Finnish people are obsessed with saunas. There are over 3 million saunas, with a population of 5.5 people in Finland. You find saunas everywhere. Saunas are the epitome of equality in Finland. Everyone rich or poor leave their social status outside along with their clothes when they step into a sauna.
Advertisement
Saunas are one of the last few places where people are not with or on their cell phones. You really are with your own thoughts or interacting with people.
What is a sauna?
A sauna is a small room in which people aim to relax in dry heat. They are heated to temperatures between 65’C to 90’C with very low humidity, heated by wood, gas, or electricity. These rooms help the body sweat out toxins using dry heat.
Why the sauna is so important in Finland?
Finns view saunas as the holiest rooms, where purification takes place and it’s associated with well-being and peace. They use saunas to improve their sleep quality and to relax. Saunas are important to them as it plays a role in their history and their link to spirituality. They don’t only use it for relaxation. A sauna was a place related to many essential moments: birth, name-giving, marriage, and death. It had a special status as a spiritual part of a house and this heritage still affects the sauna culture in Finland.
Is Sauna a Finnish Culture?
Saunas are entwined in the national culture of Finland. 95% of Finns use the sauna at least once per week and most of them own saunas at their own private residence. Saunas are everywhere in Finland, they have 3 million saunas in the country of just 5.5 million people. There’s almost one sauna for every two people.
How long do Finnish people stay in the sauna?
On average you can stay in a sauna for 15 minutes per session. The general rule is to steam, cool, and repeat.
Benefits of Finnish sauna?
Advertisement
- Detoxification
- Increased metabolism
- Increased blood circulation
- Improved immune function
- Improve sleep
- Stress Management
- Relaxation
- Pain reduction
- Antiaging
- Skin rejuvenation
- Improved cardiovascular function
Do saunas get rid of toxins?
No, saunas don’t get rid of any toxins. Toxins are mainly removed by the kidneys, liver, and intestines.
Are saunas healthy?
Saunas have some health benefits. The high-temperature exposure in the sauna helps blood vessels expand, which helps improve circulation and blood pressure.
How hot is a Finnish sauna?
Saunas are small heated rooms with temperatures between 65’C to 90’C (between 150’F and 195’F).
Do saunas burn fat?
No, they don’t. Saunas don’t help you to lose weight, it only removes easily replaceable water from the body temporarily.
Do you wear clothes in a Finnish sauna?
Finns prefer to take saunas completely naked, even amongst strangers. Nudity is very natural. It’s not seen as a sexual thing. If you are not comfortable, you can wear a towel or a costume. Finns are not shy to be naked amongst each other.
What is sauna etiquette?
Before entering a sauna, you should rinse off any sweat or dirt and enter the sauna fresh. Always respect the dress code which is to enter the sauna naked. You should always have a towel with you to sit on and be as quiet as possible.
How often do Finns typically use a sauna on average?
Finns love saunas to the core and use them at least once a week. They have at least two sessions lasting 15 minutes each on average.
Do Finnish families sauna together?
Finnish families tend to sauna together. They even have it as a Chrismas eve tradition for the whole family to sauna together. They can go in a mix or choose to go in all-male or all-female. It’s common amongst Finn families to sauna together.
1 comment
Comments are closed.