The North wind is biting cold, so we can readily see why saunas are so important, even in summer. In Finland there are enough saunas for all five million inhabitants to be in one at the same time, and the tourists too! One of our hostesses had spent the night before, with temperatures of below 0 degree C (32F), by a lake in a tent with a fire in the center. After her morning sauna in the tent, she jumped into the icy cold lake for her daily, (year-round), swim! “What a woman!” remarked one in our group.
In each home, rental cabin, hotel, and in many little lakeside huts all through the land, you will find a small enclosure of wood-paneled walls with a small burner containing large rocks. Modern saunas have electric heaters, more rustic ones have a fireplace. When the rocks are really hot, you throw a little water on them and steam rises immediately. There are wood-slat benches for sitting or lying. When you bake yourself a few minutes in air temperatures up to about 140 degrees F., you sweat profusely and quickly become so relaxed you cannot contain a worry!
For Finns, this daily sauna might be for solitude and contemplation or a way to entertain guests. Modesty is not a problem because it is considered unhealthy and insulting to wear any clothing in a sauna. After getting thoroughly relaxed Fins jump into the nearby freezing lake, river, pool, or shower to shock their body’s energy! The claim is that if you do this everyday, beginning when you are young and healthy, you will never be sick!
As timid foreigners we were permitted to keep our swim suits on! The wonderful sauna experience proved that it feels wonderful to be completely relaxed…. a feeling we seldomn find as Americans, but we were not about to jump into that freezing water!
Real Travel Adventures 