THE TRAVEL BLOG OF BALTIC TOURS

Is It True That Saunas Were Invited by Finns?

If you were to check the history of saunas, you would see that it's not the shortest one. For centuries, everyone has been arguing about who was the one to invent and discover this amazing activity. In fact, most people would agree that the sauna is a part of Finnish culture. However, other countries also have quite big traditions related to saunas: Turkey, the Native American inipi or sweat lodge, the Russian banya, and the Japanese onsen. So why do people really say that saunas are a Scandinavian discovery? Well, maybe because Finland has the biggest sauna establishments, including in private homes, hotels, apartments, summer cottages, public swimming pools, and even in airports! According to the latest information, Finland has a population of 5.3 million inhabitants. You could calculate about two million saunas there! It proves that Finns are totally crazy about it.

Top Tips to Know Before Hitting Finnish Saunas

If Finns are inviting you to use their own sauna, it means they respect you and want to know you better. People in Finland even joke that many decisions in political and business life have been made in saunas. They like to stimulate blood flow and create a pleasant scent by whipping themselves with a whisk made of fresh birch branches. Finns prefer to take saunas completely naked, and it can be quite strange to people from other cultures. They think nudity is not a big deal – it’s natural, and you shouldn’t be ashamed of your own body. But if you don’t like it, you can always use a swimsuit or a towel. You can throw water over the rocks whenever you feel this way. If you think the sauna is too hot, feel free to say your opinion, because it’s normal to take regular cold breaks to cool down. Do you want to try authentic saunas? You need to know that saunas will be dark and silent, and you'll only smell fresh birch leaves and tars. But the most important advice is to keep yourself hydrated – drink soft drinks and water.

Saunas – Natural Cure

The reason why people in Finland use saunas so often is not just an entertaining thing but also like medicine for many illnesses. First of all, saunas relieve stress. People who find it difficult to cope with the effects of stress may benefit from using a sauna. The muscles often tense up when a person feels stressed, and the heat from a sauna can help relax tight muscles. With less stress, you will sleep better. When the muscles are relaxed and blood is circulating optimally, it is easier to sleep at night. Women enjoy using saunas because they help cleanse and enhance the beauty of the skin. Saunas cause the pores to open up. When the body begins to produce sweat via deep sweating, the skin is then cleansed, and dead skin cells are replaced – keeping your skin in good working condition. It also helps if you have too much weight. Saunas also make the immune system stronger, as sauna sessions help produce white blood cells. A few sauna sessions improve blood flow to our skin, aiding the growth of new skin and removing all the dead cells that were building up previously. The oils, which are the natural moisturizers and antibiotics present in our skin, are mobilized through saunas. This helps us look younger in a significant way. All these benefits of using saunas regularly make you look younger, say scientists. So, the sauna provides a pampering retreat where we can relax and restore body and soul, and it truly makes you feel better.