How to Use a Dry Sauna

Relax and sweat your way to health

The superheated air of a sauna provides a healthy way to relax and sweat out impurities at the end of the day or after a workout. In a traditional Finnish sauna, people strike their limbs and torsos with thin, whip-like tree branches to increase circulation and intensify the effects. In the countryside, they leave the heat of the sauna and plunge into an icy lake or roll in the snow to cool off. At your local gym, you won't be able to jump into an icy lake; however, you can still enjoy the health aspects of the sauna with a few modifications.

Instructions

1. Turn on the sauna at least 30 minutes before you will be using it. It needs time to heat up.

2. Undress and wrap yourself in a bath towel for modesty. The sauna works best without the restriction of clothing or swimsuits.

3. Enter the sauna and place a bath towel on the bench where you intend to sit or lie. Not only does the towel protect you from the hot wood, it also prevents the spread of germs and bacteria between skin and bench.

4. Sit or lie quietly as the intense heat relaxes your muscles. Relax for about 10 or 15 minutes or until you feel uncomfortably hot.

5. Leave the sauna and take a cool shower. Dry off, put on a bathrobe and enjoy a cold drink.

6. Return to the sauna for an additional 10 minutes. Follow the same instructions as Steps 4 and 5.

7. Repeat the cycle as many times as you like. Most traditional saunas last for 3- to 10-minute intervals.

8. Get dressed when you feel comfortably cool. The body is sensitive after a sauna, so get dressed before you become cold.

Tips & Warnings

• Drink a sports drink to replace essential electrolytes and have a salty snack after your sauna.

• Do not stay in the sauna for longer than 15 minutes. Don't use the sauna before checking with your doctor if you have any health issues.

Resources

• The Finnish Sauna Society