How to Wash in a Sauna
Saunas have been used for centuries in places like Finland for relaxation and hygienic purposes. Saunas do not require the user to bathe in the traditional sense, using soap and water, but provide the proper conditions for the body to clean itself using the natural sweating mechanism. The dry heat of a sauna allows the pores to open and the impurities to escape without the aid of abrasive soaps. It also increases circulation throughout your body. Traditionally saunas are taken in the nude, as tight clothing like swimming suits restricts circulation that a sauna is trying to promote, but if you are modest, wrap yourself with a large towel. Saunas are not for everyone and should not be taken if they make you feel lightheaded or dizzy. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Take a shower or a quick swim to rinse visible dirt particles from your body. This rinse ensures that the sauna remains hygienic. Removing visible dirt particles from your body unclogs your pores so that when they open in the heat, the impurities can escape.
-
2
Place the small towel on the spot you wish to sit. This is unnecessary if you plan to keep your towel on. Lean back, relax and let the heat work on your body. A novice should do this for about 10 minutes. Sauna veterans can last up to 30.
-
-
3
Alternate between sitting in the sauna with breaks of cool air, either in an adjacent cooling room or outside. Listen to your body; you'll know when you need to cool down. Allow between 30 and 60 minutes for a proper sauna, getting in and out as often as your body tells you to, but at least twice.
-
4
Rinse your sweaty body in a cool shower or with another quick swim when you are finished going into the heat.
-
5
Drink a tall glass of room-temperature water and pat yourself dry with a large towel. Apply lotion from head to toe to counteract the drying effects of the sauna. Allow your body to cool and the lotion to absorb thoroughly prior to getting dressed.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you are a little more adventurous, you can bring a vihta into the sauna. In Finland, vihtas are bunches of birch or cedar branches that are slapped onto the body to promote circulation.
Pouring water on the stones in the sauna will increase the temperature and humidity.
Never use a sauna under the influence of alcohol or drugs or if you suffer from cardiovascular problems. These increase the risk of fainting.
Exposure to dry air for extended periods of time is not healthy for the respiratory system.
