In a public sauna you must respect other fellow bathers. Rules and regulations must be followed. Some public saunas may allow the use of bathing suits while the others may not. When bathing suits are prohibited it is advisable to carry a towel and wrap it around you as you may feel uncomfortable being nude.



Temperatures of public saunas cannot be controlled,but in case of a private sauna temperature control is possible.If you are using a sauna for the first time and not used to it,you must begin with lower temperatures. People who are sauna addicts heat up the saunas to about a 100 degree Celsius so if you are not used to such a high temperature then you could have it at about seventy to eighty degrees.

One must have a shower before going in for a sauna and you should not use any soap or shampoo. The fragrances in soaps and shampoos are likely to dissolve in the sauna and may not be pleasant to the other bathers.

There are upper and lower benches in a sauna. The upper ones are hotter than the lower ones so you could choose where to sit. After a span of 10 to 15 minutes you could produce some steam by pouring some water on the rocks as by doing so you are increasing the temperature and that will help you to sweat more.

If you are new to a sauna and not used to the experience you are advised not to stay in there for a long time. 15 minutes is the longest that you could take for one session. After you have completed one session you could swim or take a cold water bath and relax for some time and then go in for another.

Relaxing is most important in a sauna. Saunas help relax your mind and revive your body from aches, pains and stress thus leaving you refreshed. One must not utilize a sauna to discuss business or other controversial matters. Saunas are places that keep you away from the world and you should have friendly discussions.

People in Finland use branches of birch trees to lightly beat their skin. These branches have a lot of leaves and do not hurt and instead produce a tickly feeling which is invigorating. Birch branches may not be available everywhere but for those who can get hold of one, try it.

The other tradition that people of Finland follow is to roll in the snow after having a sauna. Though you might think that the Finns are a crazy lot, rolling in the snow revitalizes you after a sauna. Rolling in the snow, having a cold shower or a swim have the same effect of cooling after a hot sauna. This leaves you re-energized and calm.

You could alternate sauna and cooling off any number of times you would prefer. Sauna sessions last for half and hour and have about 2 to 3 series of heating and cooling. If you prefer you could continue for hours.

Saunas are safe and it has been time and again proven to be the best technique of bathing. You should leave the sauna if you feel any kind of discomfort. The sauna is a place to relax in and revitalize yourtself and not to be taken up as a challenge as it may prove to be dangerous if you are uncomfortable and stay in there for a long time.