Established in the early 1950s, the facility has been redecorated in keeping with its vintage, and hosts regular discos and parties, as well as barbeques in the summer (www.saunahermanni.fi). So, once you have decided where to visit, what should you expect? There’s the naked aspect to deal with, of course. The very helpful Official Travel Guide of Finland notes that Finns go nude to the sauna even with strangers, but they understand foreigners have ‘certain inhibitions’ and will be okay with you wearing a swimsuit or a towel (www.visitfinland. com/article/10-sauna-tips-for-beginners). However, in some public saunas, swimsuits may be banned for health and hygiene reasons, so it’s good to research the facility before you go. And while saunas in some countries are a front for spicier businesses, in Finland, it’s a strictly non-sexual environment. To prepare, have a shower, and take a small towel with you to sit on. Typically, the room will be heated to between 70°C and 100°C. A wood-heated sauna usually has a basket of rocks on top of the stove, upon which
you throw water to increase the heat and humidity. You may be given a vihta, a bundle of birch twigs to dip in water and softly whip yourself with in order to stimulate circulation and open the pores. Don’t stay inside as if in an endurance contest – follow the lead of the Finns by having several sessions in the hot room, interspaced by periods of cooling down or dips in the sea, before a final shower. Make sure you drink enough water to re-hydrate, and, above all, relax and enjoy. Wherever you sauna in Helsinki, the experience will be a boost to both your physical and mental health. A sauna stimulates circulation in a similar way as low to moderate exercise. Health benefits may include reduced muscular soreness, ease of arthritic pain, reduction of asthmatic symptoms, improved heart health and reduced stress levels. There are even indications that saunas could lower the risk of dementia, although more research needs to be done on this topic. Add a beer or two afterwards and it is not hard to see why this quintessentially Finnish custom has endured through the centuries and is still going strong in the present day.
Sep-Nov 2018 The Cultured Traveller 81