Modern Sauna Culture in Scandinavia


History of Hydrotherapy Earliest Use of the Hot Tub Introduction to Modern Hydrotherapy Understanding the properties and characteristics of water Archimedes Principle Bougier's Theorem Bernoulli's Theorem Reynolds' Theorem Prantiti's Theorem Fronde-zahm's Experiments Pascal's Law Development of the human being against gravity: Bronze Age: Use of Hot Tubs, Spas and Saunas Bronze Age: Use of Hot tubs and Spas in the Mediterranean Bronze Age: Use of Hot Tubs, Saunas and Spas in Asia Classical Period: Use of Hot Tubs, Spas and Saunas Early Asian Baths Classical Period: Evolution of Asian Hot Tub Construction Classical Period: Use of Spas, Saunas and Hot Tubs in the Middle East Classical Period: Use of Spas, Saunas and Hot Tubs in Meso-America In Depth: Roman Hot Tub and Spa Construction During the Classical Period The Baths of Caracalla Construction of the Baths at Caracalla: Basic Design Construction of the Baths at Caracalla: Materials Construction of the Baths: Metals Classical Period: Use of Spas, Saunas and Hot Tubs in Scandinavia The origin of sauna Middle Ages Middle Ages: Use of Spas, Saunas and Hot Tubs Middle Ages: Use of Spas, Saunas and Hot Tubs in Scandinavia Middle Ages: Use of Spas, Saunas and Hot Tubs in Japan Middle Ages: Hot Tub Culture Middle Ages: Hot tub and Spa Culture in Asia Middle Ages: Hot tub and Spa Culture in Scandinavia Renaissance Period Renaissance Period: Use of Hot Tubs, Spas and Saunas Renaissance Period: Use of Hot Tubs, Spas and Saunas in France Renaissance Period: Hot tub and Spa Culture in Asia Industrial Age Industrial Age: American Use of Hot Tubs, Spas and Saunas Modern Age Modern Hot Tubs, Spas and Saunas Modern Hot Tub, Spa and Sauna Culture: Asia Modern Sauna Culture in Scandanavia Conclusion Sources Health & Beauty Benefits of Exercise in Water Application and Benefits of Hydrotherapy Hydrotherapy in Neuropatients Hydrotherapy for the Treatment of Rheumatic Diseases Hydrotherapy for the Treatment of Inflammatory Arthritis Muscle Weakness - Strength Training Poor Balance Poor Posture Decreased Cardiovascular Fitness Progressive Hydrotherapy Exercise Hydrotherapy gait reeducation treatment plan Wrist and Hand Joints Pelvis Knee reconstruction Cervical Spine Injury Lumbar Spine Injury Spinal Fractures Disc Pathology Musculo-Tendinous Injuries Hydrotherapy in the Rehabilitation of Lower Limb Stress Fractures Hydrotherapy for Treatment of the Lumbopelvic Complex Chronic pain - Pain and Muscle Spasm Oedema Decreased range of movement Head Injury Epilepsy Burns Pediatric Hydrotherapy Head control Breathing control Relaxation through Hydrotherapy Juvenile Chronic Arthritis Hydrotherapy for the Clumsy Child Conclusion		Modern Sauna Culture in Scandinavia Finland today is the land of sauna and the Finns are a sauna people - at the turn of this millennium there were 5.1 million Finns, and 1 .7 million saunas - one sauna for every three people. The number of saunas increased in the 20th century and this is largely due to the spread of saunas inside people’s homes. In 1935 it is estimated that there were about 500,000 saunas, in 1975 approximately one million, and in 1986 1 .4 million. In days gone by the sauna was generally a detached building. Today it can be built as a separate room connected to the other rooms in the dwelling if equipped with an electric stove. This has given rise to two new types of sauna, those built inside a detached structure in the 1940’s and those built into the main structure in the 1970’s. The inside sauna established itself by the time of the extensive construction of suburbs in Finland. It is generally a sauna intended only for the use residents and is reserved on an hourly basis. It is generally owned and maintained by an apartment or condominium association. Now the same type of small sauna is beginning to appear in hotel rooms, adjacent to the bathroom. Such is the utterly Finnish contribution to international hotel milieu! The electric stove is easy to use safe and easy to care for. The desired temperature can he obtained by the mere flick of a switch or a timer device or even by dialing the number of the stove from a distance; the stones of the stove will he heated for bathing. Given that the electric sauna requires no smoke duct — although an efficient air duct is indeed necessary — a sauna can now be built in places in which a wood-heated sauna would have been impossible. It is these admirable characteristics, which, although they offer no guarantee of pleasurable loyly, have cornered the market and come virtually the only option for saunas. Modern Scandinavian Sauna Practices How does one do sauna? Many a Finn would call this a futile question. Given that each one of us has a lifetime’s experience. Yet not everyone knows just how to do things in such a way as to derive every benefit sauna has to offer — cleanliness, health, peace of mind and certain sensations. Going to sauna involves more than merely sitting on the bench and sweating in the heat of the stove; it is a complicated ritual. If all is done in the appropriate manner a session in sauna is an enervating and enjoyable moment — or really more than a moment, for the bather will linger longer in a good sauna. Time simply stands still. This may be the most powerful experience to be enjoyed by modern man, accustomed, as he is to haste and efficient use of time. If his internal clock measures anything at all, it is only the duration of the session for the bather himself, an appropriate sojourn on the benches and the like. “Allow sufficient time,” states the manual of the Finnish Sauna Society. These are the directions of a panel of experts and should not be dismissed lightly. However some amplification of this brief advice is called for. “First take your shower.” The source of this edict was surely thinking of good general hygiene. But there is another reason for a shower before the sauna - it is more pleasant to enter the hot sauna when wet. Moreover, the pores benefit from a preliminary wash with hot water and are more receptive to the effects of the loyly. There are, however, those who are of totally different opinion on the matter of the pre-sauna shower and instead prefer to enter sauna with dry skin so as to better to feel and see how the sweat beads on the skin’s surface. Sauna is a sweatbath. Many people start out the process all wrong, immediately splashing two or three ladles of water onto the hot stones. The result is a sudden heat shock on the skin which inhibits the normal functioning of the sweat glands. Proper sweating rakes time. A bather sitting at rest on the bench needs a rise of a few degrees in his body temperature, that is, a kind of self-induced fever to bring on sweating. Depending on the predisposition to swearing this will take 8 to 12 minutes. Raising the temperature of the sauna does not accelerate the onset of sweating. In an excessively hot and dry sauna the sweat evaporates as soon as it reaches the surface of the skin. “A rapid transition from the hot sauna to a cold dip is not advisable.” Rapid transition!? According to most Finns - all that is required is a suitable amount of rime to adapt. That’s all. Dips and rests are an essential part of doing sauna. The most lamentable shortcoming of city saunas is that they lack this option. Only seldom is there a suitable terrace or balcony. However, from a sauna at the lake’s edge one can cool off and be invigorated by jumping into the water, and so take a waterbath after the sweatbath. In winter the most adventurous sauna enthusiasts take their dip through a hole sawn in the ice or roll with relish in the gleaming snow. Such wintry pleasure is possible only in the bleak North. “Warm up a little before the ablutions, and possibly return to the benches afterwards.” Here is our mentor’s exhortation to embark on the pursuit of cleanliness, as indeed befits the sauna ritual. Finnish folk tradition evinces all manner of sauna, but no washing sauna. Indeed, in the saunas of yesteryear there was not a great deal of washing. Researchers have calculated that the water consumption per head was only about a gallon. Not so today. Water is used in abundance, and soap to excess. Thorough sweating cleanses the skin better than is generally known. It opens up the pores and removes grease, bacteria and all manner of impurities. A good rinse suffices to render a bather sauna-clean. “The enjoyment of loyly and dips in the lake may be repeated according to taste.” Such is the promise of the manual. After the ablutions and a swim it is time for further loyly in a gentle heat. What is the appropriate number of visits to take loyly? Whatever you feel like. Once is enough if it feels like enough. Three visits are a typical and reasonable amount. “The sauna concludes with a fresh rinsing off” “Then relax and take a refreshing drink. Do not dress until all sweating has ceased.” After sauna there is no hurry to go anywhere, and no hurry to get dressed again. The thoughts and the mood are now hovering well above the workaday world. The limbs feel relaxed, the muscles soft, and the overall sensation is one of lightness. One feels sublime, yet compelled to stay on the face of the earth. Hence the instructions pronounced with authority by the Sauna Association on how to draw doing sauna to its conclusion: “Before and during sauna it is best to avoid alcohol and heavy food. After sauna a little sustenance and some refreshing beverage befit the communion.