Taking a sauna begins by sitting in the hot room, typically warmed to 80-110 degrees Celsius (170-230 degrees Fahrenheit), for some time. Water is thrown on the hot stones topping the kiuas, a special stove used to warm up the sauna. This produces steam, known as löyly, which increases the moisture and heat within the sauna. Occasionally one uses leafy, fragrant boughs ofsilver birch called vihta in West Finland and vasta in East Finland to gently beat oneself. This has a relaxing effect on the muscles and also helps in calming the effects of mosquito bites. When the heat begins to feel uncomfortable it is customary to jump into a lake, sea, or a swimming pool, or to have a shower. In the winter rolling in the snow or even swimming in a hole cut in the ice, an avanto, is sometimes used as a substitute. Then one usually sits down in the dressing room or the porch of the sauna to enjoy a sausage, along with beer or soft drinks. After cooling one goes back to the hot room and begins the cycle again. It varies by people how many times this cycle is repeated.[clarification needed] Usually one takes at least two or three cycles, lasting between 30 minutes to two hours. In Finland's numerous summer cottages bathing might go on well into the night. This is especially true in the summer when there is virtually no darkness. For many Finns, the sauna is almost a sacred place. It is usually considered especially rude to swear in sauna, even in company that doesn't usually shy on swearing. Thorough washing will end the session of sauna. Conversation is relaxed and arguments and controversial topics are avoided. It is also rare to use titles or other honorifics in the sauna. In Finnish folklore, the sauna is the home of the sauna-elf, a spirit of the sauna (saunatonttu in Finnish).
Sometimes men and women go to the sauna together, sometimes not. For someone brought up in Finland, the rules are instinctive but they are difficult to put into words. Depending on the size, composition, relationships, and the age structure of the group three basic patterns can emerge: Everyone can go to the sauna at the same time, men and women may take sauna separately, or each family can go to sauna separately. Mixed saunas with non-family members are most common with younger adults, and are quite rare for older people or on more formal occasions. It is common for teenagers to stop going to sauna with their parents at some point; younger people, especially men, also favour hotter saunas than older.
In the sauna it is a faux pas to wear clothing in the hot room, although it is acceptable to sit on a small towel or pefletti, a disposable tissue designed to endure heat and humidity (it can be mandatory in a public sauna, such as at a public swimming pool). While cooling off it is common to wrap a towel around your body. Though mixed saunas are quite common, for a typical Finn the sauna is, with few exceptions, a non-sexual place. In Finland "sauna" means only a sauna, not a brothel, sex club, or such. In public saunas one also sees signs prohibiting the wearing of swimming suits in the hot room. In some indoor swimming pools chlorine is added to the water for hygiene reasons. If swimwear used in such water is brought to the hot room, the chlorine will vaporize and cause breathing problems for people with asthma or allergies. The oldest still active public sauna can be found in the Pispala district of Tampere. Rajaportin sauna began its operation 1906 and is currently owned by the City of Tampere. It is however run by the local Pispala Sauna Association (Finnish: Pispalan saunayhdistys ry.)[3]
Foreign visitors to Finland often get invited into the sauna. This may even happen after business negotiations and other such events. On these occasions it may be acceptable to refuse, although it may not impress one's Finnish hosts. Such an invitation in a business setting may indicate that the negotiations have gone well and a joint business effort is anticipated. In private homes or summer residences the sauna is usually warmed to honour the guest and refusal may be more difficult. However, Finns will not typically be offended by declining the sauna.
The savusauna (smoke sauna) is a special type of sauna without a chimney. Wood is burned in a particularly large stove and the smoke fills the room. When the sauna is hot enough, the fire is allowed to die and the smoke is ventilated out. The residual heat of the stove is enough for the duration of the sauna. This represents the ancestral type of sauna, since chimneys are a later addition. Smoke saunas have experienced great revival in recent years since they are considered superior by the connoisseurs.[citation needed] They are not, however, likely to replace all or even most of the regular saunas because more skill, effort and time (usually many hours) are needed for the heating process.
The sauna in Finland is such an old phenomenon that it is impossible to trace its roots. Bath houses were recorded in Europe during the same time period, but Finnish bathing habits were hardly documented until the 16th century.[citation needed]Because of the years of habitation and variant rule by Russia and Sweden, it is possible that the sauna custom evolved from them. It was during the Reformation in Scandinavia that the popularity of saunas expanded to other countries because the European bath houses were being destroyed. Hundreds of years ago, when bathing was something to be done only rarely or never at all, Finns were cleaning themselves in saunas at least once a week. One reason the sauna culture has always flourished in Finland has been because of the versatility of the sauna. When people were moving the first thing they did was build a sauna. You could live in it, make food in the stove, take care of your personal hygiene and most importantly, give birth in an almost sterile environment. The sauna smoke contained tannic acid, an anti-bacterial polymer, which was the main reason saunas were the most sterile places. Another reason for its popularity is that in such a cold climate, the sauna allows people warmth for at least a short period of time. However, it is just as popular in the summer as in the winter.
Dear Manager of Century Spa,
I'm a five year visitor to your facilities, and I want to say first that how delighted I am with your refurbishment. I think the new facilities are some of the best in the city. And I should know – I write a popular blog called "Good Heat" (www.goodheat.blogspot.com) wherein I review different spas and saunas around Los Angeles.
However, I'm DEEPLY disappointed in your lack of care for the health of your customers. You've allowed your spa to turn into, for all intents and purposes, a gay sex club. It was bad before your refurbishment, then it was a whole lot better, now it's worse than ever before. This is incredibly frustrating, disappointing and embarrassing for your customers who come to your spa to relax and unwind.
To be specific, here's what I've seen at your facility:
I've heard that both oral and anal sex also take place at your facility, but thankfully, I've never had to witness this.
I'm not trying to be libelous. But if you're not aware of these things, you're turning a blind eye to a serious health code violation. And if you think it doesn't go on, log onto Craigslist.com and search "Century Spa" in "All Personals." You'll see that guys advertise there every day to meet and have sex at your facility.
The second problem is that there's no one on staff that seems to be able to address this problem. Every time I come, I've been greeted at the front desk by a woman, all of whom are nice, but with none of whom I feel comfortable bringing up these concerns, due to a language and culture barrier. That's why I'm resorting to writing a letter. I can't take it any more, and I'm tired of having to leave the sauna when things get weird.
I direct a fair share of business your way, both through my blog and by bringing friends and family with me when I dare to go. I want to mention that this weekend I'm meeting with another sauna enthusiast to found the The Los Angeles Saunamens Association, a club that I think will garner an initial membership of about forty gentlemen. We would love to include your facilities on our list of places to visit, but you need to address the problem that you have with the gay sexual activity that takes place at your spa.
Here's some of the things that you need to do:
Please contact me and let me know how you intend to combat this problem. For now, I'll keep this matter private, but if you refuse to take action, I'll have no choice but to take this matter public and contact the health department.
I really enjoy your facilities and wish to be able to use them without concern for my health or worry that I'm going to be sexually harassed.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter,
Clay Allen
