Sauna ? What's it like ?

Question

there is a sauna in my area, for both male and female, but i've never been to such a place before. what do you have to wear ? what can you bring ? is there anything i should know before going ? like how to act or something ? thanks a lot :)

Answer 1

I'm half Finnish, and that's where the sauna was invented. There, being in a mixed sauna isn't something to be ashamed or embarassed about. You can actually go to a spa or a swimming hall and they have mixed-gender saunas. The only catch is that you HAVE to go in without towels and without swimsuits! The reason for that is because chlorinated water (if you've been swimming) dries up in the heat of the sauna and the chlorine gas that evaporates is dangerous, or even lethal.

I'm not sure how it works where you live. In North America, people have more issues with their bodies, and being nude in public is more of a taboo. They might let you in with a swimsuit or a towel.

For a traditional sauna, you'd go in completely nude. You would be allowed to throw water on the hot rocks, which evaporates and makes it a hotter/humid environment. It's great for your pores and for your circulation. Remember to drink a lot because you'll be sweating, and only stay in as long as you don't feel faint (max. 15 minutes at a time).

About how to act: just act normal. If you don't feel comfortable about being nude, they might let you take a towel. Just sit on the benches (the top ones are the hottest, since "hot air rises") and relax.

Enjoy!

Answer 2

Wearing a bathing suit is fine for going in a sauna. Bring a towel to sit on and one to wrap around you.
Most people are quiet in a sauna and just relax. It gets pretty hot in a sauna. Hot dry air about 150 to 180 degree's.
If it is your first time trying one you may only want to spend 5 or 10 minutes inside.
You will want to jump into a shower as soon as you come out.
I would imagine the showers are separate for male and female?
A sauna does wonders for the skin.

Answer 3

Imagine sitting in a huge box, filled with warm or hotter water,
at the push of a button, pipes in the walls start blowing the water like a air streams, with out changing the water temperature. You can sit still and relax. Or swim a little, but not go very far. It's relaxing. It does sort of, relieve all the stress. But taking care of it, is costly, but similar to taking care of a pool-only more expensive.
You have to keep the exteriors clean and stained like redwood.
You have to keep the water clean and chlorinated. My parents and I once had one. It was big thing. Took up a lot of room and a lot of electricity.

Answer 4

They are hot... and humid. There is an oven (usually in the corner) where heated oils are poured, adding aromatherapy.
Dress code depends on the place, but think bikini or swimsuit for girls, swimwear for guys. If you walk in and find naked people, check for bloodflows before screaming -- some places do allow it.
You can usually bring reading materials, usually sun oils are not permitted.
Most people sit quietly, but check others to see if they are asleep... it's easy to do and can result in some pretty bad sunstroke type symptoms.

Answer 5

you just have to go into the pool into the sauna with the bathing suit sit and bring a friend if you stay long and it feels really hot and steamy because it is!

Answer 6

wear a robe or towel, it's hot but it feels very good on the body, try it most people enjoy it, a few have a hard time breathing.

Answer 7

very hot...duh, I know, but it is, and I hate it I get the feeling that I sufficate in there, much rather go for the turkish steambath!

Answer 8

I hated it !!

YUK.... bunch of sweaty smelly people...*cough*hack* As soon as I walked in I could smell sweat ! NOT DESIRABLE in my opinion!

AND breathing that hot air was not pleasant either.