To Sauna, or not to Sauna?

Each weekday morning I wake myself up at five am so that I can sleepily warm up my truck, scrape the ice from its windows (lately, anyway), and drive half an hour to the gym near my office.  I then spend about an hour and a bit working out, sometimes tired, sometimes not.  No matter how I feel, though, I always try and end my gym experience with a stint in the sauna.   I have become completely enamoured with that little sweatbox, and here's why.....

For me, at least, having a sauna (yes, that's what you say, "having a sauna", funny) is my moment of Zen for the day.  I'm not one to use such phrases as 'moment of Zen' very often, but sitting in the sauna is as close as I can get to being completely relaxed.   Sure, I usually read some magazines and get myself up-to-date in the world of wealth and glamour (ie: Hollywood), but many times I've just laid on my back on the wood bench and listened to the muted hubbub just outside the door.   The sauna is an escape.  Once you close that door behind you, you shut out the stresses of your day, the babbling little voice in your head that constantly reminds you of things you have to get done and those other women in the gym that like to chat on their cell phones in the changeroom (we don't all care to hear about how your husband is being a dick, thanks).   You can relax, if only for a little while, and pay attention to your body as it works to pump out the toxins that have accumulated over the days.  It's amazing to think that even while you're laying there, your body is working away, almost as if it weren't attached to your mind at all and had a crazy mind of its own.

Of course, you can't forget about all the positive things that scientists and wellness experts have said about saunas.  To me, though I love the relaxation of the sauna, it's nice to know that it's pretty good for you as well.  According to a Harvard Health,  the average person will pour out a pint of sweat during a short stint in a sauna. This heavy amount of sweating allow your body to eliminate toxins through your skin.  Many people find that they don't sweat too much during their first saunas, but don't worry, it takes a bit of time for your body to clear out the build up in your pores and start sweating freely.  I've found that I wasn't much of a sweaty person when it came to working out, but since I've been taking regular saunas, my pores aren't blocked up and I sweat like a maniac.  


A typical sauna room generates dry heat of up to 120°C (248°F). Your pulse rate will jump by 30% or more in the sauna, allowing the heart to nearly double the amount of blood it pumps each minute.  Of course, if you have high blood pressure, perhaps a sauna is not for you.  You should definitely consult a doctor first if you have heart problems but want to enjoy the benefits of taking a sauna.


Yet another benefit of a sauna is that it allows your skin to properly get rid of all the junk that you cram into your pores day after day (creams, deodorants, makeup).  As a result, many people experience clearer skin and an all around healthier skin tone.

I've read about saunas helping with weight loss, and I suppose I'd have to agree to a certain extent.  I would imagine that sitting in there for a while does aid in weight loss due to the amount of sweat that is produced and the rate at which your body is working, but I wouldn't label "taking a sauna" as a valid workout.   Good for you?  Yes.  Going to make you lose 25 pounds?  No.  Let's be realistic here, people.


Though I go to a women-only gym, and I am usually the lone girl in the sauna at seven in the morning, I sometimes like to imagine that I am a mob boss, awaiting the arrival of some lackey that will spill the beans on who betrayed my trust.   I would also be wearing a gold chain and several gold rings, one of which would be shaped like the head of a tiger.   Alternately, I enjoy the idea of hanging out in a Roman Bath, but without all the undertones of sexual indiscretion.   Saunas have been around for a very long time, they've been around Finland for over 2000 years, and it's not hard to see why now they're such a staple in many countries and cultures.  


According to Benzocaine.org, the Finnish sauna was originally a simple lakeside log cabin, wood-lined and heated by a special stove overlaid with stones.  It is believed to have been derived from a Scythian custom dating back from the 5th Century BC, of inhaling intoxicating vapours from hemp seed and water thrown on hot stones.  The sauna became widely know in Europe in the 18th Century when visitors to Finland were amazed to see men and women taking steam baths together, beating themselves with twigs to stimulate blood circulation.


It's too bad that my gym doesn't include a twig or branch to smack yourself with.  Maybe I'll bring my own next time....

Here are some sites that talk more about the benefits of saunas and sweatiness:
Pure InsideOut
A Question to Dr. Weil
Sauna & Steam Bathing Explained