Sauna

Firing up Mahoroba in the morning

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Our first sauna, Mahoroba, was completed in September 2008. Seating around six, the sauna provides us with a healthy way to reduce our water use. Before taking showers we take a sauna which allows our bodies to sweat out dirt and toxins. Showers consist of a quick wash and rinse. Using the sauna gets us cleaner with less water use. There are a number of other health benefits to saunas which you can read about here.

Sauna Construction

Cobwood construction

Mahoroba is designed according to Rob Roy's book Sauna: A complete guide to the Construction, Use, and Benefits of the Finnish Bath. It is a wood fired sauna, loaded from the outside. We used the cobwood construction technique, which consist of rounds of wood stacked horizontally on top of each other with layers of cob and sawdust in between. The wood and sawdust provide excellent insulation, allowing us to burn wood efficiently. The roof is an earth-roof which has dirt and plants. There is a cold-water shower outside for quick rinses while taking a sauna. Mahoroba is an ancient Japanese word describing a far off land full of bliss and peace.

Future Plans

We have two saunas in mind for the future. One will be a large 40+ person domed sauna constructed out of ferro-cement. The entrance will lead people down into the sauna which will be a great space for large group rituals. The other sauna will be located on the mesa next to a shower facility for large groups. It will accommodate 10-15 people and will constructed similarly to cobwood sauna.