The sauna also provides a refuge for one’s mental health, being a place either of warm gatherings with family and friends, or simply a place for one to meditate in peace. There is a Finnish saying “saunassa ollaan kuin kirkossa,” one should behave in the sauna as in church, and even the word for soul used to refer to the stream of the sauna. For many, the sauna is their place of refuge from a busy and impersonal world, providing a space to recuperate while also enjoying the invigorating energy of its heat. A quick session will relax your body and mind and help you to fall asleep, getting you ready for the new day ahead!

You may be asking yourself: “I do Hot Pilates and take warm baths. Doesn’t that do the same thing?” Perhaps! But each has a different purpose: Hot Pilates is meant for an intense, sweat-inducing workout, while a sauna is meant for relief and decompression. In fact, many people use the sauna after pilates or a workout to relax! (Just make sure that you have a sufficient cooldown beforehand) With a warm bath or shower, you would be missing out on the particular experience of the steam itself, and you would not be able to reach the same temperatures that a sauna can provide. But most importantly a sauna is a meeting place for your peers and loved ones, creating a special bond between those who share it.

For those who have never experienced a sauna, check your local gym or community pool to find out the joys of this ancestral art. And for those who regularly use one, take an extra moment next time to appreciate the purifying effects that the sauna provides. So sit down, relax, and let the sauna work its magic!