Everything You Need to Know to Sauna Like a Finn & health benefits
Photo Source: unsplash.com, Photo Credit: Maria Vojtovicova
In most of the world, the sauna has developed as a leisure activity and relaxation space. In Finland, however, it’s been an essential part of social life and culture since ancient times. Nowhere in the world are saunas more popular than in Finland – 95% of Finns use the sauna at least once per week, and most of them own sauna at home. If you want to know why the Finns love their saunas so much and how this tradition developed over time, keep reading!.
Sauna Culture in Finland
In other countries, the focus might be on relaxing, but in Finland, the real purpose of a sauna is to cleanse both your body and mind. The sauna can be used for cleansing after exercise or just before going to bed. It is also a social meeting place where you can spend time with your friends and family.
The importance of the saunas in Finland is so great that it is included in the Finnish list of intangible cultural heritage. It is hard to imagine a Finnish summer cottage without a sauna and even harder to imagine a Finn without his/her summer cottage. Sauna has been an important part of Finns' lives for hundreds of years. That's why you can find more than 3.3 million saunas in Finland, where there are 5.3 million people.
Saunas are highly respected and viewed as spiritual spaces in the Finnish culture. To understand why Finnish people love to spend time in the sauna, you need to understand the history of the sauna and how it has evolved.
Saunas are Good for Your Health too!
Saunas in Finland are very popular among locals and foreign visitors who visit them not only for their relaxing effects but also because they are good for physical health.
First and foremost, saunas are great for detoxifying the body: they help wash away impurities and toxins that accumulate in the system due to polluted air, contaminated water or poor dietary habits. Saunas help reduce inflammation and even relieve pain caused by arthritis in joints. Read more about the Benefits of Finnish Saunas, and you will be surprised at how good saunas are for your health!
Saunas also have positive effects on blood circulation and heart function: blood circulates more quickly through the body after a sauna session, which is believed to help prevent heart attacks.
Benefits of the Finnish or dry sauna
Beyond its cultural and social aspect, the Finnish sauna is a tool that has important benefits for physical and mental health.
Detoxification: One of the main benefits of a Finnish or dry sauna is that it eliminates toxins, something the body does naturally when it sweats. The high temperatures of the Finnish sauna trigger a deep sweat, which eliminates a large amount of toxins to help purify the body
Skin care: High temps and sweating do more than just detoxify: they also help remove dead skin cells. This also helps with cellular renewal and skin care.
Improved immune function: By accelerating the body’s detoxification processes, a dry sauna helps boost several of the body’s systems, including the immune system.
Improved breathing: The high temperatures inside a Finnish sauna help to reduce congestion. The dry air opens the airways for easier clearing of any congestion in the respiratory tract.
Muscle relaxation: The high temperatures inside the sauna combined with the cold-water baths afterwards help to relax muscles. This is true for anyone who uses a sauna, but it is particularly useful after a workout or training session.
Prevent fluid retention: Sweating does more than just eliminate toxins: it also helps the body get rid of excess liquid. This helps the body run more efficiently and can aid in weight loss.
Reduces stress: Last but not least, another benefit of Finnish saunas that shouldn’t be overlooked is that they help to significantly reduce stress. The combined effects of both the detoxification and muscle relaxation as well as the dry sauna ritual itself help users de-stress.
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