First Experiences SAUNA

A fact that is probably not widely known, the Finns invented sauna. It is such a big thing here, and in some eyes could be considered part of a religion (at least from my view), it is an important way of life here. There are saunas everywhere here! Every home has one, the cruise ships have them, some of the larger ferries have them for the employees, there are sauna boats too, even a ferris wheel in Helsinki has a sauna that you can go into. I have even been told that they having sayings here regarding saunas like "Finns were born from sauna" because back in the day, women would literally give birth in them, also there is a saying that goes with the idea that if you are sick or wounded and the sauna does not help, you are pretty much a dead man.

Going to sauna not only has benefits to your health as I have learned, it really gives you that clean feeling when all is said and done. I have learned that sauna can be an intimate thing too, when someone invites you to sauna, it can be seen as an honor, and it creates a bonding experience. Being in a room, and yes naked, with people, you have a sense of vulnerability, nothing is hidden, but it also gives you a sense of being free, and honestly more accepting of who you are and how you see yourself. Talk about body confidence! When you are having a sauna with people, everyone is on the same level, no one is better than anyone else, you are all just people there for a good time, a time to either be still and quiet, where nothing needs to be said, or even a time to have deep conversations and share a variety of views and ideas without judgment.

A Sauna gnome, with a eucalyptus and menthol scent
which is very calming when warmed up

I was not sure how much I would enjoy it if at all, before coming here the thought of sitting in a hot room just to sweat until even your sweat was sweating just did not appeal to me much. My first night here I tried it however, and at first thought it was way too hot for me. My husband told me he even made it slightly cooler (at around 133 Fahrenheit) than he normally does (around 158-176 Fahrenheit) which made me think there was no way I would be able to handle this at all. I will never forget either when my husband picked up the water and threw it on the stones and feeling the steam overwhelm my body, I almost could not breathe, then he threw another scoop and WOW. It was then we decided that I would control the water, in which at that time I would only do one scoop at a time. I remember getting out of the sauna thinking there was no way I could do that more than once a week.

5 months later however, I can now handle a very hot sauna, between 70 and 80 Celsius, and throw two scoops of water on the hot stones at a time, my husband even has to go cool off sometimes whereas I stay in the heat. It is amazing to think how used to it I am now and have come to really enjoy it. Even now with it getting colder outside, saunas are even better. The feeling of running outside in the cold to go right into a hot booth and then able to just walk back to the house afterward because you are not cold at all and just have that overall relaxed and melted feeling is amazing.

I highly recommend if anyone is willing to try, to go to a wood burning sauna when it is 80 Celsius (176 Fahrenheit) and pour a couple ladles of water on the hot stones and sit there for 20-30 minutes and see how you feel afterward. I would suggest it to being a wood burning sauna though and not a steam one, because I did try that once and to me I felt like my skin was burning from mosaic stone seats they had available, and I ran right back to the dry one with wooden benches. :)