| The traditional Finnish sauna is just a | | | | |
| wooden hut, which is often heated. The | | | | In the past, Finnish saunas were used as |
| Finnish sauna has been around for many | | | | homes and because of their sterile nature |
| centuries but it is quite hard to trace its | | | | women were able to give birth in warm places |
| origins. | | | | without the fear of catching any infections. |
| | | | For the Finnish people the sauna is popular |
| Most Finnish people are accustomed to having | | | | in all seasons as there is still joy to be |
| saunas and these also come in many varieties. | | | | had in the companionship that comes from |
| Sometimes you get the common sauna heater | | | | being in a sauna with friends and family. |
| where water is thrown over hot stones. Others | | | | |
| are saunas that have wood burning stoves. It | | | | These days you do not need to have to go |
| is also seen that some business transactions | | | | Finland to get into a Finnish sauna; this is |
| take place in Finnish saunas. | | | | due to the fact that you too can own your own |
| | | | sauna. Saunas are becoming an almost fashion |
| There are many types of etiquette in the | | | | trend, but more for their use than their |
| Finnish saunas, as sometimes men and women | | | | actual ownership. In order for you to get the |
| can go into a sauna together and others | | | | most out of your Finnish sauna you need to |
| won't. Most foreigners are often invited into | | | | really try to use it quite often. It is only |
| the Finnish saunas to enjoy and share the | | | | common sense as there is no point in spending |
| experience with the locals. | | | | money on something that will only leave you |
| | | | feeling depressed because you have not made |
| It seems that saunas are believed to be able | | | | the time to use it. Be kind to your body and |
| to help people who have breathing problems, | | | | it will function the way that you need it to |
| like asthma, for instance. This is a | | | | when push comes to shove. It is always |
| combination of extreme heat plus extreme | | | | recommended that you first shower before you |
| cold. In the winter most Finnish people will | | | | get into a sauna and this is not solely for |
| go into the very hot sauna then immediately | | | | hygiene reasons. |
| go roll in the snow or take a swim in an | | | | |
| extremely cold river. | | | | Now that you own your Finnish sauna you have |
| | | | to be realistic about its maintenance. This |
| It is perhaps this fascination of a happy and | | | | means that you have to be willing to give a |
| long life image that helped bring the sauna | | | | good clean once in a while. Do not get caught |
| out of Finland and into the rest of the | | | | up in the ideology of fascination of owning a |
| world. Perhaps the greatest influence of | | | | sauna but in the reality of the task. There |
| Finnish saunas is the fact that they are such | | | | are many ways that you can achieve this |
| sterile environments. | | | | maintenance. |