The sauna has been appreciated by man since time immemorial, and is still treasured today. Let’s explore the history of saunas and learn how they work
Saunas are designed to provide either moist or dry heat.A typical sauna session may be a social gathering in which bathers undress and sit or lie down in temperatures greater than 80 °C. Saunas are very relaxing, and tend to make users sweat. The detoxification has not only physical benefits, such as an improved immune system, but also psychological benefits, including a reduction in stress.
Sauna is an ancient Finnish word that describes the traditional Finnish bath. The sauna consisted of a fire wherein stones were heated to high temperatures, then doused in water to release steam heat.The temperature would increase so dramatically that people removed their clothing.
Over time the home sauna evolved to include a metal woodstove with a chimney. Although the temperature was generally set somewhere between 70 and 80 °C, a traditional Finnish sauna could sometimes get as hot as 90 °C. Spraying water onto the hot rocks helped perfect this experience by adding a soft steam.
Often the Finns would use a ‘vihta’, a bundle of birch branches with fresh leaves, to gently swat themselves and other bathers to improve the experience.Many bathers continue to practice this today because the vihta stimulates the pores and cells, therefore improving blood circulation. Also, the pleasant birch scent aides in relaxation.
Saunas relieve stress in two ways. One is the natural relaxation you’d experience when spending time in a dry or wet sauna. .The other way in which a sauna relieves stress is physiological. More potentially harmful chemicals are able to leave the body with the aid of the hot steam. In addition, the formation of new chemicals that are known to cause stress is greatly reduced.
Since the sauna makes you sweat, and the sweat removes toxins, the overall experiences helps to detoxify your body by forcing toxins out through the skin.
Finns utilize saunas on a regular basis, and saunas are lauded thoughout Finland as the best, most natural way to cleanse oneself both in body and mind. There was a time in history when members of a Finnish family would bather together in their sauna at home. Another interesting fact about the Finns is that many Finnish women used to give birth in the sauna!
When the Finns migrated to the different parts of the globe they shared their knowledge of sauna designs and customs. They taught other cultures about the sauna’s health benefits which helped the sauna to evolve further. Eventually, this led to the development of electric sauna stoves and far infrared saunas which became quite popular. Since then various cultures around the world have been recognizing, adopting and improvising the sauna.