You might think all saunas are alike and it's largely true. The traditional Finnish steam bath hasn't changed much for centuries: Just work up a sweat sitting in a wooden room. That might be the standard approach, but there have been a few (possibly bizarre) sauna innovations unleashed on the public in recent years.

If you're the kind of person who doesn't like to stop in the usual boring place to have your sauna treatment, or maybe you like the experience of sweating while on the move, you have some options:

• Try a sauna van. In many countries (Canada and Russia, for example), you can have a good steam in a converted trailer or a converted fire truck.
• Experience the Nordic Submarine Sauna, thanks to the Nordic Marine Living AB and the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Observe marine life in the underwater observation room, which also functions as a sauna.
• Climb the slopes of Finland's Ylläs Fell - - inside a luxurious, wood-lined sauna gondola. Enjoy the magnificent view as you sweat.

If you're into art, Dutch artist Van Lieshout has created a 15-foot (4.6-meter) high sauna constructed from wood and synthetic materials, equipped with a shower and bathtub. There is one major difference, however, between this sauna and most others: It's shaped like a skull. When the "Wellness Skull" (as Lieshout likes to call it) sauna is functioning, steam flows out of its eye sockets. Lots of people got to sit inside the Wellness Skull - - dressed, of course - - while it was exhibited at the Karlsplatz in Vienna, in 2008.

How about a sauna-on-the-go? Literally! Wonder Sauna Hot Pants - - the very idea a heresy for sauna traditionalists - - were invented (apparently) for people with better things to do than sit and relax in a normal sauna. They were designed (apparently) for people who enjoy sweating profusely in shiny, bulky pants while getting other things done - - although probably not public things. The bulky invention sealed in body heat and promoted increased sweating, lowering the amount of water in the wearer's body, slightly decreasing their weight, and even getting rid of some minimal body toxins in the process. At least one group of people found a good use for the hot, shiny garments: Wonder Sauna Hot Pants are used by a few competitive athletes, like boxers and wrestlers, who need to drop a little weight to make a given weight for competition.