Cold and windy outside? Or just tired legs after mountainbiking tour. Refresh yourself in our Mini Eco Spa.
What is a sauna?
The word “sauna” is a Finnish origin and for many Finns sauna represent a holy place. Formerly it was believed that the spirits of the ghosts living in the sauna should not be disturbed with inappropriate behavior.
Sauna also symbolizes motherly warmth and protection.
The sauna should relax and empower you to meditate. There is a completely natural relationship between your naked body and naked bleached stones found serenity and peace.
The warm air relaxes muscle tension and causes profuse sweating.
Sauna may also represent cosmetic care. Blood circulation is increased, which means better blood circulation. Accelerated sweating is important for the secretion of salt and toxic substances from the body, the net as well as the skin pores..
It is intended, therefore, it cleanses the body, relax the muscles, cleanses the soul and mind. It is a place for calm after a hard day. All that we are in a comfortable and natural environment as well as having adequate light fills you with a sense of rebirth.
What do we need for the sauna?
•Big towel and a larger sheet;
•Sleepers;
•Fresh dress to make you dressed after sauna.
Some like it hot
While most people think that the hotter the better, in fact, extreme temperatures are dangerous if not used with caution.
Expecially in the first round lower temeratures are better, yu can always combine the effectiveness of sweating with vapour.
Sweating helps eliminate toxins from the body. Heating the body’s tissues helps the body heal, much as a fever is the body’s own way of battling viruses. Saunas also improve blood circulation and relieve muscle and joint pain.
The 9 rules of sauna safety
•Don’t stay in too long. 15 minutes at a time is generally considered the max. The length of time the body can tolerate will vary from person to person. If you are sensitive to heat, start off with a short stay.
•Rest for at least ten minutes afterward. Let your body recuperate.
• Drink plenty of water before and after. You may want to eat something salty afterward if you’ve sweat a lot.
•Consider the Buddy System. Going into the sauna with a friend or family member isn’t a bad idea so that if problems do occur, someone has your back. Besides, a sauna is a social affair.
•Cool down – there is a long Finnish tradition of going straight from the sauna into the snow. For a less extreme way to cool your body down, take a cold shower. Bonus: this also removes any impurities that your body has eliminated and prevents their reabsorption.
•The heat of a sauna makes the heart work harder. Avoid the sauna if you have heart problems.
•Never drink alcohol in the sauna and don’t go in right after a large meal or strenuous exercise.
•Know that saunas can burn – too much time in the sauna at a too high temperature can lead to blistering. If your skin starts to sting, get out. The average sauna temperature is about 85C though it can range anywhere between 60C and 90C.
•If you start to feel dizzy, nauseous or have a headache, leave immediately – there is no point in taxing the body to extremes – especially not in the name of wellness. Moderation is key.
Did you know?
Throughout history people of different races and cultures have been using sweat baths for hygienic and medicinal purposes.
Various cultures around the world have their versions of the sweat bath, but all with the same objective: To help avoid disease and maintain good health by eliminating toxins through sweating.
Today, the most notorious sweat bath is undoubtedly the Finnish Sauna.
The first modern wooden saunas, as we know them today, were built around the 5th century when northern European tribes abandoned their nomadic lifestyle and settled down.
The sweat bath became so common in Scandinavia in the Middle Ages that foreign visitors wrote “these people are the only peasantry in Europe who take a bath every week”.
Soon after that however, sweat bathing started to decline in Norway and Sweden. At a time when serious plagues and epidemics were spreading and killing people by the thousands, sharing bath facilities rightly didn’t seem like a good idea anymore, and most sweat bathhouses were closed down.
By the end of the 19th century the sweat bath had almost entirely disappeared in much of Scandinavia.
The dramatic improvement of living conditions in the 20th century and the rise in health awareness brought a revival of sweat bathing not just in Scandinavia, but all around the world. However Finland remains undoubtedly the cradle of the modern sauna culture and passion.
Sauna As a Symbol of Finnish Identity
As a matter of fact, sauna is a Finnish word, and the only one to become part of the world’s vocabulary.
Finland has about 2 million saunas in a land of 187.888 lakes and 200,000 summer cottages. It is the only country in the world where there are more saunas than cars!
Every person in Finland has access to a sauna, either in his or her own house or in a shared facility in an apartment block. Saunas in Finland are everywhere, even in Parliament!
Sauna is for every occasion in Finland, for business as much as for leisure. It is completely normal to hold a business or political meeting in the sauna.
The Finns believe that due to its social nature and relaxing effect, the sauna is an excellent place for negotiations, and exchange of ideas and opinions. They believe that doing business in the sauna is conducive to mutual understanding and consensus.
Saunas are as common as boardrooms in many Finnish business premises.
The Finnish Sauna Tradition
In Finland the sauna is used for rites of passage. It is a place where children are born and where women go through the purification ritual before marriage. It is also where old people sometimes drag themselves to leave this world in peace and warmth.
Until today, some older generation Finns boast about being born in the sauna, it is a national passion and an integral part of their civil identity.
In ancient times, the sauna in Finland was linked to spiritual and religious ceremonies and healing. Not dissimilar to the church for the Christians, the sauna meant a quiet, peaceful place and a clean and warm haven.
Saunas have always had a very strong significance and social importance, more particularly in the countryside. Some seasonal agricultural activities such as drying malt or curing meats were done mainly in the sauna, where the community would gather to work together singing songs and telling folk stories.
An old Finnish proverb says, “One should behave in the sauna the way one behaves in church”.
Being such a family-oriented and social event, there are some basic etiquette rules to follow in the sauna. Parents teach their children basic sauna manners from an early age, such as keeping quiet and not shouting or badmouthing.
Naked bathing is a key feature of the sauna culture, which the Finns consider completely natural. However, aware that other cultures are intimidated by it, they don’t impose it on their foreign guests.
They believe that wearing a swimsuit is unhygienic and as uncomfortable as having a shower with your socks on!