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The Finnish Sauna
By Thomas Oak
When people talk about the Finnish Sauna, they usually mean the Finnish Sauna experience. The Finnish Sauna begins with sitting in a very hot room, built just for such a purpose. It does get very hot, with temperatures ranging from 175 degrees up to 212 degrees. The heat is produced by heating rocks on a special stove, called akiuas, which then have water poured over them to make steam, making the already hot room hotter still.
Traditionally, at this point one would use the leafy branches from a silver birch tree to beat oneself upon the back, bringing the blood to the surface of the skin and relaxing the muscles. This is sometimes omitted these days, but it is a traditional part of the experience.
When the heat has become unbearable, the one taking the sauna would then run outside and jump in a pool of water, a lake or in the winter time, a snow bank. Often, in the wintertime a hole would be cut in the ice of the lake and one would jump in there.
After getting out of the water or snow, it is then traditional to sit in the dressing room and drink a beer or soda in order to completely cool down, then one would begin the cycle all over again.
It is worth noting here that many Finns believe that just one sauna cycle has no noticeable effect, with 3 cycles not being uncommon, and, at some retreats, the Finnish Sauna treatments can continue well into the night.
In Finland, the sauna is not just a luxury, as it often is seen the North America. It is more a way of life. There over two million saunas in Finland, or an average of one sauna per household, and the sauna is a customary meeting place in business and Politics, with there even being one at the House of Parliament.
Finns see the sauna as a part of their cultural heritage and have a near religious reverance for it, with the vast majority of Finns partaking in a Finnish Sauna at least once a week, with some preferring the more spiritual connotation of taking sauna on Sunday, while those who just want the physical effects prefer to take it on Saturday.
To the Finns, the sauna is not only a way of life, it is not only part of their heritage; they see it as a large part of their cultural identity, much like the role of the log cabin in American history. One thing is certain, however; In Finland it is here to stay!
Thomas Oak writes articles for http://www.hot-sauna.com/ if you are in the market for a new sauna stop and take a look at what of all the latest information on new saunas and sauna heaters for your home.
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