The culture of sauna bathing has a very long and diverse history. Sauna bathing is one of the oldest forms of therapy, which is both natural and effective. This form of biological renewal heals, removes toxins, and regenerates the body. Yet many people still do not know how to use the sauna properly and comfortably for themselves and others. Perhaps it is because it is associated with nudity, which is a taboo topic, and thus sauna bathing is surrounded by myths and incorrect behaviors causing discomfort to other participants, and even harm to one's own health. That is why we have prepared a short guide on proper sauna bathing especially for you.
Proper sauna use involves a set of behaviors that should be followed while using the sauna itself as well as the entire sauna complex. These behaviors affect our health and help achieve the maximum benefits from sauna bathing. They were created not to make life and stays in saunas difficult but to provide guidance on how to behave in the sauna to gain maximum benefits from such bathing.
Firstly, before visiting the sauna complex, you should make sure you have no contraindications that could be dangerous to your health and life. Therefore, we recommend consulting a doctor or, in our case, an employee of our Sauna Complex.
In short, people who should NOT use the sauna include:
Sauna use is also not recommended for pregnant women and children, except in low-temperature saunas for very short sessions and under adult supervision. Our sauna complex is intended only for persons over 16 years old, except during family hours, when family sauna sessions take place under the supervision of a sauna master at reduced heating temperatures. Why can't children enter saunas? Mainly to ensure their safety, as children overheat faster than adults. The second reason is the aforementioned nudity. Sauna bathing is an intimate process and should take place under comfortable conditions. Just as children should not witness nudity, sauna users also do not want to feel embarrassed by the presence of children.
Except for the cases mentioned above, others are welcome to enjoy the sauna. If you are using it for the first time, just do so cautiously and observe how your body reacts, and if you notice any worrying symptoms, immediately stop the sauna process and rest.
Before going to the sauna complex, you should not eat heavy meals. Before entering the sauna, you should take care of all physiological needs, then thoroughly wash your entire body with water and soap, and dry yourself completely. Enter the sauna zone wearing slippers and with at least two towels. One will be used to dry and cover the naked body (it can also be a bathrobe). The other (it can be a sheet) is for placing under your body in the dry or stone sauna and on loungers. We place a towel under the body for hygienic reasons to avoid leaving bacteria and to prevent burns from contact with very hot wood or stone. If you do not want to unwrap from your towel in the dry sauna, you should have a second towel to place under your feet.
Enter the sauna without footwear, leaving them outside the sauna so that they do not block the entrance or passage for other participants in the sauna complex. In saunas with wooden (or stone, which cannot be rinsed) benches and backrests, every part of the body should rest on a towel.
And what about nudity, which causes so much emotion? During a sauna stay, it is advisable to expose the body or be naked because this is healthy for the body. It allows free sweating and maintains proper body thermoregulation. However, it is understandable that many of us may feel embarrassed. In such cases, there is no objection to covering intimate parts or even wrapping the body in a towel or sheet, provided it is natural fiber that allows sweating.
Why is it not allowed to use the sauna wearing swimwear? Because the textiles swimwear is made of are synthetic materials, which can cause burns on the skin, and the high temperature (the lowest in Finnish sauna is 45-60 degrees Celsius!) will damage the swimwear. The same applies to all jewelry, watches, and other body decorations, which should be removed before entering the sauna complex.
In steam baths, you should use the water hose to rinse the bench before and after use. Do not reserve places on loungers in the sauna zone by leaving towels or other clothing items.
The entire sauna complex is a place of calm and deep relaxation. Therefore, we should behave quietly so as not to disturb other participants' rest. An exception may be sauna ceremonies conducted by a sauna master. Otherwise, during bathing, we should not disturb others with talking, loud music, or using electronic devices. Therefore, do not use mobile phones, and even more so, do not film or photograph other sauna users! Do not leave sauna doors open when entering or leaving to avoid ventilating the sauna. Enter quietly and calmly to avoid disturbing others' rest and enter quickly to prevent cooling the sauna. For your own safety, do not use the sauna zone if you are under the influence of alcohol and do not behave in a way that causes embarrassment or offense to others in the area.
Sauna culture involves adhering to these rules unless the resort regulations, which must be read, specify otherwise. The sauna complex rules, which every facility has, are the overriding document. We follow all recommendations arising from the rules, icons, pictograms, information boards, and staff instructions. The staff's instructions take precedence over other regulations, and if we do not comply, staff has the right to ask us to leave the sauna complex for the safety and comfort of others.
Despite the pleasure that the sauna provides, do not use it daily, but once or twice a week, as it is quite a strain on the body. The sauna process involves heating and then cooling the body.
During the heating phase, we assume a lying or sitting position, preferably in a crouched sitting position (as if sitting on a towel on the beach supported by hands), on a higher or lower bench depending on the desired intensity (the higher, the warmer). Pouring water on the stones increases the temperature. However, if we want to pour water or add aromatic oils, we must first ask the consent of other sauna users. The benefits of sauna bathing can be increased by brushing or hitting the body with birch branches, which enhances blood circulation to the skin. In the steam bath, it is essential to rinse the bench and foot area before sitting or lying naked, and rinse again before leaving. Do not stay in the sauna more than 12-15 minutes during a single session, so it is important to monitor the time. For beginners, even 5 minutes can be challenging. Remember that after lying down in the sauna, before standing and leaving, sit on the bench for a moment to prevent dizziness.
The cooling phase should last no longer than 10-15 minutes and should not be done abruptly, with too large a temperature difference or pouring cold water over the whole body at once, due to the risk of a significant blood pressure spike. You can use a cold water pool, shower, bucket, or snow. It is best to take a warm shower first and then a cold one, directing the water stream from the feet upwards (towards the heart) and only finally cool the head and neck. If a cold water barrel is available, rinse your body before use. After cooling, wash thoroughly with water without soap, and dry carefully.
Altogether, during one visit to the sauna complex, you can do 3 sessions, totaling up to 1.5 hours spent alternating heating and cooling the body.
After leaving the sauna, we encourage you to rest, as it is quite a workout for your body. In our sauna complex, this can be on loungers opposite the ceiling fountain or in the adjacent room with a salt wall. Rest should last at least as long as you spent in the sauna. It is also essential to replenish fluids at this stage.
Immediately after leaving the sauna, rinse the body thoroughly with warm water, then cool it under the shower or using a cold pool, ice well, or grotto. Cooling begins from the feet.
Before leaving the sauna complex, remember to wash your entire body thoroughly. Also, remember to take all your belongings with you and throw used towels or sheets in designated places provided by the sauna complex. Leave the area quietly and calmly so that others can continue to relax in peace.
We encourage sauna bathing, especially with us, where at your disposal are Finnish, herbal, aroma, steam baths, and Infrared saunas. What benefits does sauna bathing bring? There are many. First and foremost, blood vessels are strengthened and the respiratory system cleansed. These and the drastic temperature changes strengthen our immunity and body performance. Also, the secretion of endorphins increases due to psychological relaxation, reducing the risk of respiratory and intimate area infections and boosting metabolism. The effects of sauna bathing are most quickly visible on the skin because after just one visit, skin condition improves with better blood circulation and oxygenation, making it smooth and clear. Interestingly, sauna bathing removes excess salt and toxins from the body and unclogs sebaceous glands, so sweating also eliminates excess sebum. As a result, the aging process slows down.
