History of the Finnish sauna
For thousands of years, people of all cultures have enjoyed the benefits of steam baths.
The Romans are well known for their elaborate baths. Their bathing facilities included three different rooms: the hot steam room, the warm room warm and the cold room. The wealthy of 200 B.C. India did not think their mansion was complete unless it included a bathhouse with a steam room. Muslims, after discovering the Greek and Roman baths during their conquests, invented the steam bath, Turkish bath or Moorish bath, called " hammam". This practice grew from the 7th century AD and it became a place of purification. The American Indian used a type of hut covered with branches of willows and skins as a steam bath. In fact, few health care and natural beauty treatments have such a rich history.
The word "sauna" in Finnish means "sweat"
The sauna as we know it today, with an outside wood cottage, is a native of Finland. The word "sauna" in Finnish means "sweat" ( "hiki"), and this tradition of steam baths was born 2000 years ago. The sauna has a long tradition in the daily life of Finns. Today, there are more than 1 million 400 thousand saunas in Finland, which represents a ratio of one sauna for four Finnish. Nowadays, more and more people are interested in the virtues of the sauna through, the many Nordic spas that emerged over the last fifteen years in Quebec. Also, more and more people are installing saunas in their homes and enjoy the regular physical and mental benefits of the steam bath.
Most people think of the Finnish sauna as dry heat, but in fact, the Finns throw water on the stones or brick to create what is known as "loyly", a sudden burst of steam which creates a moist heat in the sauna. The steam increases the relative humidity in the sauna approximately 40 percent. Without the moisture some people could find the heat irritating to the nasal mucosa. The sauna has not changed over the centuries; the essential elements are still fire, warm air and cold water. On the other hand, technology has made it possible to make the practice of this activity more accessible, especially in urban centers.
The three types of saunas used in Finland.
The smoke sauna is the most traditional form of the sauna. Until the late 19th century, this type of sauna with a fireplace with no chimney was the only one to exist. The smoke, which generated the heat, was vented out of the room before the session. The smoke gave aromatic perfumes and kept the room clean and sterile. Healers used it to treat disease and purify the body. This type of sauna has also disadvantages, including cleaning soot on the walls of the cottage.
It was not until 1930 that a heating system with a stove and chimney appeared. In the 1940's, most of saunas in Finland were of this type. Many people prefer this type of sauna today. Finally, the sauna using a modern electric heater is very popular because of its convenience. It is found mainly in hotels and urban spas.