Finland - Home of the sauna

Sauna is a Finnish invention and one that all Finns proudly talk off. These days saunas (which are small rooms with hot steam pumping into them) are common and can be found worldwide, including in health clubs and wellness center's throughout Europe and also America, as well as many other countries. Temperatures in Finnish sauna can reach more than 80°C (176°F) and the sessions can sometimes be social events.

In many European countries, such as in Scandinavia, Germany and Holland, participants tend to shed all of their clothes and relax as the heat open their pores all over their body. The saunas in countries such as Holland and Germany are often mixed whilst a country such as Finland generally has a very much male only a or female only policy.

The first Finnish saunas go back at least 2000 years ago, when wooden saunas are known to have been built by the Finnish. Digging holes into a hill and then using wooden logs above ground, and with rocks heated in a stone fireplace with a wood fire. The smoke from the fire filled the room as the air warmed. When the temperature reached the required level, the smoke was allowed to clear and the bathers entered. The wood smoke aroma still lingered and was part of the cleansing ritual.

How Finnish saunas evolved
Metal wood stoves were eventually introduced to Finnish saunas and air temperatures averaged around (75°C) and steam vapor was created by splashing water on the heated rocks. The steam and high temperatures made bathers sweat a lot and this sweating appeared to have a positive effect on their skin and general feeling. The Finnish also started using what are called vihtas. Vihtas are birch twigs, and these are used to gently slap the skin in order to stimulate the pores and cells of the body even more.

The Finnish people used also saunas to cleanse their minds and to rejuvenate and refresh their spirits, and also to prepare the dead for burial. Sauna were an still are an important part of daily life in Finland. When I visited Finland in fact, I was surprised to learn that every family I visited had their own home sauna. Once Finnish people started travelling to other parts of the world, the idea of sauna and its benefits has travelled globally also.

Sauna heating - Finnish saunas tend to have very low humidity levels and this allows air temperatures that could boil water to be managed by people for long periods of time. Other types of sauna such as a hammam sauna, often have a humidity level near to 100%, although the temperature is normally set much lower at around 40°C. The damp, wet heat would cause scalding if the temperature was set to a higher level.

It is common to pour water on the stones on the sauna, whilst sitting on a towel is expected in many dry saunas; whilst in some countries people wear towels and swim-wear. In Finland, Germany and Holland wearing something in the sauna will be frowned upon, and often not permitted.

Some useful links to do with Finnish sauna
Finnish Sauna Society
Sauna island, Helsinki