Your Infrared Sauna

In Finland, recent statistics show that there are 1,212,000 saunas in private apartments throughout the country, with another 800,000 to be found in summer cottages and swimming pools. With more than 2 million saunas for a population of just over 5 million people, you can see that the Finnish sauna is something that is extremely important to culture of this Scandinavian country.

A Finnish sauna is usually a small, freestanding wooden room that can be heated up to 80 to 100 degrees Celsius. The heat comes from the dense insulation of the room as well as well as the kiuas, the hot stove that warms the Finnish sauna. Inside the stove, there are hot stones and when water is ladled onto the stones, steam is produced. Users of the Finnish sauna believe that this steam is extremely healthy for the human body. The steam raises the temperature of the Finnish sauna even further, making the inhabitants sweat heavily. The sweat cleans out the pores of the skin as well as getting out various toxins and dirt build up.

There are several ways to go about using a Finnish sauna. Typically, one begins with a brief shower to remove excess dirt and grime; this is considered polite, especially in a public Finnish bath. If you are new to the tradition, be aware that while some Finnish saunas are segregated by sex, others are not. With a towel, one enters the sauna and stays for about twenty minutes to half an hour before exiting. This is considered one cycle of the process and many Finns recommend two or more. At summer cottages where Finnish saunas are often found, one cycle in a Finnish sauna is usually rounded out with a dip into a lake or a swimming pool. Because one cycle is considered barely getting started, most people will return to the Finnish sauna and repeat the process. This can take upwards of 2 hours, and if the Finnish sauna is being enjoyed with friends, the process can last well into the night. The ritual ends with a thorough washing, leaving the participants feeling quite clean and refreshed.

As far as etiquette goes, remember to remove all clothing before entering a heated sauna. You can take in a towel to sit, which may be mandatory in a public structure. Often foreigners who are in Finland on business are invited to join their hosts in a sauna, and it is considered polite to accept. When it doubt, always feel to free to ask what to do; it saves a lot of time and embarrassment in the long run!

A Finnish sauna is considered an excellent time for reflection and meditation, and as the night in Finland remains quite bright during some parts of the year, it can easily be seen why this is such a social activity. Many Finns use the Finnish saunas with friends and family alike and the occasion can become quite festive. There is even a tradition of using the saunas on Christmas Eve, a practice that dates back to medieval times.

Whether you are in the area and want to take part in a true Finnish cultural event, or you just want to find out more about the history of saunas worldwide, Finnish saunas offer an intriguing peek about both!