Ok, it's time for a thread about Finnish Sauna, it's tradition, history and how-it-all-works kind of stuff.

Before anything else, I ask you, how many of you have experienced this before? And I don't mean any daft not-hot-enough versions of it. I mean THE real deal, hot like hell, with lake near by, some beers, vihta and all that.

Before I go into details about how it is, how it works, history and tradition, I want to know if you guys have been into Finnish sauna, or if not, what's the picture and thoughts you have about it.

Rock on and throw some Löyly!

No. I have used the sauna at the swimming pool (which I hated, I can't stand being hot) but I suspect that's a very different thing to what you're talking about, Hex.

cantata wrote:
Aha, so you have probably been into sort of "steam" sauna? Some call it Turkish sauna in here... That's what most spa's and hotels offer in other countries than here.

The actual real sauna is not so wimpy, typical temperature is around +80 celcius... Anywhere between +60 and +100 is quite normal. So it's pretty goddamn hot. And that's part of the whole point of sauna.. In which I wont yet go... I want more people to participate to this talk before that.

Sauna in it's truest old fashion form has ton of healt benefits by the way, that's why I put this thread here... It can help to fix many ailments... From common cold to heart problems, from bad lungs to bad mood, it works it's magic. Oh, did I mention that it's also a good as a detox method. Specially when vihta is used.

I have the odd stupidly hot bath. Does that count?

*just posting to try and prompt Hex to spill a bit more really*

dubmeup wrote:
Haha, gets closer...

Hmm, I think I once started a thread about sauna in DIF too, it didn't really catch peoples attention there... Maybe peeps from elsewhere just aren't interested because they haven't been to sauna. Sauna has got to be the best ever invention to hail from this land, Finns have couple of good inventions, which are quite ingenious. Interestingly, some American natives have similar kind of thing there too..

The history of sauna is quite a mystery on some parts... Nobody knows when it was first invented and by whom. It's quite clear though why, winters are long and cold here, during winter time only possible way to efficiently wash oneself, is somewhere with heat. Not a very smart move to go for a wash somewhere at -25 celcius. It might result into untimely hypothermic death... So a place with heat = good place to wash.

Sauna also is more than just that, It is also a holy place. During past times sauna was the place where women went to give birth, sick people were treated there, and dead were washed and in some cases also stored there before funerals... Using sauna has various health benefits, in past it was used for even more than what it is today...

..And more in next episode of sauna chronicles. Time for a cup of coffee.

I used to go for regular saunas a few years ago. I would make an afternoon of it then lay on the loungers with face packs on and hair conditioning treatments. I would go home with super clean skin, look bright and healthy and feel really good. The one I went to had a sauna and a steam room, but the sauna was best though, if hot enough literally melted any hard skin on the feet.

I would be interested in any information the original poster has on the benefits of saunas.

Mangetout wrote:
Yeah, Hex seems to have gone offline again - hopefully not for too long. He certainly meant to post more on this subject.

And Welcome to you, Mangetout. I hope you'll be very happy here. (Incidentally, your username reminds me of Del Boy from Only Fools And Horses, when he's pretending to be able to speak French. ).

I've been in plenty of saunas but never jumped in a freezing cold lake afterwards if thats what you're getting at?
I might've been up to it when I was younger but now? Jesus, the shock would probably be dangerous actually.

Damn the suspense! Hurry up with your coffee - this is interesting!

'Sauna' has quite different connotations in gay circles, hexxy. I'd be happy to walk you through some of the nuances myself.

Oh yea, one of the great pleasures of life a good sweat

I've been in a sauna but didn't do the cold afterwards. I'd like to do this at some point. Part of the cancer therapy that my girlfriend (I like using the old fashioned term, as partner used to be someone you were in business with!), was hyperthermia treatment. The name might be somewhat confusing as this treatment involved inducing fever temperatures to the body, to help kill the bad stuff. So, that has been an interesting/enlightening experience.

Not long ago, I got into Dr Schulze. He's big into what he calls 'hot and cold' treatment. I believe in this stuff and hence the sauna (if the water used inside is pure, not filled with chemicals) and then jumping in a cold lake seem equivilant. This stuff has been used by different people for centuries. I believe it is a fantastic thing to do. It's not the same but I've just enjoyed a cold bath (17C) after working out this morning. So refreshing.

DR. RICHARD SCHULZE'S "INCURABLES" PROGRAM:
HOT & COLD Water Therapy
Compiled And Edited By Tom Harrelson (Revised 7/13/08)

healingtools.tripod.com/thn9.html

Hello Mangetout, I'm still am going to post more on this subject. It just takes its time... I have been few days offline yea, been playing minecraft + I have had some busy days.. Rehearsals and stuff.

Andy, actually, quite the opposite... People with heart condition treat it with sauna + cold water here and it's quite effective. +80 degrees sauna and some löyly, then outside to swim in nearly freezing water has positive effect on heart. It's a shock yea, but it seems to give just the right kind of stress to strengthen the heart. My dad has a heart problem, and sauna + freezing lake has helped him too.

Yea Abs, I bet it does... Somebody ruins every holy thing in the world... But well, what many foreign people call sauna is actually very far from the real deal.