Sauna

I was invited to sauna with 4 other women on retreat at the center. I was in a hotel sauna in Ireland and once at a fitness center, but never like this. This sauna was not designed to just sweat in. It was designed for fellowship, reflection, and purification. I was excited about this experience.

Saunas date back as far as 7,000BC. Sauna is also the only word in the English language with Finish roots. Many countries, including Estonia, Latvia, Russia, and Finland include sauna as an essential part of their culture, centering life experiences and rights of passage around the sauna. These countries all experience harsh winters, and the sauna allowed their inhabitants to survive in inhospitable conditions. The first saunas were man-made caves draped in animals furs. A fire was lit in the sauna under stones, warming them. The fire was extinguished after the rocks were heated, and the smoke cleared from the space. People would then huddle in the room, warmed by the hot stones. Over time, the sauna took on the more modern-day look we are familiar with. Saunas are typically kept between 150 and 195 degrees F (65-90 degrees C). Saunas can be dry heat or steam. For example, Finnish saunas tend to have dry heat, while Turkish saunas are steamier. They have been used by cultures from Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas for cooking, medicinal practices, purification, and spiritual quests.

One of the women in the group was visiting from Finland, and we talked about the role of sauna in Finnish culture. The population of Finland is about 5 million; however, there are 3 million saunas, more than the total number of cars in the country. She said the sauna is often the first structure built by a family. Traditionally, babies were born, and bodies were prepared for burial in the sauna because it had hot water. Other life celebrations also center around the sauna. She said her family lived in the sauna for a time while they built their home. This was not uncommon in Finland.