Since ancient times, in Russia, the bathhouse was considered the main healer of all diseases, it also served as a place for important conversations and cheerful communication with friends, they gave birth to children, it was a venue for various folk rites and fortune-telling. No less revered and beloved place to visit is the bathhouse of other northern peoples. But it has a different name. To measure, the Finns bath is called a sauna. In recent decades, the sauna has become widespread in other countries. And although some people believe that the Finnish sauna and the Russian bath differ only in name, in fact there are differences between them, and quite fundamental.

Content:

1. A bit from the history of the Finnish sauna
2. What are the differences between a Russian bath and a Finnish sauna
   • different humidity and temperature  video
   • heaters in the bath and sauna
   • infrastructure features
   • steam
   • ventilation features
   • can I use a broom in the sauna?
3. Finnish sauna - benefits and harms, effects on the human body
4. How does a visit to the sauna affect the body
5. Basic rules for visiting the sauna  video

A bit from the history of the Finnish sauna

To begin with, we note that what we mean by the name sauna actually has little in common with the sauna that was traditionally used by the Finns.

Like a traditional Russian bath, initially the sauna was heated in black, its heating was due to the circulation of smoke in the room. The cooled smoke was removed to the outside through a pipe or hole in the wall, specially equipped for the release of smoke. Over time, a sauna with a firebox in white has gained popularity, today both of these varieties are replaced by a sauna with an electric heater.

Finns simply can’t imagine their life without a sauna, every second home in urban and rural areas is equipped with it, even in small city apartments there are small steam rooms equipped with showers.

What are the differences between a Russian bath and a Finnish sauna

different humidity and temperature

While the Finnish sauna implies hovering with dry air, the main component of the hovering process in a Russian bath is wet steam. At the same time, the temperature in the Finnish sauna should exceed +100 C, and the humidity should be from 3 to 8%, it can rise to a maximum of 25%. The optimal temperature of the steam room of the Russian bath is about 60-80 C, but since humid air has a higher thermal conductivity, the body warms up in it under more natural conditions and at a higher speed.

Since the sauna is characterized by high air dryness and a temperature exceeding 100 ° C, people with poor health and children should visit the sauna with the consent of a doctor who observes: dry hot air can cause mucous membranes to dry out and coughing attacks. The body of a soaring person is experiencing stress, increased sweating helps him cope with the load.

The conditions in the Russian steam room are less severe, high humidity and not so high temperature allow you to:

• create more familiar conditions for the human body,
• heated moist air contributes to a more active heating of the body,
• to improve the healing properties of the bath, apply a broom from branches of different tree species.

If in a sauna, stressful effects on the body lead to a heartbeat, then in a steam room in a Russian bath, even those who suffer from cardiovascular diseases can take procedures.

At the same time, dry air in the sauna causes a very active perspiration, which makes staying in it easy for humans.

Among the differences between a bath and a sauna, it is worth mentioning more stable temperature indicators in a sauna - air circulation in it is very limited, while constant convection is inevitable in a Russian bath.

heaters in the bath and sauna

Both the bathhouse and the sauna are traditionally equipped with stove-stoves, but if heaters in the sauna are usually used with open-type stoves, then the Russian bathhouse often uses closed-type stoves in which the stones lie inside the stove, and the door giving access to them opens only in that in case you need to give in to the heat - just pour a little water on the stones for this.

infrastructure features

If in the old days it was customary to build Russian baths on the shores of lakes or rivers, today it is most often used for showering completely modern showers, hanging buckets with cold water for pouring, but for a sauna the pool is a necessary element of infrastructure.

The temperature differences that can be arranged when immersed in a pool of cool water are ideal for effective hardening of the body.

steam

Everyone knows the expression With light steam, it concerns the Russian bath. If you know all the features of proper vaporization, then achieving light steam will not be difficult. The main secret is that small portions of water are poured onto stove stones heated to a maximum temperature, the finer the steam particles formed in this process, the higher will be its quality, the air in the steam room should be sufficiently dry and hot.

Staying in the sauna with such problems is not burdened - air with normal atmospheric humidity enters the room, when heated it becomes drier. In natural air, steam is maximally dissociated, the creation of acceptable bath procedures also involves the creation of steam without large drops - they add weight to the air and are not beneficial for the lungs. For example, obtained at a room temperature of about 40 ° C, steam from boiling water will not bring any benefit to a person, it can only cause choking.

That is why experts do not recommend using open heaters when arranging a Russian bath, but they will be ideal when arranging a dry Finnish sauna.

The process of steam formation in a Russian bath can be performed in several ways:

• in Tatar, the steam is lowered by the soaring themselves, by waving the brooms,
• in Russian, the steam is lowered immediately at the time of feeding, while using all the means at hand that are available: towels, a fan, sheets, brooms,
• mixed - steam is lowered down, then time survives until part of it gathers under the ceiling and creates a supply of hot air; this method requires sufficiently high ceilings; for sauna rooms, ceilings are preferably low.

ventilation features

For normal ventilation of the sauna, a sufficient condition is the equality of atmospheric pressure and indoor pressure, while a Russian bath can be positioned as a room with overpressure - without it, it will be impossible to obtain superheated dry steam.

With the passage of the process of vaporization in the enclosed space of the stove, it accumulates, then then, peering through the opening of the closed door into the steam room. The process is accompanied by the reflection of part of the steam from the walls of the stove, which contributes to an even greater increase in overpressure inside the stove, i.e. the process of dissociation begins to occur even more actively. Next, the steam entering the room will need to be lowered, its hottest component will be under the ceiling, below, by the floor, the air will be much cooler. The further process of moving the steam depends on its condition and the characteristics of a particular steam room.

can I use a broom in the sauna?

The quality of the procedures in the Russian bath is largely due to the use of healing broom from plant material. They are not struck hard, but even a slight pat or longitudinal movements along the body greatly enhance the healing effect, activate blood circulation, and stimulate sweat.

For a sauna, a broom is an unacceptable attribute; high temperature and low humidity lead to excessive broom dryness and shedding of leaves.

Finnish sauna - benefits and harms, effects on the human body

First of all, it should be said that all procedures associated with extreme loads on the body can potentially be a source of both beneficial and harmful effects. In order not to harm yourself, you should listen to the recommendations of doctors:

• dry sauna can be visited by people with diseases of the cardiovascular system of moderate severity,
• the pressure slightly increased relative to the norm is also not a reason for refusing to visit the sauna,
• it is indicated for patients with stone kidney disease, those who suffer from disorders in the liver,
• sauna is an effective treatment for chronic colds and skin
• systematic visits to the sauna lead to a decrease in blood cholesterol, strengthens and makes the walls of blood vessels more elastic,
• steam room for varicose veins is shown,
• hot steam treatments will help restore and strengthen your immune system.
• a dry steam room will help reduce the negative effects of diseases of muscles and joints, such as rheumatism, radiculitis, etc.,
• the adoption of a dry sauna will help the quickest passage of the rehabilitation period after injuries and operations, but its adoption after injuries and the use of artificial implants is prohibited,
• there is an opinion that regular visits to the sauna activates the burning of body fat in overweight people, in one session the body consumes about 650-2500 kcal.

The sauna is contraindicated:

• people with high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, urolithiasis,
• suffering from diabetes or tuberculosis,
• those who have severe nervous disorders.

A sauna is not recommended in case of acute diseases of the upper respiratory tract - too dry air can cause excessive dryness of the mucous membranes, therefore, cause severe coughing attacks. At the same time, the Russian bath does not cause such an effect, you can treat colds in it:

• wet steam has a beneficial effect on the state of the respiratory organs,
• increases lung capacity.

How does a visit to the sauna affect the body

Both the bathhouse and the sauna are a source of energy that can start the processes of healing, rejuvenation, and purification in a person. In addition, dry steam has a strong antimicrobial effect on the skin, under its influence, fat that clogs the pores is washed off the skin. The only condition is the need to take a shower immediately after leaving the steam room - the skin in the cooling process is able to absorb all the substances that are on it.

Staying in a room with a high temperature for too long can lead to metabolic disorders, i.e. it is not safe to abuse a steam room.

High temperatures, acting on the human brain, cause a slight decrease in brain activity, causing relaxation. A person begins to feel unusual lightness and peace, muscles relax, the general condition of the body improves significantly.

When choosing the appropriate type of bath, you should carefully study and analyze the condition of your body, compare your diseases with those that are shown or prohibited when visiting this or that type of steam room.

Interesting: experts say that the Russian steam room is more like creative nouns and inquisitives, for pragmatists, people who are busy and those who constantly lack time, a sauna is the more acceptable option.

Basic rules for visiting the sauna

If a visit to the steam room is planned, then the day should be planned so as not to experience much hunger or fatigue, the limbs should not be supercooled.

The time spent in the sauna should be determined depending on the state of health, the temperature will also influence the duration of the steam, the first run should be limited to five minutes, while the temperature should be on the order of + 70-80 C, if the steam is warmed up to 100 C, it’s enough there will be three minutes.

Further, after taking a shower and resting, during the second run, the time spent in the steam room can be from 6 to 10 minutes, but subject to stable health.

The frequency of visiting the sauna can not be limited, of course, this applies to people whose health can be considered ideal. In no case should a bath be a way to test endurance or set records in a dispute. If you visit the sauna correctly - it will be completely safe for health.

You should not rush when taking steam procedures; you should go to the sauna if you have one and a half to two hours free. You should take care of the availability of clean linen that can be worn after taking bath procedures.

Before entering the steam room, you should take a shower, do not wash your hair. You should take a small towel with you to the steam room - you can sit on it. It is advisable to protect the head with a felt hat or a woolen hat.

After waiting until the pores of the skin open and it is covered then you can go to the shower room, take a shower and cool down, prepare yourself for a longer call. While in the steam room you can use a dry towel to remove sweat.

When you are in the sauna, it is recommended to completely relax, because its main value is precisely the minutes of peace and relaxation. If you suddenly feel uncomfortable - you should immediately leave the steam room, take a shower.

You can also drink a small amount of tea, kvass, mineral water, but in no case should it be alcoholic beverages.

The number of visits is also determined depending on your own preferences and health status, it can be 2-3 visits, or maybe ten.

Another important point - a visit to a real Finnish sauna should end with cooling in the pool. But at the same time, it should be remembered that bathing should be short, it is undesirable to allow hypothermia.

Dressing immediately after a sauna and short water procedures is not recommended - you should relax a bit. Moreover, for some time more active sweating will be observed.

If a person is unwell, it is better to refuse to visit the sauna.

Author: Sergey and Svetlana Khuentsov

10