What is a sauna?

Sauna - a room where you have high or low temperatures and low or high humidity (depending on the type of sauna), where you spend several to several minutes. Staying in a sauna has properties that improve circulation. After a stay in the sauna, usually take a bath in cool water. The most popular sauna in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and also in Russia. It plays an important social role in these countries. Saunas were built by Slavs and Finns (ancestors of today's Finns and Estonians) from time immemorial.

History of the sauna in a nutshell

It is widely believed that the Finnish sauna prototype is a folk bath used in northern Europe and inhabited by the Slavs. Finland is considered the cradle of saunas.

Nothing more wrong ...

The tradition of saunas, according to the latest archaeological research, dates back to the Scythians, who had heated baths in the tents. Then ancient Rome, where in the hot rooms called caldarium were bathed. Further leads us to the Indians, who in their huts (pots of sweat) dug down the pit to which the heated stones were put, also leads to a Turkish steam bath called hammam, which is the direct successor of the Roman baths. To the Slavs, who served the wooden saunas called the bulbs, up to the Finns, who had cavities hollowed out in the ground, but in every obligatory in the middle was a stove in which stones were heated. Thanks to that, the room was warm. In order to increase the perceptible heat, water was poured on the stones or snow was poured.

Saunas today

It's a way of life, rest, regeneration, and the Finns say it's also the cleansing of the body and soul. Regular use of the sauna not only provides beautiful skin, but cleanses the body of toxins, effectively reduces muscle pain, joints as well as daily stress and fatigue. It improves circulation, immunity, regenerates the skin, restores physical and mental health.

Today saunas are modern spaces adapted to the requirements of civilization (fashion, tastes and tastes). On the other hand, the task to be fulfilled has remained unchanged for centuries.

Types of saunas:

Not everyone knows that you can use two types of saunas.

First, it's a steam room

Sometimes referred to as the wet, turkish or Roman sauna, In the steam bath the temperature is 35-55oC and the humidity reaches 100%. This is a room finished with ceramics, glass or plastic, Steam generator, which is placed in a separate room (so-called), Through the nozzles blows steam inside to heat up the bath. This type of sauna requires special technical and construction conditions.

(steam room)


The second type of sauna is dry sauna (Finnish)


(sauna Finnish)

In the Finnish sauna there is a high temperature and very low humidity. Today's saunas are wooden outdoor spaces or houses built of wood in which an electric or wood burning stove heats the sauna to 80-110 ° C.

Each furnace has stones that heat up giving heat to the sauna. Skilfully pouring heated stones will cause steam to temporarily increase the humidity in the sauna (at the temperature of the sauna about 100 ° C, pouring water on the stones will give about 20% of humidity) giving a feeling of greater heat.

Saunas are guided by a simple rule:

The higher the temperature, the lower the humidity.
The higher the humidity, the lower the temperature.

Technique of bathing in the sauna

Before entering the sauna:

  • We wash the entire body thoroughly
  • We drain the body with a towel (we do not go to the wet sauna)
  • We can additionally soak feet in hot water

In a sauna:

  • We occupy space on the lowest bench
  • We gradually acclimatize the body to higher temperatures by changing places seat higher
  • We behave quietly so as not to disturb others

After each departure from the sauna we cool down the body and relax by sipping vegetable or fruit juices. In order to properly use the sauna should take 2-3 sessions of the sauna.

One show it:

  • stay in the sauna for 8-15 minutes
  • cooling and rest

At the same time we are allergic to the length of your stay in the sauna. Everybody (his body) reacts differently and should not be suggested by the recommended length of the sauna session or the opinions of others. If someone feels he or she is tired after 2 minutes, you should go out and relax without prolonging the session under any circumstances.

When not to use the sauna:

Unfortunately, not everyone can use the sauna. In some cases the sauna is even forbidden. We must forget about this pleasure when we have problems such as circulation, tuberculosis, diabetes or even rosacea, and:

  • Acute and chronic diseases with elevated body temperature
  • Hypertension above 200/120 mmHg
  • Diseases of the cardiovascular system with changes caused by atherosclerosis
  • Circulatory insufficiency
  • Organic diseases of the nervous system, lungs, kidneys, liver
  • Malignant neoplasms, ringworm
  • etc.

However, in any case, we should consult a doctor first.

Poland and sauna...

Unfortunately, in our country even seasoned health care practitioners do not go to the sauna for fear of overheating the body and drying out the skin. Knowledge of saunas in Poland is not as widespread as in many other countries. And it's a shame because the Finns say that all the bad will leave us with the "seventh sweat".

By proposing our services, help and expertise with many years of experience, we cordially invite you to choose a sauna so that the use of it is pure pleasure without any negative feelings...

...Because there really is not much you need to have a sauna in your own home, just click "contact" and we will make it easier for you to have a sauna in your own home.

Elaboration: Beata Zakrzewska Harvialand