Saunas have been common for scores of years, but for lots of people, they are a whole new phenomenon.  The sauna rage has overtaken the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa, with a huge number of people finding the social and health benefits of frequent sauna baths.  However , what Joe calls ‘sauna’ Josephine may call ‘steam bath’ and Jocelyn could call ‘Turkish bath’. Is there a difference?  This article will explore the meaning of the distinct terms associated with this calming and beneficial style of bathing.

The Sauna

The sauna is an integrated part of Finnish and Swedish way of life.  Most households possess a sauna a great number of people use the sauna many times a week.  These saunas crank out a dry heat between 70 and 100 degrees Celsius.  From time to time water is thrown on heated rocks to produce a thick cloud of steam that makes the sauna feel warmer.  After spending about 10 to 30 minutes in the sauna most people take a cool shower or swim in the body of water.  During winter, a lot of people even roll in the snow.

Finnish and Swedish saunas are social affairs and may include family members, good friends or colleagues.  They are normally taken in the nude.  Whether or not men and women take a sauna alongside one another depends on their relationships and to some extent, their age.  Public saunas however are typically single-sex.

Swedish saunas have become well-liked in North America and are part of the facilities of many community pools.  Each swimming pool sets its own policies on nudity.  Some pools have certain periods for single-sex use when bare swimming and nude saunas are the norm.  At different times bathing suits will be needed in the sauna.

The Turkish Bath

The Turkish bath is also identified as hamam.  It is a form of steam bath and the heat is much lower than in Finnish or Swedish sauna.  The steam would scald the skin if it was very hot, so steam baths are maintained at close to 40 degrees Celsius.

Classic Turkish baths are good sized buildings and serve as social gathering sites just as much as places to get clean.  There are distinct rooms for men and women, and the bath building is divided into three areas – hot, warm, and cool. 

The Steam Bath

Steam baths have a continuous humidity level around 100%.  They are kept about 40 degrees Celsius.  Many people choose steam baths over saunas because the high humidity is less difficult to breathe and has beneficial influences on the respiratory system.

The Hot Tub

There are 3 varieties of hot tubs –  wooden barrels, fibreglass whirlpools or bathtub spas.

The first type is made from wooden slats and has a water pump and filtering system to circulate and clean the water.  It is usually installed outdoors and has seats around the perimeter so that individuals can soak comfortably with their heads just above water level.

The second type has high pressure ‘jets’ that generate a whirlpool effect.  The jets are helpful for water massage or hydrotherapy.  They are frequently installed at public swimming pools or health clubs.  These are know as ‘Jacuzzis’ after the company that popularized them.

The third type is often put in in privately owned homes as a replacement for the standard bathtub.  It is very similar in size to a traditional bathtub but has added jets for circulating the water.

The terms ‘spa’ ‘hot tub’ and ‘Jacuzzi’ are often interchanged and can refer to the identical thing – a tub of water for 1 or more people that incorporates circulating water and/or water jets. 

A spa may also be a resort where you are given body treatments including massage and hydrotherapy.  Numerous spas have ‘spas’ – sauna facilities including steam baths, hot tubs and Jacuzzis.
For more information about the benefits of saunas be sure to visit www.the-home-sauna-center.com/






Related posts:

  1. Why You Need a Home Sauna
  2. Maintain Health- Finnish Traditional Saunas
  3. Heal Your Body With The Steamist Steam SM12 Generator
  4. Creating An Outdoor Sauna
  5. Find Out Effective Information About Using A Detoxification Foot Bath Session