Why do people go to the sauna? By yourself, wash yourself, sit in the steam room. The sauna is a great way to sweat, improve the internal and external condition of the body, and feel a surge of strength. But this, so to speak, is the physical part of visiting the sauna. For many Russians, visiting a Finnish bathhouse has become a unique place of relaxation, healing, communication and even entertainment. And we consider it useful to remind you how to behave in a sauna and how to steam properly.
In every house?
So, the second name of the sauna is “Finnish bath”. Scientists believe that the Finns borrowed this method of washing from the Scythians. And they liked it so much that they even gave birth in the sauna and performed the last ablution of the deceased before sending him on his final journey - burying him.
In modern Finland there is a sauna in every second house or apartment. And there are more than 2 million public baths in Suomi. In Russia, saunas have acquired a broader concept - they are no longer just rooms with dry air and high temperatures, but entire complexes that include Jacuzzis, swimming pools, steam rooms of various types, relaxation rooms, and massage. Additional services are also provided: hookah, dance floor, karaoke, bar, satellite TV, Internet access, games.
Let's add some flavor
The smells give the bathhouse a special atmosphere. They come from the heated shelves and walls of the steam room, which are lined with birch, linden, and pine. However, water served on stones can add a very special aroma. Vacationers often use the liquid left over from steaming brooms for these purposes.
You need to add water little by little (no more than 0.2 liters at a time) and to the hottest place. Then it will quickly evaporate, giving birth to light, soft and healthy vapor.
You can spray hot stones with:
- kvass (it gives the smell of baked bread);
- mint decoction (has a calming effect);
- mustard with water (speeds up recovery from colds).
Visiting rules
Visiting the sauna requires compliance with simple rules. You should enter the steam room with a sheet wrapped around your naked body to avoid skin contact with hot surfaces. Some people wear swimming trunks and swimsuits, but from a hygiene point of view this is not acceptable, and in Finland it is bad manners. If natural modesty or religion does not allow, then no one can forbid wrapping oneself in a sheet from head to toe or visiting the sauna on “one’s” day—women’s or men’s, or at hours when there are few visitors.
The steam room is hot - the temperature reaches 80-130 degrees, so you can’t stand: you need to sit or lie down. Inexperienced steamers do not necessarily have to settle down “under the ceiling” of the steam room. The first or intermediate level is suitable for them. It's better to start with the first one and gradually move higher.
Sitting in a sauna with your legs down is unacceptable. And this is explained by the fact that the temperature at the bottom of the room is lower than in its upper part, which means that the head and legs of the steamer will heat up unevenly, which threatens heat stroke. You need to sit down with your legs raised on the shelves so that they are at the same level as your butt, but at the same time keep them relaxed and bent. When taking a horizontal position, it is permissible for the legs to be slightly above the head, but not lower.
You need to breathe evenly, through your nose. You can cover it with your palm so that it doesn’t seem too hot. It is better not to talk in the sauna, but to “immerse yourself” in your feelings and relax. There is no need to make any rapid movements. There is no need to rise sharply from a lying position. You must first sit down, and after getting used to it a little, get up and go out.
The maximum amount of time that is recommended to stay in the sauna is 10 minutes . The heating temperature in the room matters. If it has reached 80° and this is the first “entry”, then after 5 minutes it is better to leave the sauna. At 100° you should sit down/lie down on a shelf for just 3 minutes and then go out to cool down. No one should lie on bare boards; shelves should be covered with a towel.
Details about bath brooms
Always choose the fluffiest broom for your bath. The method of steaming it largely depends on the branches used.
Birch broom is one of the most popular brooms. Essential oils and tannins contained in birch leaves disinfect the air. The same effect is produced on the skin and respiratory organs.
The linden broom is very soft. It will help get rid of headaches and rashes.
Oak is known for its large amount of tannins. They are found in the bark, as well as in the branches and leaves that are used to make brooms. This bath tool will be useful for those with oily skin, as well as people suffering from sweating. A broom made from oak branches is heavier than a birch one, but it is stronger and retains its appearance during several visits to the bathhouse.
Eucalyptus broom releases bactericidal substances abundantly. They have a positive effect on both the skin and the respiratory system.
Bird cherry is very tender and has a pleasant aroma. It has a mild healing effect.
Coniferous brooms (fir, pine, juniper) help get rid of the effects of a cold. The essential oils contained in them have a calming effect. These brooms are hard and prickly. They are not recommended for use by people with sensitive and vulnerable skin.
A broom does not have to consist solely of one plant. You can use “bouquets” of tree branches and stems of wormwood and tansy in the bathhouse.
For steaming, birch and oak brooms are most often kept in a basin for about 20 minutes. The second option: quickly “bathe” the bath accessory in hot water, pack it in a plastic bag and let it lie in the steam room on the top shelf.
Bundles of coniferous branches need to be steamed with boiling water until soft. However, if you like a hard massage, you can only rinse the prickly broom without waiting for the needles to completely soften.
The most extreme broom
The most extreme brooms include nettle brooms. Only extreme visitors who are not afraid of pain will risk trying it.
Fresh stinging nettle leaves are used. The first reaction to them is very painful. However, after a while the pain goes away, and the person feels unprecedented lightness.
To wash or not to wash?
Before visiting the sauna, take a shower. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to wash with soap, because this way the natural fatty film will protect the skin from drying out. It is not recommended to apply creams, otherwise they will clog the pores, and the purpose of the sauna is to allow the skin to “sweat” so that everything “unnecessary” comes out with sweat. You should also not get your hair wet before visiting the steam room, otherwise you may overheat and even faint. But it is better to wear a hat and slippers in the sauna.
After a sauna, many people want to cool off in a pool of cold water or take a shower to wash off the sweat. Experienced bath attendants recommend sitting or relaxing, lying in the relaxation room, and washing off the product of sweating after the very last visit to the steam room, and then only with water that is comfortable for the body. Scrubs, peeling and nourishing masks should be applied at the very end of the bath procedure.
By the way, in order to enhance the sweating process, you need to drink half an hour before the steam room, and also drink while resting. Drinks recommended for the sauna: herbal tea, mineral water or kvass. Alcohol and a sauna are incompatible concepts, since alcoholic drinks dilate blood vessels, and a drunk person may feel ill from the heat. For the same reason, you cannot have sex in a sauna. Increased blood circulation during sexual intercourse can lead to a heart attack.
Finnish sauna: experts recommend
Everyone knows that the Finnish sauna has a positive effect on the human body and its condition. Experienced specialists give some recommendations that will allow you to make the most of all the capabilities of the sauna and get pleasure and effect from it:
- When it comes to the frequency of visiting a Finnish sauna, you should rely solely on your state of health. If a person feels great, then there are no restrictions. Regardless of the frequency of visits, it is important to remember about the skin and its hydration. To do this, you should use emollients and nourishing cream;
- Thanks to the special temperature and humidity set in the sauna, the pores of the skin open and it is cleansed. To consolidate this effect, you can take a face mask. You don’t have to buy them; you can prepare it yourself from berries and vegetables. Such devices are especially effective and useful;
- Do not eat heavy food or drink alcoholic beverages. This applies to the time before visiting the sauna, as well as after it. If you feel thirsty after bath procedures, this indicates that you need to restore your water-salt balance. It is better to take green tea or clean water;
- You can use a broom in the sauna. If this product is made of birch or juniper, then a beneficial effect will be exerted on the skin;
- If you conduct an aromatherapy session in a sauna, you can increase the effect of the procedure and stabilize your condition emotionally. You can drop a little decoction of beneficial plants or essential oil into the water that is poured on the stones. When you choose an aromatic substance, you should focus on the desired effect. For example, pine aromas can relieve fatigue, eucalyptus will improve breathing, and mint will improve your mood.
What not to do in the sauna and who should not use it
In the steam room it is strictly forbidden to:
- Smoking;
- Drink alcohol;
- Have sex;
- Water the glow stones unnecessarily;
- Lie with your legs thrown up.
People should also not visit the sauna on an empty stomach, with cardiovascular disorders, cancer patients, epileptics, hypertensive patients, asthmatics, pregnant women, if there are complications, those with infectious diseases or severe headaches.
Positive aspects of visiting a sauna:
- Removing waste and toxins from the body;
- Calming effect on the nervous system;
- Elimination of insomnia;
- Relieving stress and internal tension;
- Increasing the body's resistance to colds and external negative influences;
- Improving blood circulation and breathing;
- Strengthening the immune system.
By the way, regular visits to the sauna promote weight loss and rejuvenation. It has been noticed that up to 2 kg of fat is lost in one bath procedure. Intense sweating and cleansing of pores leads to elasticity of the skin. If there is no allergy, then in the steam room they use aromatic agents that have a beneficial effect on health: mint, pine needles, eucalyptus. They help cope with stress, improve your mood and feel a surge of strength. A visit to the sauna is a powerful “recharge” of the body and mind, which is why it is so loved in Finland and other European countries, including Russia.
Steam room accessories
If you go to a Russian bathhouse, where boiling water is poured onto the stones to intensify the steam, find out if there is a tub and a ladle for the steam room. They are usually made from oak, which has a dense wood structure and almost does not absorb moisture. You can also take a hard mitten with you to rub your skin.
Indications and contraindications for baths
Regular visits to a Russian bathhouse allow you to combat:
- Osteochondrosis and osteoporosis.
- Headache and migraine.
- Vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Hypertension and hypotension.
- ARVI.
- Skin diseases.
- Diseases of the heart, respiratory and nervous systems.
There are diseases that are at risk when health procedures are prohibited:
- Oncology.
- Epilepsy.
- Heart and kidney failure.
- Acute respiratory diseases.
- Internal bleeding.
Pregnant women, elderly people and small children under 3 years of age are also prohibited from visiting the steam room.
To get a powerful rejuvenating and therapeutic effect, you need to know how to properly steam in a bathhouse. To do this, it is recommended to follow the basic rules of bath procedures and take into account the physical condition of the body.
How to steam properly
Sit on the middle shelves: there the temperature reaches 60-70 degrees. At the top - up to 100 degrees (then, because of this, capillaries in the thin skin of the face may burst).
It is imperative that the entire body must be in the same temperature zone, i.e. either on the bottom shelf, or on the middle or top shelf. The optimal position is lying on your stomach or back. In this case, all muscles are most relaxed. Do not sit directly on the tree, only on a towel. Also, do not lean on uncovered wood.
Do not drink anything between sessions: this enhances the effect of removing toxins from the body. When you sweat, the blood becomes thicker and in order for it to be restored, the body pulls fluid (and with it waste) from the tissues.
A sauna is a place where silence should be maintained. Don't talk in the sauna!
