All about saunas
Precautions when using the sauna
Too long exposure to the heat in the sauna can lead to loss of consciousness due to overheating of the body, and when staying in the sauna, it is definitely necessary to follow the subjective feeling and not to force the time if you do not feel well. If you experience dizziness or breathing problems, leave the sauna immediately. It is certain that using a sauna is a kind of training and that a longer stay must be practiced over time, in order for the body to get used to it, so beginners are recommended to stay shorter or stay in saunas with a lower temperature and on lower benches. Staying in saunas is by no means recommended for people who have consumed alcohol or are under the influence of narcotics. Also, before going to the sauna, it is not recommended to have meals.
Children are not allowed to stay in the sauna without supervision and the presence of an adult, and children under 8 years old are not recommended to use saunas with temperatures above 60 c. It is not allowed to wear contact lenses or any jewelry in the sauna. Avoid staying in the sauna if you are receiving therapy that consists of sedatives or if you are taking stimulants. Saunas are not recommended for people with high blood pressure, "pace makers", heart patients, as well as people with extremely low blood pressure, varicose veins or vein thrombosis, acute infections, pregnant women and small children. Never bring slippers, jewelry, watches, etc. into the sauna.
Various saunas are usually grouped together in wellness & spa centers and are called "sauna world", "sauna place", "sauna park", etc.
Instructions for the correct use of saunas are described in more detail in the individual types in the further content.
Finnish sauna
The widespread opinion is that this type of sauna originates from Finland, which is confirmed by the very name "Finnish sauna" and if there are different opinions about the place and time of origin, we focus on the essence of the importance and the way of using the Finnish sauna.
A Finnish sauna is a smaller or larger room made of wood with an air temperature of 70-100°C, with a low air humidity of 10 to 15%, which is why it is also called a dry sauna. Saunas mainly differ in the source of heat, so we have saunas with electricity, gas, solar saunas, those whose heat source is burning wood. The latter are rarely used nowadays, except in traditional saunas, which cherish the original values of their origin. If hot stones are poured with water, the humidity increases. The water used to pour stones can be enriched with natural aromas, essential oils, mint, orange, lemon, birch, lavender, pine, etc. This gives an additional positive effect by involving the sense of smell. Inside there are wooden benches at different heights.
If you sit on higher benches, the air temperature is several degrees higher. It is usually started by lying down or sitting at a lower level to gradually acclimate the body to the temperatures. The stay in the Finnish sauna should be from 6 to 15 minutes, depending on the person and the tolerance of high temperatures.
Today's wellness & spa center cannot be imagined without a Finnish sauna in its content. This is the most commonly used sauna and is practiced in almost all wellness & spa centers. The size of the sauna itself is not defined, and larger or smaller ones are used. Wellness & spa centers that receive groups of guests, such as sports teams or centers that hold sauna sessions, practice having larger Finnish saunas in their composition, which can be used by a larger number of people at once. There are also small Finnish saunas, which can accommodate up to three people. The quality itself should not depend on the size.
Cleaning of the Finnish sauna
Before using each sauna, it is necessary that the body is clean and dry, as well as that one should not enter the sauna after using the pool, without first taking a good shower, so that no traces of chlorine remain on the skin, bearing in mind that the pores on the skin expand when using the sauna, and chemical ingredients and impurities on the skin are certainly not desirable. It is necessary that the skin of the sauna user is dry, so that the sweating effect starts earlier. Correct use of the Finnish sauna implies the use of cotton, non-transparent robes (robes), because it is assumed that you take off your bathing suit before entering the sauna and wrap yourself in a cotton cloth. This rule of removing the bathing suit is based on the assumption that the bathing suit is wet, full of chlorine that evaporates due to heating and is inhaled by users, as well as due to complete commotion and proper "breathing" of the skin.
However, the practice is not always like that and depends on the policy of the wellness & spa center itself. In practice, it is usually not mandatory to remove the bathing suit, but regardless, it is mandatory when using the sauna to use a cotton cloth, which is usually obtained for use when entering a wellness & spa center, or to use one's own dry and clean towel that is placed on the place where we sit or lie in order to absorb sweat and so that we do not sit with bare skin in a place that the previous user wet with their own sweat. Bearing in mind that, in general, when using the sauna, a lot of fluid is lost due to sweating due to high temperatures, it is necessary to drink at least two dl before entering the sauna. of water or more depending on the subjective feeling of thirst, and repeat it after use. It is not recommended to sip water in the Finnish sauna during your stay in the sauna, but you should do it before and after using it. After using the sauna, it is mandatory to take a good shower with slightly colder water, and then enter the pool with completely cold water, which in more substantial wellness & spa centers is usually located right next to the "sauna section" or near the Finnish sauna itself, and then go out into the fresh air for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the outside air temperature, i.e. the season.
In some of the wellness & spa centers, there are showers that, instead of a classic shower, have a bucket of water in a wooden bowl above, where the user, by pulling a rope, spills colder water on himself. The effect of cold water after using the sauna is of great importance for circulation, and going to the fresh air afterwards affects the delivery of oxygen to all organs in the body. Namely, after warming up in the sauna, the blood vessels in the human body expand and upon entering the cold water, they contract, which significantly reduces the volume of blood vessels and promotes blood circulation in the entire body. For many, this effect is of the greatest importance, and after it is done, it represents the greatest satisfaction. The user's body and face is ruddy after this, and the user's subjective feeling is very good. Even if we do not have a subjective feeling of thirst then, it is necessary to drink water. There are different theories about the sequence after leaving the sauna. Some of them are that after taking a shower and drinking fresh water, it is necessary to go out into the air, and then enter cold water and vice versa, it is certain that mistakes cannot be made in either procedure, it is important to perform the procedure after using the sauna with water to drink, showering, staying in cold water for a few minutes and fresh air.
We would like to point out to cross-users, from the practice seen so far in various wellness & spa centers, that after using the sauna, wet with sweat, many recklessly enter the pool with cold water, without taking a shower beforehand, which, in addition to being dangerous, is certainly very uncultured and unhygienic, bearing in mind that the same cold water is also used by other clients, and we urge you to take a good shower after using the sauna and before entering the pool with cold water. In addition to hygienic reasons, showering is also necessary to prepare the body for colder water.
Please note that during the use of the Finnish sauna, it is possible to pour water on the focus of heat, hot stones, which increases the heat and humidity of the air. In saunas, there is usually a wooden bucket with water and a large wooden spoon for pouring over the hot spot. Water can be enriched with natural essential oils of various plants, such as cinnamon, birch, borvina, orange, lemon, lavender, etc., as well as combinations thereof, which revives the sense of smell and has a positive effect on the properties of the respiratory organs, neutralizing the effects of bacteria as well as a psychological stimulant to combat anxiety, depression and the effects of stress.
Sauna sessions
In wellness & spa centers that take care of their image, there is an increasingly frequent trend of holding sauna sessions, so that the client's feeling is better and more complete. Sauna sessions are held exclusively in Finnish saunas at high temperatures over 90 C with the activity of a specially trained sauna master who holds a session for sauna users. They last from 10 to 15 minutes and usually in wellness centers there is a schedule of sessions, which go every hour or two hours depending on the policy of the wellness & spa center itself. At the specified time scheduled for holding the sessions, all interested clients in the group gather in front of the Finnish sauna, and when the sauna master arrives, they take their places.
Sessions take place by using water enriched with natural essential oils, which is used to pour the hot spot, i.e. during the entire stay in the sauna. hot stones, whose vapors fill the sauna and generally increase the humidity of the air. Also, the sauna master who conducts the session, in addition to watering the hot spot, takes care of the frequent supply of fresh air by opening the door and mixing the air in the closed space with the help of towels and cotton cloth, which in certain moments additionally increases the temperature, encourages sweating, and vapors from natural essential oils positively affect the psychophysical characteristics of the user through the sense of smell. Also, depending on the type of session, honey, milk, neutral cream, beer and similar natural products are often used to lubricate the skin, provided by the session organizer. In the sauna, the pores of the skin expand and the natural healing ingredients from the products that are applied are better absorbed and make the skin more beautiful and healthy.
Essential oils of lemon, orange, pine, lavender, mint, etc. are usually used to aromatize the water with which the hot stones are poured. independently or mixed in a certain combination, and each of them has a certain health effect on users. Some of them are good for fighting depression and anxiety, some against bacteria in the throat and nose, some for the skin, etc. what, as a rule, the sauna master talks about during the session. Water and essential oils and pouring hot stones and hot stones with water can generally be used outside of the sauna session if it does not bother other, simultaneous users, which they should be asked about beforehand. You should be aware that pouring water on hot spots and stones generally increases air humidity and the sensation of heat. The procedure before and after sauna sessions is the same as for classic sauna use. Sauna sessions are generally not charged additionally, however this is not always the case and depends on the policy of the wellness & spa center itself.
It was a sauna
A bio sauna is descriptively similar to a Finnish sauna, only with a lower temperature, compared to a finx sauna. The temperature of the air in the bio sauna is between 55 and 60 degrees C, and the air humidity is 35-50%, which has a favorable effect on the body, opens the pores on the skin and, above all, is suitable for people who have problems with water retention in the body and people who are particularly sensitive and have difficulty withstanding the high temperatures of the Finnish sauna. This sauna is a combination of a Finnish sauna and a steam sauna and is an imitation of the climate of a slag forest. In the bio sauna, a longer stay is expected compared to the Finnish sauna, and ranges up to 45 minutes. Rest is mandatory between individual stays in bio sun. The method of using the sauna is the same as already described for the Finnish sauna, with the difference that it is possible to drink water during the use of the sauna.
Infrared sauna
The temperature in the infrared sauna is from 50 to 60 C, and the recommended stay is from 20 to 30 minutes. Only one cycle is required without repetition.
Infrared heat is a form of energy that is necessary for the health of all living things. If the body does not get enough infrared rays from the sun, over time we become sick and depressed. All life on earth needs more infrared light to be completely calm and healthy. Infrared radiation penetrates deep into our joints, skin, muscles and tissues, accelerating circulation and better supplying tissues and organs with oxygen.
The heat of infrared therapy expands the capillaries, which begins the removal of hidden poisons. Infrared heat is a salve for a positive state of the nervous system, regulates indigestion, helps burn fat and normalizes blood pressure. Thanks to the deep action, sweating is done from the inside towards the surface of the skin, and the amount and intensity of sweating is up to three times higher than in classic saunas and if the temperature of the infrared sauna is lower. The infrared sauna is easier to bear due to the lower temperature compared to the finx sauna, it does not burden breathing too much, and it certainly stimulates profuse sweating. This energy is completely safe and natural, without the influence of harmful rays. The same heating technology is used in incubators for newborns as well as in many physical rehabilitation procedures.
By heating the body, there is increased sweating, blood circulation and breakdown of harmful substances (fat, toxins, cellulite, heavy metals) and their expulsion through the skin. Infrared radiation stimulates the secretion of endorphins (hormones of happiness), which leads to a good mood, and it has
great importance in the fight against stress, relaxes and relieves nervous-emotional tension. Infrared sauna treatments have a calming effect on the nervous system, help with insomnia, reduce stress and neuroses. Also, the great importance of using an infrared sauna is reflected in the elimination of muscle tension, detoxification of the body, affects tissue regeneration, and has a beneficial effect on joints and the lymphatic system. With regular use of the infrared sauna, fat and extra pounds are lost, concentration is improved, immunity is strengthened and immunity against viruses and infections is increased. It is especially recommended for accelerating regeneration after sports injuries, joint and muscle pain, chronic fatigue, frequent headaches and depression. Women like to use the infrared sauna, because it successfully eliminates cellulite if used regularly.
The method of using the infrared sauna is similar to that of the Finnish sauna, except that the stay in the infrared sauna is longer. In contrast to using the Finnish sauna, during the stay in the infrared sauna it is possible and desirable to consume liquids. The source of heat is not hot stones, but heating plates or rods that heat the sauna with infrared rays, which are placed inside the wooden walls of the sauna. Water is not poured over the hot spot, as is possible with a Finnish sauna. After use, the procedure that has already been described in detail with the Finnish sauna is desirable, namely taking a shower, entering cold water, consuming water-liquid and going to the fresh air.
Aroma sauna
Aroma saunas have an emphasis on fragrant aromas, in addition to the general importance and benefits provided by the sauna itself. Namely, the aroma sauna is a broader concept, and the use of a Finnish or bio sauna with aromatized water, natural essential oils, which during the stay is poured into the focus of heat, hot stones, can certainly be called an aroma sauna. Natural, aromatic essential oils that are added to water are usually based on orange, lemon, pine, birch, St. John's wort, mint, etc. and with their useful properties they relax and relax sauna users, with the help of the sense of smell, and each of them has specific useful properties from respiratory tract disinfection, fighting against allergies, to fighting against depression and anxiety, all depending on the mixture of natural aromas.
In addition to herbal aromas, beer is also widely used, although the importance of beer is more reflected in the deposition of B vitamins on the user's skin, due to its evaporation and condensation, which we specifically have a controversial opinion about, bearing in mind that B vitamins from beer, in such a form and due to high temperatures, can hardly survive and have benefits for the skin, even if this type of aromatization is quite widespread in some sauna sessions. In addition to aromatizing the sauna with aromatic oils, in some wellness & spa centers you can find saunas in which dry plants are hung that have a pronounced aroma and the healing properties of inhaling such air, such as lavender. Due to high temperatures, the plants emit their own aroma, which has a beneficial, antiseptic and relaxing effect on the user's body. In more modern wellness & spa centers, there are even specially built aroma saunas (aroma cabins), which have lower temperatures of 30 to 40 c, and with the help of special devices built into the walls of the sauna, they emit aromas of essential oils, alternating several different ones. The use of an aroma sauna is almost the same as the already described use of a Finnish sauna.
Chromotherapy sauna
A chromotherapy sauna is a sauna that, in addition to the general positive effects of the sauna, also has chromotherapy effects, or healing with carefully selected colors. Chromotherapy, or color therapy, is a holistic healing method. It uses frequencies that create different shades of colors to restore the body to perfect balance. Color is light of different wavelengths and frequencies, which make up only a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The history of color healing traces back to ancient Egypt, indicating that color therapy is linked to ancient civilizations. About 2500 years ago, Pythagoras applied color healing therapy, which was used for treatment in ancient Egypt, China, and India. There are ancient writings suggesting that this type of therapy dates back thousands of years. Color therapy can be used to treat physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual problems, as well as for relaxation. Saunas that incorporate color light effects typically look a bit different from classic saunas. These are also wooden, smaller or larger rooms, where instead of benches, there are wooden loungers, designed so that the feet are raised compared to classic loungers, with the head directed upwards. The ceiling is equipped with carefully selected light effects that produce colors for therapeutic purposes. There is no clearly defined temperature in such saunas, but they usually function like Finnish saunas, with a lower temperature, so the stay is usually longer than in a traditional Finnish sauna.
Chromotherapy can be applied independently of saunas in rooms for rest and rest, in breaks between sauna sessions. In the rest rooms, you can find specially designed lounge chairs, and the ceiling and interior changes color according to a special and expertly selected program for relaxation. The rest rooms exude peace and quiet.
Steam (Turkish) bath
A steam or Turkish bath is a type of sauna in which there is a high air humidity that ranges up to 100%, and a temperature that ranges from 40 to 50 c. Steam baths are an ancient type of bath and date back to Roman times. They help overcome the stresses of everyday life, relax and gain new strength, as well as improve general physical and mental well-being.
The steam bath was popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans. Many consider the Turkish bath, that is, the hammam, to be a real pleasure that has a good effect on the body, strengthens and refreshes it. Due to the high humidity, steam baths are by no means made of wood, but mostly of small tiles. The area of the Turkish bath is most often equipped in an Eastern style. They are especially recommended in cases of: bronchial asthma, bronchitis, problems of the upper respiratory tract, cough, hoarseness, expectoration (especially with the help of essential oils) as well as painful movements of the joints. In the steam room, there is usually a fountain or a hose for spraying with cold water for occasional cooling. When staying in a steam bath, many people use salt, which is used to exfoliate the skin after only a few minutes of being in it.
You can enter the steam bath only in a bathing suit, bearing in mind that the air humidity is extremely high, all surfaces inside are wet, so wearing a towel or cotton cloth would be unnecessary and everything would quickly get wet. The planned stay in the steam bath ranges from 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the subjective tolerance of high humidity combined with high temperature. After using the steam bath, it is necessary to take a shower, drink a lot of liquid, it is preferable to enter the pool with cold water and after that, if possible, go out into the air, as described after using the Finnish sauna.
Source: http://www.wellness-centar.com/