How to Enjoy a Relaxing Sauna
The sauna is an ancient Finnish tradition of therapeutic relaxation and cleansing that has become popular in the United States and around the world. Here is a method for enjoying a sauna while optimizing your level of relaxation.
Things You'll Need:
A sauna with a traditional stove (the kind that is designed to make steam when water is thrown on it)
A water bucket with a medium ladle
Water bottle (optional)
1
Wear a well-fitting, comfortable bathing suit and sandals to protect your feet from the hot floor. Being comfortable is essential to relaxation.
2
Use the ladle to throw water from the bucket onto the stove (the "rocks.") Steam is the key to a relaxing sauna-but don't overdo it! Ambitious novices often throw too much water on the rocks, create too much steam, and chase themselves out of the sauna. Add steam gradually, let your body get accustomed to it, and then add more.
3
Keep yourself hydrated. If there is a drinking fountain nearby (such as in a health club sauna) visit it every five to ten minutes. If not, it's a good idea to bring a water bottle with you into the sauna or have one handy just outside.
4
If you are in the sauna with someone else, talking is optional. Many people find silence in the sauna more relaxing than conversation.
5
Do breathing exercises. Inhale slowly through your nose, hold the warm air in your lungs for several seconds, and then exhale through your mouth. After a few repetitions of this exercise, you should start to feel very relaxed.
6
Do stretching exercises. The warm, humid air should make your muscles feel loose and limber, and your improved circulation will make the stretches feel even better than they would anywhere else.
7
Many people like to take intermittent breaks from the heat to cool down. The traditional Finnish method is to run outside and jump in the nearby lake (or, if it's winter, cut a hole in the ice and then jump in the lake). If there is no lake handy, you can take a dip in the pool, jump in a cool shower, or just sit in the room temperature air for a while.
Tips & Warnings
If at any time you start to feel light-headed, leave the sauna immediately. It is probably a sign that you aren't keeping yourself sufficiently hydrated (Step 3). Drink some water and cool down for several minutes. If you start to feel better, give the sauna another try. If not, it's probably best to call it a day.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2160029_enjoy-relaxing-sauna.html
The sauna is an ancient Finnish tradition of therapeutic relaxation and cleansing that has become popular in the United States and around the world. Here is a method for enjoying a sauna while optimizing your level of relaxation.
Things You'll Need:
A sauna with a traditional stove (the kind that is designed to make steam when water is thrown on it)
A water bucket with a medium ladle
Water bottle (optional)
1
Wear a well-fitting, comfortable bathing suit and sandals to protect your feet from the hot floor. Being comfortable is essential to relaxation.
2
Use the ladle to throw water from the bucket onto the stove (the "rocks.") Steam is the key to a relaxing sauna-but don't overdo it! Ambitious novices often throw too much water on the rocks, create too much steam, and chase themselves out of the sauna. Add steam gradually, let your body get accustomed to it, and then add more.
3
Keep yourself hydrated. If there is a drinking fountain nearby (such as in a health club sauna) visit it every five to ten minutes. If not, it's a good idea to bring a water bottle with you into the sauna or have one handy just outside.
4
If you are in the sauna with someone else, talking is optional. Many people find silence in the sauna more relaxing than conversation.
5
Do breathing exercises. Inhale slowly through your nose, hold the warm air in your lungs for several seconds, and then exhale through your mouth. After a few repetitions of this exercise, you should start to feel very relaxed.
6
Do stretching exercises. The warm, humid air should make your muscles feel loose and limber, and your improved circulation will make the stretches feel even better than they would anywhere else.
7
Many people like to take intermittent breaks from the heat to cool down. The traditional Finnish method is to run outside and jump in the nearby lake (or, if it's winter, cut a hole in the ice and then jump in the lake). If there is no lake handy, you can take a dip in the pool, jump in a cool shower, or just sit in the room temperature air for a while.
Tips & Warnings
If at any time you start to feel light-headed, leave the sauna immediately. It is probably a sign that you aren't keeping yourself sufficiently hydrated (Step 3). Drink some water and cool down for several minutes. If you start to feel better, give the sauna another try. If not, it's probably best to call it a day.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2160029_enjoy-relaxing-sauna.html