Benefits of Sauna

Finnish saunas are comparatively new to the United States but they are gaining popularity day by day. A Finn taking a business associate to a sauna is as common as an American taking a business associate to a golf course! The Finnish word "sauna" means a room in which water is thrown over hot rocks to generate steam. You might be astonished to know that there are about three million saunas in Finland, more than one for every two! Finns consider sauna as a means of familial and social bonding and therefore modern Finns prefer to use their home saunas not just for relaxation but for hosting business meetings or discussions. Various types of saunas like infrared sauna and steam sauna are now considered as an essential part of modern lifestyle.

Finnish Sauna

Saunas have been in use in Finland for more than one thousand years. Modern saunas are enclosed rooms which exhibit the art of steaming and relaxing, but originally they were used for bathing, for treating the sick and even as the warm and secured places to give birth or to prepare corpses. Traditionally hot rocks were used to build Finnish sauna (the Finns call it 'kylpy'). In modern enclosed saunas, there are benches, lining the room. The user is supposed to strip, shower and enter the sauna room. These rooms have controlled temperature and they contain invisible but effective steam that has temperatures ranging from 70°C to over 100 °C. As the users sit on the benches, they absorb the heated steam. Electric heaters along with the wood burning stoves and the hot stones make the room hot. Sauna is an invariable part of the Finnish bathroom and they still use hot stones to produce steam. Natural wood is commonly used in the wall and ceiling of the bathroom. Sauna etiquette play an important role in Finnish culture. Corporate sauna is the modern version of Finnish hospitality and business associates usually share a session in a sauna. Finnish sauna is a great place of attraction for tourists traveling through the country.

Health Benefits of Sauna

• Study reports show that regular users of sauna notice significant reduction in common cold attacks as sauna helps to kill bacteria and viruses.
• Those who have rheumatoid arthritis, can enjoy improved mobility of the joints after a sauna bath. It helps relieve pain in the joints.
• It helps burn fat deposits and weight loss. As it promotes weight loss, it has become more popular.
• Release of endorphins (chemical which makes you feel happy) by the pituitary gland due to increased heart rate and increased blood circulation is one of the main sauna benefits.
• It helps get rid of skin problems like acne, pimple and blackheads. Sweating and improved blood circulation offer you a glowing skin and thus gives you a fresh and young look.
• As the users experience increased heart rate, using sauna is as good as performing a moderate physical exercise. Those who are unable to perform exercises can use it as an alternative. Increased blood circulation ensures supply of fresh nutrients to the cells and improves health.
• As you absorb the heat, skin pores open up during the sweating process, and your body gets rid of the accumulated toxins. Thus, it plays an important role in detoxification of the body. This provides deep muscular relaxation. Sauna bath is a perfect way of physical and mental relaxation.
• Many researchers have pointed out that fever (high body temperature) enhances the production of white blood cells, anti-ferons and antibodies, which are required to prevent and fight diseases. This can be achieved during a sauna bath which creates an artificial fever state and encourages the production of these infection fighting entities to strengthen your immune system.
• Specially manufactured sauna belts or sauna suits make you feel hot. They make you sweat as you would in a sauna. You may wear the light weight sauna suit anywhere, anytime. It is less expensive as compared to a sauna. Benefits of sauna bath and benefits of the suit are almost the same. But improper use of the suit can result in dehydration, dizziness, muscle cramps, fatigue and heat stroke. Just as people are crazy about fad diets, they are crazy about these suits. They think that wearing a sauna suit is the best way of losing weight quickly. But it is necessary to consult a physician before using a sauna suit for weight loss.

Advantages of saunas and steam rooms are the same as both involve therapeutic use of heat. The only difference is that dry heat is used in a sauna while high humidity and warmth is maintained in a steam room. Those who cannot tolerate dry heat, may opt for a steam room bath. It is clear that health benefits of sauna are responsible for making 'sauna culture' popular worldwide. Enjoy a sauna bath to unwind and relax and discover a rejuvenated happy new you!