Banya has been very popular in Russia since ancient times. In it, people bathed, were treated for various diseases, took birth and simply relaxed after a hard day's work. It is visited even today in the company of friends to have a good time. However, due to the influence of Western culture, the Finnish sauna is gradually replacing the bathhouse. At first glance, it may seem that they are similar and there are no fundamental differences, but this is not entirely true. Let's see how the Finnish steam room differs from the Russian one, how to visit it correctly, what he alth benefits it provides, and who can visit it and who should abstain from it.
Understanding concepts
Finnish steam room for a Russian person is one of the exotic ways to have a good rest and relax. But at home, it is considered a sacred place in which body and soul are cleansed. Everyone used to call it "sauna". But no one knows that in translation this word means nothing more than "bath". First doublesappeared many centuries ago in the territory where the Celts lived. They believed that pair procedures not only help to get rid of various diseases, but also allow you to get closer to the gods. From there, these procedures gradually spread throughout the world until they reached our country.
In those days, the temperature in the room was regulated by heating the stones and pouring water over them. This is the main difference between saunas and Turkish baths, in which you have to breathe hot steam that looks like a dense white haze that fills the room.
General information
The Finnish bath, the photo of which will be presented later in this article, is similar to the Russian one, but there are certain differences. The main thing is a dry type of steam room, in which hot air alternates with cold water, which increases sweating. The steam room inside is completely finished with wood, and there are shelves for lying along the walls.
Heating of the premises is carried out with the help of electrical equipment equipped with a thermostat that allows you to control the temperature regimes. Humidity is maintained at 20 percent. This is one of the main requirements that are followed when visiting a Finnish bath. Degrees can vary from 70 to 100, depending on the personal wishes and he alth of each person. After visiting the steam room, you must definitely plunge into the pool with cold water. This is the only way to achieve good sweating and maximum he alth benefits.
Main Features
Let's take a closer look at this. Many people are interested in the question of how the Russian bath differs from the Finnish sauna. As mentioned earlier, they are very similar. The only difference is in the temperature regime and the conduct of paired procedures. In saunas, the air heats up to 70 degrees, which makes it possible to equip them not only in separate buildings, but also in private houses and even city apartments. In Finland, absolutely every home has its own steam room.
The principle of the steam room is very simple. Near one of the walls there is an electric stove with a thermostat, which heats the stones, from which the heat is given off. Wood-burning fireplaces are being built in some saunas. In this case, a chimney is also made in the room to increase the level of safety and remove carbon monoxide.
Additional steam in the Finnish steam room (photos of various interior design options can be seen below) is not produced, as it will worsen sweating and reduce the positive effect of procedures on the body. After staying in conditions of high temperatures, it is necessary to plunge into cold water. Contrasting action helps to harden and increase protective functions.
Traditionally, it is customary to build saunas near natural reservoirs. There are more than 4,000 lakes and rivers in Finland, so there are no particular problems with this. But if this is not possible, then an additional extension is erected in which a pool is made. Now, probably, many will have a question about what are the differences between the Finnish steam room and the Russian one. The difference lies in the procedures themselves. The Finns, unlike us, do not use brooms. They just sit in the steam room and relax, after which they take a dip in cold water, drink tea or spirits and chat with their friends.
Differences between a sauna and a bath
This aspect should be given special attention. So we come to one of the most exciting questions for many Russians, the answer to which is known only to a few. What is the difference between a Finnish steam room and a Russian one?
Among the main differences are the following:
- In saunas, the air is drier and hotter due to the low humidity. The air temperature can reach 100 degrees, so in order not to harm your he alth, you must follow some rules for the correct visit to the steam rooms. They will be discussed further. As for the baths, the situation is completely different in them. The maximum temperature in the steam room reaches 80 degrees with an air humidity of 80 percent.
- Another important difference is the features of the firebox. In saunas, stones are heated using electric heating equipment or wood-burning stoves. They are not watered to keep the humidity low. In Russian baths, stones are placed directly on the stove, where they are periodically poured over to generate additional steam.
- Another characteristic feature of the Finnish steam room, which was already mentioned earlier, is the lack of paraphernalia. Finns don't use brooms. They are convinced that there is no practical benefit from them, but to get a fewserious burns are quite real.
- In Russian baths, after steam procedures, they cool in a font or in natural reservoirs, if there are such facilities nearby. In winter, preference is given to ice holes, since they achieve the most contrasting temperature effect on the body. In saunas, bathing takes place in pools of water at room temperature.
Among the key features of the Russian bath are:
- for more efficient heat distribution, rooms are built with ceilings 3 meters high;
- ventilation is not provided to reduce heat loss;
- for heating a steam room, stoves are built with a closed heater, which is separated from the main room by a sealed door. Before starting steam procedures, the room is preheated for about 2-3 hours.
The characteristic features of the Finnish bath (the benefits and harms of which will be discussed later) are:
- The height of the ceilings does not exceed 2 meters, this is necessary for faster heating of the steam room.
- The saunas have a built-in ventilation system.
- Stoves are built with an open-type heater with external laying of stones.
- In steam rooms there are up to four shelves. The bottom ones are for sitting and the top ones are for lying down. Thus, up to 6 people can steam at the same time.
That's all the key aspects and differences regarding the Russian and Finnish steam room. Photos of both species are very similar, but you can see some differences. But despite this, the wooden decoration of the premiseslooks amazing.
Who is paired procedures recommended for?
Let's take a closer look at this aspect. The benefits of the Finnish bath are quite obvious. It is regularly visited and included in the training program by many world-class professional athletes. Steam procedures contribute to increased sweating, due to which the body loses excess moisture. Also, some nutritionists recommend them to people who have problems with being overweight. In combination with physical activity and proper nutrition, you can get rid of body fat in just a few weeks and bring your body into full order. However, this is not all that steam sauna treatments are useful for.
They also contribute to:
- hardening the body and increasing its resistance to negative environmental factors;
- eliminate symptoms of chronic fatigue and depression;
- activation of all body systems;
- increasing the effectiveness of the treatment of various diseases of the epidermis;
- normalization of the functioning of the urinary, nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems;
- blood circulation improvement;
- prevention of certain pathologies of the respiratory tract;
- improved metabolism;
- detrimental effect on pathogens that can lead to the development of many serious diseases.
If you know how to properly steam in a Finnish bath, you can not only improve your he alth, but also strengthen your immune system. howpractice shows that with regular pair procedures, people are much less likely to get sick.
Contraindications
It is advisable to familiarize yourself with this aspect in the very first place. Despite the fact that paired procedures provide great he alth benefits, however, there are a number of restrictions under which it is recommended to refrain from them. Among the main contraindications of the Finnish bath are the following:
- excessive obesity;
- ischemic heart disease;
- shortness of breath;
- gout;
- chronic hypertension;
- malignant tumors;
- pronounced atherosclerosis of vessels;
- tuberculosis;
- asthma;
- pneumonia;
- thrombosis;
- epilepsy attacks;
- during rehabilitation after surgery;
- pregnant and lactating women;
- sciatica;
- high body temperature;
- various pathologies of the cardiovascular system and respiratory organs, occurring in an acute form;
- inflammation of internal organs.
In addition, it is strictly forbidden to take children under the age of four and elderly people to the sauna. To avoid undesirable consequences and he alth problems, it is recommended to consult a doctor first.
Preparing for a visit to the sauna
If you decide to take a steam bath, then before entering the steam room, you must remove all metal objects and jewelry from the body. At a temperature of 100 degrees, they quickly heat up andleave a severe burn on the body. On the day on which the visit is scheduled, it is not recommended to overload yourself too much and perform heavy physical work. If it is very cold outside and you are cold, then you first need to take a warm bath. Sudden exposure to large temperature changes is dangerous to he alth and can lead to very serious consequences.
Doctors say that one visit to the steam room should not last more than 15 minutes. At the same time, if you feel unwell, it is better to interrupt the procedure. Among the alarming symptoms, one can single out a feeling of general malaise, darkening in the eyes, dizziness and nausea. At the same time, you should not make too sudden movements, as they can provoke a sharp jump in blood pressure and fainting.
If you have never been in a sauna before, it is advisable to start with a minimum temperature, which is 70 degrees. It is very difficult to withstand high heat the first time even for completely he althy and physically strong people.
How to take a steam bath?
This aspect should be given special attention. In order to get the maximum pleasure from steam procedures and at the same time not harm your he alth, you must follow some rules for visiting a Finnish bath. Here are the main ones:
- You should take a sauna at least 2 hours after your last meal.
- The duration of one procedure should not exceed a quarter of an hour.
- Before entering the steam room, you need to take a shower and dry your body.
- You need to steam in the prone position, spreading a dry towel on the shelf.
- If you feel thirsty during the procedures, then green or herbal tea, kvass, compote or still water is best suited to quench your thirst.
- After steaming, be sure to take a contrast shower or dip in the pool.
- Starting from the second procedure, the duration of stay in the steam room can be gradually increased, however, the total time should not exceed three hours.
- It is better to break the session into two parts of 3 calls, between which you need to rinse in the shower and let the body cool down a bit.
These simple rules will make visiting the Finnish steam room not only useful, but also unforgettable. In addition, they completely exclude the possibility of harm to he alth, which is also important.
What to bring to the sauna?
Above, it was described in detail how to take a steam bath in a Finnish bath. But in order for the session to be comfortable, you need to take certain equipment with you. Now let's talk about this in more detail. Avid lovers of steam say that you can not do without the following:
- Slippers. In saunas, high humidity, which creates ideal conditions for the development of the fungus. Shoes will help protect your feet from it. It is best to use rubber sole slippers to avoid slipping on slippery floors.
- Hat. It is needed to protect the head from high temperature. If you bathe without it, then there is a high probability of getting a heat stroke just a few minutes after the start of the procedure. Besides,a cap will keep the scalp dry and prevent burns.
- Towel. It is advisable to take a couple. One is for laying a shelf in the steam room, and the second is for wiping the body after a shower or pool.
- Robe. Many people prefer to go to public saunas and baths naked, but going naked in front of strangers can be very shy.
This list includes the most necessary items that you simply cannot do without. Feel free to include any other things you find useful.
Conclusion
This article details what are the main differences between the Finnish and Russian baths, what are the he alth benefits of the procedures and what contraindications they have, as well as how to take a steam bath in order to get the most pleasure. If you have never been in a sauna before, then you need to visit it at least once in your life. You will see for yourself that there is nothing better than sitting in a room heated to high temperatures for a while, and then plunging into a cool pool. Few things in life can give such pleasure, especially if you share it with friends and loved ones.
