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All about Finnish Sauna Bathing - Learn the Proper Steps
Author: Kevin UrbanThere is a lot of talk about detoxification and traditional Finnish sauna bathing. Both infrared and steam saunas are becoming increasingly well-liked and it's a worthy idea to learn how to use them properly. Let's see how the Finns take a sauna and learn from them. After all, Finland is the home of the sauna and these individuals have been sweating in them for a long time.
First of all, question your doctor to see if a sauna steam bath is recommended for you. Interestingly enough, one in five Finns owns a sauna and its regular use is said to be beneficial in many ways, if the procedure is done correctly.
How to Take a Sauna the Finnish Way
Disrobe - Yep, the Finns take their steam bath in the buff. And don't forget to remove your glasses, contact lenses and any metal (jewelry, watches and such). The metal will get very hot resulting in a nasty burn.
Take a Shower - Rinsing off before entering the sauna is a tradition. The Finns don't use soap at this stage. Enter and take a seat.
Enjoy the Heat - 10 to 20 minutes of heat and steam is probably all you can handle. Remember that the upper benches are the hottest. And don't try to compete with other sauna bathers to see who can bear the heat for the longest period.
Cool Off - The Finns like to roll in the snow, dump a cold bucket of water over their head or take a bath in the lake. Otherwise, a cold shower will do.
Re-Enter - The second session in traditional Finnish steam saunas involves pouring water over the heated rocks on top of the heater to produce hot wafts of steamy vapor. This will make it particularly hot for bathers sitting on the upper benches.
Repeat as Needed - Repeat these sauna sessions as often as you like. The Finns also beat each other with birch branches to improve circulation during steam bathing.
There you have it: how to take a sauna bath the Finnish way. Read some of the other articles on this site that will display you how to build your own home sauna or steam bath from an easy-to-assemble sauna kit.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/all-about-finnish-sauna-bathing-learn-the-proper-steps-31373.html
About the Author:Kevin Urban is the editor at Saunas-N-Sauna-Kits.com, a complete guide on building your own outdoor home sauna from far infrared sauna kits. Find out about the health benefits of infrared saunas.
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Keywords:
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