Finnish sauna
A Finnish sauna is a special place where it is best to relax and enjoy a peaceful rest or individual meditation. In addition, it is quite hot in such a sauna. The Finnish sauna has the same beneficial properties for the body as the Russian sauna. Nevertheless, the steaming characteristics of the Finnish sauna are different from the Russian one. The Finnish sauna is the main competitor of all the usual Russian saunas.
Important tips for using a Finnish sauna:
• Do not use the sauna immediately after a meal.
• Do not use the sauna after drinking alcohol.
• Do not stay in the sauna for more than 15 minutes, it is better to take a short break afterwards.
• Due to the high temperature, it is better to sit on towels, because you can burn yourself.
• Before going to the sauna, you should take a shower under hot water and dry both your body and your head.
• When going to the sauna, you should always wear a sauna cap to protect your head and hair from overheating.
• When going to the Finnish sauna, it is important that the hair is dry, and it is recommended to breathe with an open mouth, avoiding talking.
• It is recommended to lie down in the heating room, but the legs should be slightly higher than the head.
• It is best to use water for refreshment.
• After the heating procedure, it is recommended to wash immediately under cool water.
If you follow these rules, you can rest assured that you are using the Finnish sauna correctly and that you are not harming your health. Most of these rules can be applied to other saunas as well.
Russian sauna
The Russian sauna has many fans. Modern technologies allow the sauna to be made more comfortable, to be installed at home or in the basement, and to be connected to the sewage system. However, most of them adhere to tradition - the sauna must be near a water body and must stand separately from all other buildings. A Russian sauna has less heat but more humidity, where a Finnish sauna is significantly drier but has a higher temperature. Inexperienced bathers believe that the higher the temperature, the more benefits - this is not entirely true. In the Russian sauna, the temperature fluctuates between 60-70 C, and the humidity reaches 60%. At such humidity levels, a further increase in temperature creates a negative effect on the heart and its system.
Correctly equipped sauna is only half the job. It is also important to create good steam. The air should be humid, but also clean. Before lighting the sauna, it is necessary to place fir branches on the seating areas. Before entering the sauna, it is recommended to pour a decoction of herbs on the wooden walls or heated stones. The main attribute of a Russian sauna is a birch or oak sauna whisk. Before starting to use, it is necessary to soak the whisk in water for at least 15 minutes. A Russian sauna is not a place for lazy people, because here you need to constantly move, work with your hands, and not sit on a bench. The heated body will thank you for this when it is sufficiently warm, it will be a real pleasure to jump into the snow half or ice water.
The Russian sauna has a classic room layout and consists of three spaces: anteroom, washroom and steam room. These are mandatory premises. Also, another rest room can be installed next to the sauna, where you can rest or engage in light activities. The sauna itself is usually built as a separate building, so the cloakroom or changing room must be there. The most important role in the planning of the Russian sauna is the steam room. The area of this room must be such that at least two people can move freely in it.
In the Russian sauna, the air in the room is heated by a stone heater. This heater is fired with wood. When water is poured on the stones, you can change the temperature and humidity of the room according to your needs. If you do not add water, you will make a dry sauna. The main difference between a wet sauna and other saunas is that the room is heated by steam. Water vapor enters the steam room directly. It is not recommended to stay in such a sauna for more than 20-30 minutes. Otherwise, you will feel bad.
Essential differences between Finnish and Russian saunas
Finnish and Russian saunas are very similar in their effects and benefits to the human body, but they have several differences in use. Essential differences between a Finnish and a Russian sauna:
• In a Finnish sauna, the temperature of the steam room can reach 130-160 ° C, which is much higher than the temperature in the Russian one. There is also a difference in relative humidity in the steam room, if the Russian sauna reaches 90%, the Finnish sauna has a humidity of no more than 20-25%.
• Another difference: the Finnish sauna does not have sauna whisks and steam, at such a high temperature the whisks can easily burn the skin.
• In a Russian bath, it is heated to the point where it is possible to wash with cold or even ice water, while in a Finnish bath, water at room temperature is preferred, in which you can also bathe.
• An electric heater is the main source of room heating in a Finnish sauna. When watering walls and stones, it is possible to significantly increase the humidity of the room or reduce the temperature to 60-80 degrees.
• The essence of the Finnish sauna is that the body heats up until sweat is profusely released, which then evaporates from the skin. It protects the skin from overheating. In addition, it creates an excellent therapeutic effect.
If you know how and which sauna should be used, how to bathe in it correctly, you will create a good, cheerful mood, increase your immunity, improve your health, mental state and physical state.