Home 'n Garden Magazine

Saunas Rejuvenate The Body

There is evidence to suggest that saunas were first built in the 5th century by the Chinese. The current saunas have evolved from Finland where they were used to rejuvenate the body and refresh the spirits. They became famous with Finnish small rooms or houses that were built as places to experience dry or wet sessions. The original facilities were Finnish and, a session in these rooms or houses means disrobing oneself and sitting or reclining in temperatures in excess of eighty degrees centigrade. This helped the person to relax and induced him or her to sweat profusely. Modern day saunas in North America and Western Europe are found in many fitness centers, public sports centers and, are even in found in public and private swimming pools. Sometimes, temperatures may approach and even exceed hundred degrees centigrade, but this would lead to intolerable conditions which need to be controlled by checking humidity levels.

Need To Check Humidity Levels

Finnish saunas, especially the hottest ones, have very low levels of humidity so the air temperatures are more tolerable, even though water could easily be boiled at such high temperatures. There are other saunas such as hammam where the humidity could be as high as one hundred percent. These require temperatures to be set at around forty degrees Celsius. The cooler temperature helps to compensate for the higher humidity because the wet heat at high temperatures would result in scalding of the skin of the sauna-takers. Saunas have a very soothing effect but may lead to heat prostration or even more seriously, hyperthermia or heat stroke. Also, a cool shower or plunge into water immediately following the sauna will result in high blood pressure. For this reason, persons having a history of stroke or hypertension may need to moderate their sessions.

According to Finnish culture, a sauna is always followed by a cool and refreshing beer that is believed to help in relaxing the body even more. Also, by pouring a minute quantity of beer into the water poured on hot stones, it helps to release an odor of the beer’s grain to release the wonderful fresh smell of baked breads into the air. In addition, other scents are also used and birch tree scents are usually preferred.

It is common for adults to take saunas in the nude and saunas are also considered sex-free as well as gender-free zones. To adhere to hygienic standards, it is common for persons to sit on a towel as it is more comfortable. In some hotels and on cruise ships, alcohol is also served in combination with the sauna.

Health Benefits of a Sauna

There are a number of health benefits of a sauna. First, the heart rate may increase by 50 to 75 percent and is the same amount of metabolic activity that can be gained from physical exercise. Also, blood vessels become flexible and circulation is improved. Another benefit is the cleansing of the skin and sweat glands as a result of induced sweating.

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