The Finns have a word - löyly - that refers to the steam that rises, but also to the spirit of it, the atmosphere that a good sauna creates when everything is in flow.
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The art of the sauna is rhythmic. There’s the building of heat, the rush of steam when you throw water over the stones, the exit into cold air or cold water, the rest, and the return. Each cycle deepens the effects on your cardiovascular, muscular, and neurological systems in ways that sauna cultures have understood for centuries and modern research is only beginning to understand.
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The art of sauna construction is in service of this flow, and something we take seriously when designing and building our custom saunas. The proportions of the room, the pitch of the benches, the placement of the elements, and the selection of materials make all the difference between an experience that’s functional, and an experience that’s transcendent.
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Ventilation is the element most often misunderstood, and governs the quality of the löyly, the evenness of the heat, the way the room recovers between rounds, and the lifespan of the heater and materials. Many saunas are incorrectly ventilated which creates a build up of carbon dioxide during sessions (if you've ever experienced a headache during sauna, this is likely why). There are no pockets of dead air in an Otso build.
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Otso only works with the best timber sourced from the Northern Hemisphere - including Aspen, Alder, Cedar, and Spruce. These species have been used in sauna construction for centuries and are unmatched when it comes to the absorption and release of heat, performance under sustained humidity, and unmistakable fragrance.
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We are obsessive about the details. When creating a space to spend time in stillness, only a flawless finish will do. Every Otso sauna is designed and built as a complete system, a considered environment, and a work of art.