Sauna Bathing-An Ancient Past Time
Sauna bathing is an ancient past time although the activity is quite popular in the modern world as well. Let’s explore the reasons why saunas continue to have such a strong presence.
The purpose of a sauna is to provide wet or dry heat sessions that promote both relaxation and perspiration.A typical sauna session may be a social gathering in which bathers undress and sit or lie down in temperatures greater than 80 °C. A sauna bath is not only relaxing but also generates profuse sweating. The detoxification has not only physical benefits, such as an improved immune system, but also psychological benefits, including a reduction in stress.
Sauna is an ancient Finnish word that describes the traditional Finnish bath. The first known saunas were essentially the lowest points dug in a slope in the ground mainly used as dwellings during winters. At the time the sauna included a fireside where stones were heated to very high temperatures. Afterwards, water was thrown on to the hot stones thus producing steam and heat.The temperature would increase so dramatically that people removed their clothing.
As time passed, the sauna evolved and began to feature a metal woodstove along with a chimney.Air temperature was typically set between 70 and 80 degrees Celsius but on occasion exceeded as much as 90 degrees Celsius. Steam vapor was also generated by spraying water onto the heated stones. The steam vapor and high heat caused bathers to sweat a great deal.
Historically, the Finns used a vihta, a bundle of birch branches with small fresh leaves. They would bind the branches together and use it to gently swat themselves and other bathers.Many bathers continue to practice this today because the vihta stimulates the pores and cells, therefore improving blood circulation. Also, the pleasant birch scent aides in relaxation.
As previously noted, a sauna is a wonderful and effective way to relieve stress. It accomplishes this in two basic ways. Not only do they help you relax from simply spending time relaxing within, but they also help your body relax physically. The other way in which a sauna relieves stress is by releasing chemicals from the body. When your skin heats up during a bath, large quantities of chemicals that cause stress are expelled from the body. Thus, in addition to reducing the amount of chemicals in the body, the sauna bath also slows the formation of chemicals.
Since the sauna makes you sweat, and the sweat removes toxins, the overall experiences helps to detoxify your body by forcing toxins out through the skin.
In Finland home sauna bathing is practiced regularly as Finns regard saunas as the natural and superior method to cleanse the mind and rejuvenate the spirit. Then and now, the sauna remains a key component to healthy living in Finland. Families often bathed together in home saunas, and in the past Finnish women often gave birth in saunas.
When the Finns migrated to the different parts of the globe they shared their knowledge of sauna designs and customs. They taught other cultures about the sauna’s health benefits which helped the sauna to evolve further. Eventually, this led to the development of electric sauna stoves and far infrared saunas which became quite popular. Since then various cultures around the world have been recognizing, adopting and improvising the sauna.
Tags: dry sauna, Finnish dry sauna, Finnish sauna, sauna, sauna health benefits
