how to Experience a REAL FINNISH SAUNA

Living in Lapland, I had the chanche to enjoy all the benefits of this well known relaxing finnish tradition, something I was really looking for during the long (freezing) working days there and even more after chilometers of skiing in the cold.

The Sauna here is so important that people say that when a Finnish needs a new home, he builds the Sauna first, and then the house all around it

There are several different kinds of Sauna, from the most traditional wooden ones to the newest and pretty common electric rooms, but my favourite is probably the old “Smoke Sauna” I had the chance to experience in kiilopaa, a beautiful place about 50 kms south of Ivalo.

Listening to the local friends I made in this warming corners of Lapland, this is the squence to universally follow to fully enjoy all the benefits:

take a shower before first entering the sauna; mainly a good hygen habit, especially in public places, it also helpes to don’t warm up too fast
bring your paper towel (or wooden tablet, as provided in kiilopaa) to sit on, and enter the Sauna;
if it doesn’t feel hot enough, increase the temperature by throwing water from the bucket on the stove, using the wooden spoon placed inside it
RELAX and enjoy the warmth as long as it feels comportable, usually between 5 and 15 minutes, before going outside to quickly cool down and start the fun part.
Cool down: depending on your bravery and the place facilities, there will be several ways to do so: rolling in the snow, jumping in a swimmingpool, taking a cold shower, throwing a water bucket on your head, staying still outside in the Lappish winter temperature.. but my favourite one is definitely the Ice-Swimming, at there is a tecnquique also for that.

First of all, I have to say that after the sauna is not really that shocking, even for those who usally don’t really enjoy the cold; that’s why it is very important to get there as soon as possible after escaping the heat, but then just stop, breath to lower the heartbeat, and walk into the water one step at time, but without stopping on the way. If it still sounds impossible, just think that the water was usually between 3 and 4 celsius degrees, while the average temperature ouside can be around -15°: the lake is actually warmer! Even if it doesn’t really feel like.

The first time I managed to do it I then run outside in a fraction of second, but following local’s advices I discovered that it is not that diffiult to relax for a couple of breaths inside, even if I couldn’t compete with my friend’s 10 seconds baths! Someone also suggested me as the best way to fully enjoy the benefits, to go in and out of the water for 5 times before going back to the sauna, but I have to admit I’ve been only able te reach 3.

6. Congratulations, you made it!! Now it’s time to go back to the Sauna and repeat the whole sequence for at least two more times, before taking the last shower, with or without jump in the cold before.

I’ve heard contrasting opinions around this last step: I personally really enjoy the regenerating and bracing feeling the very cold water leaves to the whole body, and really don’t want to miss it at the last step, but some people prefer to just leave with the sauna’s warming sensation, especially before facing the freezing way home.

An add-on I personally don’t recommend because of the high temperature, but that many finnish seems to appreciate, is to carry and drink inside the sauna a cold beer, usually kept in the snow outside for a while before

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