The sauna has been around for hundreds of years, and a visit to the sauna not only relaxes, relaxes and positively affects the appearance of the skin. Using it improves circulation, relaxes muscles and accelerates the burning of calories. Which sauna will be the best choice and how to use it properly?
What type of sauna to choose?
Saunas differ not only in the material they are made of, but also in the temperature inside and the way they operate, as well as the recommended time to stay in them. The most popular among sauna enthusiasts are steam and dry saunas.
A steam sauna, also often referred to as a steam bath or Roman sauna, is most often constructed of tempered glass or lined entirely with ceramic tiles. The steam that is generated in it is produced by a steam generator and fed into the room through special channels. The temperature inside is usually no more than 40 degrees Celsius and, thanks to the large amount of steam, there is very high humidity, reaching up to 100%. It is recommended to use the “bath” for no longer than 20 minutes.
In a dry sauna, called a Finnish sauna, stones heated by a stove or embers, which are poured with water as needed, are responsible for the formation of steam. The room is tightly lined with wood, and the seats are arranged in the form of steps. There is a high temperature here, from 60 to as high as 110 degrees Celsius (the lowest is at the bottom and the highest on the highest steps), and the air is hot and has very low humidity, at no more than 20%. You can stay in a Finnish sauna not from 5 to 15 minutes.
How to use the sauna?
The basic rule for using a sauna, regardless of its type, is no clothes – you should be naked in the sauna (clothes block the exchange of heat).The body before using the sauna should be washed and dried, and it is a good idea to protect your hair with a towel or cap. You should enter the dry sauna with a towel, which is used for sitting – unfold it before taking a seat so that your body does not touch the wood. Before entering the sauna, you need to remove all objects that can heat up – jewelry, glasses or watch, and, as should be obvious, do not use electrical appliances inside. You should not enter the sauna on an empty stomach, immediately after a meal, or after intense exercise. There is a rule that inside the sauna one should not talk. After a session, the body should be cooled and rinsed, and fluids should be replenished.
Advantages of using a sauna
The benefits of a sauna session are many, first of all, for those few minutes or so, tense muscles are relaxed, circulation improves, blood circulation and frequency of heart contractions increases, and metabolism accelerates. Regular use of the sauna improves the efficiency of the body and is good for the complexion and helps fight respiratory diseases. Visits to the sauna improve your mood, help you relax and unwind, and regenerate your body after exertion, as well as toughen it up and thus prevent infections and colds. By sweating, the body loses not only water, but also a considerable amount of sodium, which can help in the fight against hypertension. Sauna can also have a beneficial effect on ailments related to arthritis.
The main contraindications to sauna use are pregnancy, menstruation, infectious diseases, atherosclerosis and blood clotting problems. It is also not recommended to use it if you have open wounds, irritated skin, varicose veins or dilated blood vessels. Never combine a sauna stay with alcohol consumption.