Some like it hot: Saunas, Steamrooms and Turkish Baths
By 2patricias
Look Lovely Spa Advice
- www.looklovely.net - Spa
Free online lifestyle magazine with for real women with real lives. Five focus areas - beauty, wellbeing, fitness, style and lifestyle.
Why try them, and what is the difference?
A visit to a sauna or steam room on a chilly day is my idea of bliss. Don't sneer if you have never tried it!
Saunas and steam rooms are both very hot - the difference being that saunas are dry, and steam rooms, as you would expect, damp.
Both can provide a lovely environment for relaxation. Even a brief visit can relax stiff joints and muscles, and possibly reduce stress.
The high temperatures cause your metabolism and pulse rate to increase. Your blood vessels become more flexible and your extremities benefit from increased circulation.
Some claim that a sauna relieves the symptoms of minor illnesses, such as colds. Visits to a steam room may improve your skin because the steam opens the pores on the face and cleanses them. Both promote a sense of well-being.
Turkish Baths usually begin with a cold plunge pool, followed by a shower, then a series of rooms that get progressively warmer. The final stage is a relaxation room. There are not many of these in the United Kingdom, but in my view the experience is so pleasant that they are worth finding.
How can I find a sauna or steam room?
If you live in the United Kingdom, begin by checking with your local council. Some (but not all) councils provide leisure centres or swimming complexes that include saunas and/or steam rooms.
Alternatively, many private health clubs have saunas and/or steam rooms (this will apply in other countries as well as the UK). If you were not a member, you would probably need to visit as a guest of someone who does belong to the club.
In addition, some large hotels have spa or health club facilities that are open to day visitors. (Again, this applies in America and Europe - don't know about the rest of the world).
You will probably be required to wear a swimsuit
How should I prepare for a sauna or steam room visit?
If you have health concerns, a heart ailment or respiratory disease, suffer from a chronic illness or are pregnant, you should consult your doctor before using a sauna or steam room.
Don't drink alcohol immediately prior to your visit, as it works as a depressant, slowing down the blood and shutting down nerve endings, which counteracts the benefits of the sauna or steam room.
Don't eat a heavy meal just before your visit.
Take a comfortable swimsuit or bikini to wear. You might also like to take a wrap to wear in the lounge area. (We usually just use a large towel). We advise taking plenty of towels, including one to sit on in the sauna, as the wooden benches may be too warm for comfort.
We recommend that you keep a pair of clean flip-flops on your feet, as the floor may be wet, and the rubber soles will help you to avoid slipping.
Some establishments offer sessions for women or men only. You may want to phone ahead and check the times, especially if you are planning to attend with a mixed party - best to avoid disappointment.
Wear flip flops to avoid slipping on wet floors
A bit about Turkish Baths in England and Scotland
These were very popular with the Victorians, but there are not many left. Some of those that are open have been restored to look as they did in their early days, and are probably worth a visit for their visual appeal alone.
The Turkish Bath at Harrogate is possibly one of the best - a shower, followed by steam room, cold plunge pool and then three rooms of dry heat, each successively hotter, followed by relaxation in the ‘frigidarium'.
Do you like it hot?
Do you enjoy saunas or steam rooms?
See results without votingPlease let us know what your think
I think that I like them better in winter than summer. Nothing beats spending time getting really warm on a cold, grey day.
A turkish bath sounds cool...do they have them here in the US?
I have not come across one in the US, but it is possible you could find one in a larger, older city. They were very popular in England and Scotland in Victorian times (1890s, 1900s) when there was a lot of travel by wealthy Americans. Why not try an internet search?
I prefer to be nude when I'm using a female only sauna. I do sit on a towel however. Most women seem perfectly fine with my being nude, and in fact usually at least half of the women are themselves nude with only a towel underneith their tush like I do. But once in a while I will recieve a dirty look from a more uptight woman.
In your opinions what is proper sauna etiquette in a female only sauna?
Thanks.
Hi Kelly, Thanks for taking the time to read this Hub.
Unless there is a rule saying that swimsuits must be worn, I would expect it to be okay to be nude in a female only sauna. However, if it was my first time, I would take a quick look round to establish what the majority are doing (but of course not staring).
Some saunas (for example Harrogate) do have a NO swimsuit rule for their single sex sessions, and I think this is great as there is no ambiguity.
Hope you find an enjoyable sauna where you won't get dirty looks.
2patricias,
Thank you for the reply.
I think that nude is much more enjoyable in a sauna. Swimsuits are uncomfortable in the sauna, to me anyway. I could wear a towel around me if I had to, but a co-worker of mine who grew up in Sweden told me that there are health benefits to having your skin completely bare when sitting in the sauna, and that even a towel interfears with the pours opening and toxins being sweated out. She said that many Swedes consider it to be bad manners to cover up in the sauna.
I'm a heterosexual female, but I think it's kind of nice to be able to relax in the nude in only the company of other women. It gives it kind of a girls-club feeling, no boys allowed. I don't know if you know what I'm saying there? But I think it's kind of nice to be able to be nude without it being sexual.
Thanks again for the reply, and advice!
I would like to go in a mixed nude sauna in the UK just like in Germany. I can see nothing wrong with it or at the very least topless.
Hello Kathyryn,
I don't know of any mixed nude saunas, at least not in the southern part of the UK. I visit one in Bracknell where there are notices everywhere telling patrons to keep their clothes on. The notices are in English and Russian.
Thanks for taking time to leave a comment.
Very interesting subject. I prefer the nudity of the sauna too, and I agree- it is completely non sexual. I did find this hammam last week which is good.Not nude- but a great hammam.
Hi Global girl,
Thanks for the link, and the comment.
I love saunas. But find it ridiculous that in the UK swimwear has to be worn in mixed saunas. In countries such as Germany and Holland they have the right idea, as not only are they mixed but swimwear is prohibited due to hygenic reasons. I have been to numerous spas in this country and love them to bits. It is indeed very unhygenic to wear swimwear in saunas, as it is not allowing the whole body to breathe and sweat. Also I prefer a mixed environment when spending an hour or so in sauna/spa, not for any pervy reasons, just because I prefer a balance of sexes rather than 100% blokes.
There are however two good spas in England that DO allow nude use during mixed times. Clover Spa throughout the week and Selby Abbey Leisure Centre(on a Sunday evening only). But more women need to go there, as they are currently very male dominated.
I run a forum about spas which I think you ladies would find very useful. But unfortunately the rules state on this page that it is not for promoting other sites. So I can't post the URL here.
I hope this posting is allowed. Thanks if so.
Marc
Hello Marc,
thanks for an interesting comment, and also for not promoting your site. I am sure that anybody interested will be able to find it.
Sad to read that the mixed sessions are very male dominated, as this could make many women feel intimidated.
Steamy History
compu-smart 4 years ago
Hot Stuff!!
I like using saunas and steam rooms and as you mention have great benefits!
Thanks for the additional info!