This weekend was something a little different, and something that I am guessing most people reading this probably haven't done before. The neighbor dropped me a message and asked if I wanted to head to a public sauna with him.
For sure!
Sauna is a Finnish invention (debated) and a part of the national identity (confirmed), where pretty much everyone goes regularly to the sauna. Most people (even in apartments) have one in their home, and pretty much every house has one. I am actually pressed to think of whether I have ever been in a detached home that doesn't have a sauna in it. Most these days are electric, but wood-fired saunas have a nicer heat to them, when the sauna is made correctly.
Ours isn't.
But, public saunas are also a big part of the tradition and there are plenty of them around the city, generally located next to the lake, so that between rounds of sitting in 100°C (212F) air getting sweaty. And, as you can see, this happens in winter too.
The lakes aren't frozen over yet (some edges are closing and the smaller lakes - this one is massive), but the water temperature is a balmy 2° (35F). This sounds cold, but the air temperature is at 11° (12F), so it isn't "that bad" considering. However, it is definitely a shock to the system and while some people will spend minutes in there, I am generally happy doing a thirty-second quick dip in and out. After that though, it is possible just to sit out in the fresh air for ten minutes or so talking.
Obviously, I didn't take any pictures in the actual sauna, but the public ones like this fit about forty to fifty people comfortably inside. And for those wondering, public ones tend to require bathing trunks, unlike at home saunas or with groups of friends only, where it is always naked.
The public sauna experience is also going through a bit of a renaissance period, as a lot of younger people go to them too, so there really is a bit of a "melting pot" of society, with old and young, rich and poor, all sitting very close to each other, getting very sweaty.
At times, there was standing room only in there, however my friend and I always managed to squeeze in somewhere. It is quite pleasant, but at times some people tend not to care about others and throw too much water onto the sauna stove, which sends a shockwave of heat that burns the ears for a minute or two. I don't go regularly, but the regulars generally wear a "sauna hat" that protects their head and ears at these times. There are also people wearing special gloves and shoes, so that they can stay in the water longer.
This particular place has been in operation as a public sauna since 1929, so it is coming up to a hundred years old. Next year or the year after, it will undergo some renovations to renew it (I guess for the centenary), but I hope they don't modernize it too much, as it has a very homely, functional feel to it. Nothing glamorous for sure, but cozy. And because of this perhaps, the people are more relaxed there, friendly and talkative, which is an oddity for Finnish people.
Now, supposedly winter swimming is meant to be good for your health, as it gets your blood flowing. But, a lot of foreigners are scared that going from the hot to the cold so quickly will give them a heart attack. I have never actually heard of this happening in the time that I have been in the country, but perhaps it is possible. For any normal person though, I do recommend giving it a go at least once if you happen to be travelling in the Nordic region, because it feels awesome.
Going from a hot temperate extreme to cold, means that all the blood comes to the surface in the heat, then gets shocked by the cold, leaving the entire body tingling in quite a delicious way. I haven't had that feeling at any other time in my life, other than from winter swimming, so it is hard to describe what it is like, without you having personal experience.
You will just have to try!
Occasionally, when colleagues from overseas have come to visit, we have taken them to a public sauna and for a swim, and none of them have either had a heart attack, nor regretted it. The first time they go into the water they are like "that is not too bad" and then, they want to go again and again.
We were there for about two hours, going from sauna to water, water to sitting and drinking some water, and then back to the sauna again six or seven times in that period. Afterward, I was Very relaxed and would have been happy to have a nap, or a glass of wine.
I went with the wine, of course.
Would you give it a go?
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]