How often do you go to sauna?

[Chemical Ollie]

Once in 2 weeks. I have a sauna in my house, but I use the one at the public swimming pool more often.

I remember visiting a sauna in Chicago that had a sign with a ridiculous set of rules:

- Don't expose yourself for more than 20 minutes
- Don't throw water on the stove
- Don't use the sauna when intoxicated
- People under 18 years of age should not use the sauna without adult supervision
- etc, etc etc

Me and my buddy turned the heat to full, threw lots of water onto the stove and shared a sixpack during the 45 minutes we were there

[Chemical Ollie]

Originally posted by MrFun
A sauna -- in Iowa?

Besides, will someone tell me which has a larger population in Sweden -- reindeer or humans?

The reindeers are very rare. Especially in the south where I live.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Olaf HÃ¥rfagre


The reindeers are very rare. Especially in the south where I live.

In seriousness, I know. But what about the North where native tribes still corrall reindeer?

[The Mad Monk]

Originally posted by MrFun
A sauna -- in Iowa?

Besides, will someone tell me which has a larger population in Sweden -- reindeer or humans?

There is a sauna in the house my parents bought -- in Kansas City.

[monolith94]

When I lived in Finland, I'd sauna 5-7 times a week. When we were at the summer cottage I'd do it multiple times a day. Often I'd be the one to pour the water on the rocks - wussy foreigner I was not!

I was a fanatic.
We don't have saunas here, though.

[The Mad Monk]

Notice how only the real cold climate cultures came up with the idea that cooking yourself is a good thing?

We don't need saunas. We have this little thing called summer.

[monolith94]

Summer is nothing like Sauna. Summer is annoying - sauna is a spiritual elevation.

[SpencerH]

I love sauna but its hard to get into the idea of building one in my house when its 90-100 degrees for 6 months of the year.

[Stefu]

Besides, will someone tell me which has a larger population in Sweden -- reindeer or humans?

That's getting a bit too close to confusing Finland with Sweden there.

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by Stefu


That's getting a bit too close to confusing Finland with Sweden there.

Finland, Sweden, same thing. Both used to be one country.

[Agathon]

Where I come from if you say you are going to a sauna it means that you are going to a brothel.

I was worried for a minute about this thread.

[monolith94]

britain and the united states used to be one country - your point?

[Pekka]

about twice a week. We have wooden heating system (the only real way!), so I don't like to heat it up every day. If I had electric stove, I'd prolly go every day.

What you talk about it's being hot? It's supposed to be hot! It's relaxing, that's what it is. It gives your muscles good work, when you get out, you just feel soooo good. It's almost like after sex kind of feeling, but it's safer and you don't have any bad side effects from it.

You have to do it the right way, or it's not that great. There are few strategies that are considered the right way, other ways are insults to the culture and the spirit of the sauna. I still wonder why people are so afraid to go naked to a small room and sweat, with strangers, or friends. It's not a sexual thing, no one cares if you have some extra weight, if you're skinny, if you have a small knob, what ever no one cares! It's reliefing that way too, you can totally be yourself with all your faults, and no one _really_ cares. And I think it has some psychological thing to it afterwards, you've been naked with practically everyone sweating in hot room.. so friends are even better friends after that.

It has health benefits, it's good for your skin, your muscles and what ever old joints you have. Also it's good mentally. You're not supposed to think 'man this is hot, oh my god I don't like sweating'. That's why you're naked, not with shorts or what ever. You're supposed to be naked, that's the only way! And just let the experience take over your weak mind! If you do it the right way, there is no person in earth that wouldn't be addicted to it. It's the best thing!

That's why we build saunas in combat zones too. It's one of the first things to build. It has several benefits. It gets your muscles relaxed after hard day, it's a great place to talk with your buddies and that's important to tell about your feelings and so, it's refreshing, it keeps some deceases away.. that is a big benefit. I can't think of fighting against troops with sauna benefits, and me not having it. That's like doping!
It doesn't matter if the combat zone is in Africa, there has to be sauna! Tent saunas are ok too if that's the only possible way to have it.

Going to sauna is not supposed to be like going to sauna, sweat a little and come out, shower and that's it. That is not the way, I'd be insulted if someone taught me that! You guys have been victims! Damn it, grab yourself a finnish buddy where you live and tell him you want to have sauna things, and they'll gladly join you and show you the ways to do it, then you can decide what way you liked the most. It's like massage, only better.

It is so good feeling, that one time I didn't have the opportunity to go to sauna in more than 2 months (oh that was horrible!), so when I finally had a full night myself, only to do sauna bathing, I actually had erection when the heat was rising up. It just felt so good. Nothing sexual though. I refuse to live in a place where there is no sauna. It's not an option.

[Pekka]

There are also lots of other traditions, depends the country. Russians have their own thing, there is Swedish sauna, indians used to have them too. They differ from each other, they're all nice, but I like ours best. But I might be little biased .

So if you live in the US for example and there is a sauna in your gym, it might be little different. It's science to build a real sauna. It has to be built exactly the right way, or it sucks butts and is an insult. So, I think Swedish saunas are dominating in the US gyms etc. I don't know though.. they are pretty nice too though.

But basically, it's very different experience. It's like going to NHL game and NBA game. They are both nice, but very different, and the whole experience is very different, they have some simularities.

[Pekka]

Olaf, those are some pretty stupid rules! Those are insults! Someone needs to beat the rule maker.

We have rules in public saunas, that it is forbidden to have your swimming trunks or what ever, you have to be naked, and that's a rule. And what a good rule it is.