In the “The right way to take a sauna” article, I wonder if there is a right or wrong way to have a sauna. I know that there are many passionate sauna lovers in Finland (and abroad) who think their way to take a sauna is the best. But which one of them is right? Or, could we be merciful to others and accept everyone’s personal preferences?
What is the right way to take a sauna?
We tend to forget that we are all different people with different backgrounds. We come from different countries and cultures. I am from Finland, Finland is traditionally a sauna country. Does that mean that the Finnish way is the best?
I think that everyone is an individual, and therefore it is not possible to determine one right way to take a sauna. Someone likes a sauna that is very hot, up 90 degrees. Someone else likes to relax in gentle 60-degree heat. Everyone has their own preferences. No one can say their way is superior to others. Some likes smoke saunas the others like infrared saunas (although infrared saunas should not even be called saunas).
Since we all have our own ways of enjoying the sauna, can we really critique others? Many countries have a long sauna culture, not just Finland.
Different sauna cultures
Sauna cultures are different from country to country, but the main focus is the same. Cleansing and relaxation are the most important things. This is what we all should concentrate on, not what the person next to us is doing.
Of course, we Finns are sauna people. And, sometimes foreigners and beginners need some advice and guidance. But the guidance should be given respectfully and without judgement.
For some people, nudity, for example, can feel terrifying or wrong. In that case, swimwear or towels are completely OK.
Read more: Do I have to be naked in the sauna?
Hot sauna versus gentle steam
Some people like really hot temperatures and cannot get enough of the hot steam. For them, 90 or 100 degrees is a perfectly normal temperature. For someone that temperature is just way too hot. They feel they cannot breathe or their ears burn just from the mere thought!
If I remember correctly, there used to be two saunas in Finnish public swimming pools in the past. One was (supposed to be) hotter and the other cooler. However, there wasn’t really a difference because people did not play by the “rules”. They just threw water on the sauna stove whenever they felt like it.
In Finnish public saunas, you decide how hot or cool it gets. It is completely normal for customers to change and regulate the sauna temperatures. Usually, this is done by throwing more water on the sauna stones. The one closest to the water bucket gets to decide. They might ask the others but usually only after they have already thrown the water!
So, in Finland everyone knows: if you don’t like it hot, sit on the lower benches. In Germany, this would be a big mistake. The person throwing the water would most likely get thrown out of the sauna. In Germany, only the sauna masters are allowed to create steam.
Read more: How to take a steam bath in a German sauna
Every day is different
I think there is another factor that makes it impossible to determine what is “right” when it comes to the sauna. That is that every day is different. Our bodies react differently to the sauna on different days. In other words, some days it feels good to be in the sauna and I want to enjoy it for a long time.
On another day I won’t be able to be in the sauna for even five minutes. Sometimes staying in the sauna for two hours feels right (with breaks of course) and the next day for half an hour is too much. Your body will tell you what it needs on that specific day.
What is the right way to take a sauna?
The best way is the one that suits you! I do not want to give too much advice in this article or even share my own preferences. You know how you feel and what your body needs. I think the best advice is “do what feels right in the moment”. In the sauna, time does not matter. The main thing is that you enjoy it, everything else is secondary.
I hope this “The Right Way to Take a Sauna” article sparks discussion and lets us exchange ideas. What do you think, do you think there is a right or wrong way to sauna?
Love,
Sauna-Kati
