More than just hot air: The real health benefits of sauna
Are saunas really good for your health?
Most definitely! Regular sauna sessions improve cardiovascular health, provide pain relief and stress resilience. And alternating the heat of the sauna with a cold-water plunge of 30-60 seconds sets off the happy hormones such as endorphin, dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. What’s not to love?
Why is sauna central to Finland’s wellness culture?
The sauna and winter swimming lifestyle is one of the reasons Helsinki is the capital of the world’s happiest country for eight years running. As most Helsinki saunas are near natural bodies of water – the Baltic Sea surrounds much of the city – regular doses of blue and green therapy accompany the Finnish contrast therapy practice of alternating a hot sauna session with a cold plunge in the sea or a lake.
Researched health benefits
Regular sauna use improves cardiovascular function, reduces blood pressure and risk of hypertension and is associated with health benefits including a strengthened immune system, according to research. As well, regular sauna sessions may improve brain activity and have been linked to reductions in memory diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Regular winter swimming or cold-plunging improves sleep, strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, boosts metabolism and stress tolerance, and increases blood circulation, which relieves muscle and joint inflammation.
During the winter, if you find a public sauna with no access to water – Helsinki waters are on average between 1-5 degrees Celsius (34-41 degrees Fahrenheit) during the winter – a roll in the snow will do the contrast therapy cold trick just as well. After a fresh snowfall, locals may make snow angels to cool off after a hot steam.
An excellent source of information on all things sauna is the Finnish Sauna Society, which upholds sauna culture with the goal of fostering the heritage of the national bath. The Society maintains sauna guidelines, etiquette and an up-to-date list of the researched health benefits of sauna.
Enjoy
Relax
Tapping into wellness traditions
Interest in sauna traditions has grown in recent years, as people look for natural ways of self-care that draw on Finland’s sauna heritage.
Traditional sauna treatments include therapeutic experiences such as a scrub-down by a washerwoman, or whisking with a vihta or vastu, a sauna whisk made of soft birch branches and its leaves.
Tapping or gently beating the body with a sauna whisk increases circulation and relaxes muscles while bringing a nice fresh natural scent to the sauna.
Birch, the Finnish national tree, is most commonly used for a sauna whisk; pine, spruce, juniper, and alder can also be used for their different properties.
Traditional Finnish cupping is a centuries-old treatment used to relieve a variety of ailments. As it’s a type of wet cupping, small cuts are made in the skin before cups are applied. Then, the cups are placed on the skin, creating suction that draws blood to the surface.
Traditional Finnish cupping is done after enjoying a good löyly in the sauna and is thought to stimulate the body’s circulation and lymphatic system. It is also believed to help release toxins and improve energy flow and provide relief from pain, muscle tension, headaches, colds and flus, and aid with digestive problems.
Community connection
When it comes to sauna benefits, another natural mood booster is the social connection that comes with the practice. Whether you choose to sit in silence, or chat with your fellow sauna-goers, there is a calm, peaceful feeling that comes from being in a warm shared space together with other people.
Two public saunas in Helsinki that have washerwomen at certain times and where it’s possible to book cupping treatments (in advance) are the legendary Kotiharjun sauna in the Kallio neighbourhood and Sauna Hermanni, which also offers massage.
As the popular Finnish saying goes: “Jos ei sauna, viina ja terva auta, on tauti kuolemaksi”, which translates to “If sauna, vodka and tar won’t help, the disease is fatal.”
Even without any treatments, just sitting in the sauna’s relaxing heat is a balm for mind, body and soul.
