What is Saunayoga?- article tells you everything you need to know about Saunayoga.
What exactly is Saunayoga?
Where can you do Saunayoga?
What are the benefits?
Why should you give Saunayog a try?
Saunayoga or sauna yoga is a form of well-being developed in Finland. It combines the warmth of a sauna with the movements of yoga. The Saunayoga was developed by the Finnish Tiina Vainio. At Saunayoga International, you can to study to become a Saunayoga instructor.
Read more: Saunayoga international
You can enjoy the gentle power of Saunayoga and its benefits also in Germany. I interviewed Minttu Koivunen from Finland. She is a yoga teacher, Saunayoga instructor and music teacher.
Minttu Koivunen explained to me what sauna yoga is and what you should know before you try it. For example, are there any health restrictions?
Who are you, where do you live and what do you do for a living?
I am Minttu Koivunen, 32 years old and I live in the city of Weißenfels in eastern Germany. I have been living in Germany for over a year now. I am a yoga teacher, sauna yoga instructor and music educator.
I did yoga for a couple of years part-time in addition to my main job. In October 2020, I switched to full-time entrepreneurship. In addition to yoga (weekly classes in studios, private lessons for groups and companies, pregnancy yoga and sauna yoga), I do gigs with my guitar as a troubadour.
Due to the current situation, yoga classes are running online via Zoom – although the sauna yoga classes have been on a break for about a year now. It is difficult to organize them online!
I give yoga classes in German, Finnish, and English. Me and my spouse and two cats enjoy living in Germany. We hope to get to know Central Europe even more when the situation allows.
Read more: Sauna health benefits
What made you excited about sauna yoga? What made you choose it as your profession?
While working as an early childhood music teacher in Finland, I suffered from severe muscle stiffness in my body. It also negatively affected my most important tool, my voice. One of my friends is a sauna yoga instructor and I visited her classes every now and then around five years ago. I’ve never been that keen on saunas, but I fell in love with sauna yoga right away.
The idea started growing in my head slowly. I knew I wanted to help other people feel good and take care of my own body at the same time. I decided to attend Saunayoga instructor training in the summer of 2018, and RYT200 yoga teacher training the following summer.
Sauna yoga instructor trainings are organized by Saunayoga International (most of the trainings are in Helsinki). Saunayoga can only be instructed by a trained and licensed instructor.
Who invented or developed sauna yoga?
Sauna yoga is – a surprise surprise – developed in Finland. Tiina Vainio can be called the “mother” of Saunayoga. She has also published two books Saunajooga – rauhoitu ja rentoudu (Sauna Yoga – Calm and Relax Yourself) and Saunapilates – hyvinvointia selälle (Sauna Pilates – Wellness for the Back).
What is Saunayoga like?
Saunayoga is wonderfully gentle and improves concentration. At the same time, it is strengthening and stretching, energizing and relaxing. Saunayoga exercises in the morning give energy for the day. Exercises in the evening calm the body and mind. Saunayoga has been said to be the “sleep school for adults” because it often helps you to fall asleep more easily!
How is sauna yoga different from regular yoga?
The most important difference is that sauna yoga takes place in a mildly heated sauna. The movements are done while sitting on the sauna benches which limits the number of possible movements. Typical yoga asanas like downward-looking dog cannot be done in the sauna -there is not enough space! The sauna yoga movements have been developed on the basis of several different traditional yoga styles. Each class is accompanied by movements that strengthen and stretch the muscles, increase mobility, and eliminate muscle tension.
One wonderful feature of Saunayoga is that the sauna is free of external stimuli – no background music, no smartphones, or other devices. No checking the clock on your phone or grabbing a quick yoga selfie between the asanas. You focus on the exercise and not on the nice song playing in the background.
Being present with your own body, your own feelings and thoughts is important. You get to enjoy the silence, as well as the feeling of well-being brought by the heat of the movements and the sauna. Listening to the silence and stopping to spend time with your own thoughts can sometimes feel challenging. The more challenging it feels, the more your body and mind are likely to need it.
Is sauna yoga better than regular yoga?
Both are great! I do not like to compare the two, but rather I would say that they support each other. Of course, it depends on what kind of exercise your body and mind need. Sometimes you crave intense power yoga, and sometimes saunayoga, which gently opens your body. It all depends what exercise is right for that particular moment. Everyone has their own preferences, and it’s worth exploring different yoga styles to find your favorites!
What is great about sauna yoga is that the mild heat of the sauna helps the muscles to stretch better and gives the metabolism a little extra boost.
Can anyone do Saunayoga, are there any age or other restrictions?
Sauna yoga is suitable for anyone, regardless of age, who can safely stay in the sauna in a mild heat. No previous yoga experience is required to participate. You should not do sauna yoga if you are ill or if you have an infectious skin condition. If you are pregnant, check with your doctor for individual instructions for training during pregnancy. There are also Saunayoga options available for the physically challenged and disabled.
What do you need to know before your first class?
The first thing people often ask is if you have to be naked. The answer is no, you do not do sauna yoga naked. Lightweight training clothes, such as elastic shorts and a sports top, or even a swimsuit are work well for sauna yoga. Take off your make up and jewelry before entering the sauna. The most important equipment is a large bottle of water made of heat resistant material. You will sweat so it is important to drink enough water during the class. You should bring two small towels, a towel for your seat and a sweat towel.
What are the benefits of sauna yoga?
Saunayoga has numerous health benefits. You can benefit from them even after a single session. Here are a few examples.
Saunayoga:
- Strengthens and stretches muscles
- Increases body mobility
- Enhances metabolism and blood circulation
- Improves sleep quality
- Supports the spine and joints
- Promotes recovery
- Relieves stress
- Improves concentration
- Relaxes and soothes the mind
What is the temperature in the sauna?
The optimal temperature for a sauna yoga session is about 40-50 degrees. The class takes 30 or 45 minutes, depending on the exercises. Sauna yoga can also be practiced in the infrared sauna.
Do you get sweaty doing sauna yoga?
The heat is low compared to a normal sauna temperature, and the movements are calm and relatively slow. Still even a moderate heat boosts the metabolism, and you will probably need a towel to wipe off the sweat! No water is poured on the sauna stove, so the heat stays constant throughout the workout.
What to consider before or after sauna yoga?
It is a good idea to avoid food for a couple of hours before taking a sauna yoga class. A light snack before training is ok but you should do not feel too full. Drink water before, and (especially) during and after the class. Stop if you start to feel unwell.
Before the class, you should calm your mind well in advance. Arrive on time, switch your phone to silent, and bring your thoughts to this moment.
What is the duration of a typical sauna yoga class?
There are two different Saunayoga classes, 30- and 45-minute classes. I usually like to give only 45 minutes, because 30 minutes always feels awfully short. But I am not too strict with time, there is no clock in the sauna.
How much does a Saunayoga class cost?
The price depends on the situation. Weekly classes have different prices than a private classes or group classes.
Other things to consider:
The size of the sauna must be taken into account, i.e. how many yoga practitioners can fit in the sauna without touching each other. Also, everyone needs space for their feet so no one should sit directly in front of each other.
Thank you for the interview Minttu Koivunen. You can follow Minttu on social media on Facebook and Instagram.
Website: momentwellnessandmusic.com
Hopefully this “What is Saunayoga?”-article was helpful to you when you are looking for information on sauna yoga and the different aspects of well-being. I hope to get to experience Saunayoga soon, preferably in Minttu’s yoga class.
