subject: The History And Kinds Of Saunas Used All Over The World [print this page] Have you ever sat in a sauna? A sauna is an enclosed room specially designed to allow a steam bath. You can find them in some homes, many gyms, sometimes even bathrooms. Temperatures in saunas may climb to more than 150 degrees.
It's a relaxing experience, when you sit in a sauna. You will relax and sweat. Sweating is therapeutic. Sauna has been used for a long time - in fact, the word goes back to the Finnish word "savuna," which translates to "in smoke."
This makes sense when you consider that the earliest saunas were simply large holes dug into the ground so that an entire community or tribe could sit within. The hole would have a cover or roof to keep out cold and rain, and a pit in the middle for a fire. Tribe members would sit in the hole, covered by the roof, and sweating from the heat of the wood fire. As early as 1700, public saunas have been available.
Many cultures have their own versions of sauna. The bania or banya in Russia, thermae in Rome, hammam in Turkey, and sweat lodge in North America, are all examples of sauna -type experiences.
In North America, saunas are increasingly common in public sports facilities, and in the gyms of colleges and universities. These usually combine low humidity with high temperatures which makes it more bearable and less uncomfortable.
Sweating is beneficial because it releases some of the body's toxins. You'll find that sauna is very helpful to your health. You will also experience better immunity against illness because heat boosts the immune system and white blood cell production.
Don't use a sauna if you have high blood pressure. If you get out of a sauna and take a cool shower, your blood pressure can go up. You can also have heat stroke in a sauna if you are unaware of your limits. Bear in mind that in America, the health industry is increasing interest in saunas.
Most saunas these days are heated via gas or electricity rather than burning wood. It's safer, more efficient, and better for the environment this way.
