help relieve joint pain

④Make people feel refreshed

⑤Brighten and lighten the skin

Dry sauna has a very high temperature, which can reach about 100℃. It contains no water and steam smell, which is good for people with rheumatism , and makes breathing smooth.

The third type is sweat steam, which is a type of dry sauna that uses a special panel to generate heat and emit far infrared rays, causing the body to sweat. The temperature is between 38-50℃.

It offers many benefits, such as

①body shaping

②make people feel refreshed

③Cleans and beautifies

④Dispersing cold in the body and promoting blood circulation

⑤Restoring energy and vitality

⑥Slowing down the aging process

Who can Benefit from Using a Sauna?

Most people can use them, making them suitable for both the young and the old. However, some individuals with special conditions, such as those with low blood pressure, hemophilia, pregnant women, etc., should follow the guidance of professionals when using them. Since the temperatures of the three types of saunas are different, the experiences they provide also vary. Therefore, it's important to choose the one that suits your preferences and physical condition.

How to Choose a Sauna Room

1. Choose a Wooden Sauna Room

Why not use other materials? Because wood has excellent insulation properties, it can withstand the high heat and humidity in the sauna room without producing harmful substances. Moreover, wood has poor thermal conductivity, so it won't feel hot when you sit on it.

2. Choose a Sauna Board with a Thickness of 12-16mm

Besides the material, the thickness of the sauna panel is also crucial, as it determines the insulation effect of the sauna room. The sauna panels produced by TDO bathroom always meet the international standard of 12-16mm. This thickness can prevent deformation while ensuring insulation performance. Thinner panels are more prone to deformation and cracking at high temperatures.

3. Choose a Sauna Room with a Sauna Bench

Sauna benches are also very important. The benches and footrests make it more comfortable for people to sit in the sauna room, and in larger rooms, people can even lie down for a more enjoyable sauna experience. Due to the large temperature difference between the upper and lower parts of the sauna room, double-layer benches (both benches and footrests) are usually provided to reduce the problem of the upper body feeling hot while the lower body feels cold.

The sauna has evolved from a basic functional tool to a symbol of luxury and quality of life. Modern saunas are not only more diverse in design but also feature high-tech elements such as intelligent temperature control, mood lighting, and audio systems to cater to consumers' desire for comfort and personalization. As global health awareness rises and the demand for a high-quality lifestyle increases, the popularity of saunas continues to grow. In the future, sauna culture is expected to expand worldwide and become an essential part of both homes and commercial spaces.