Sauna...
The sauna is a small room or hut heated to around 80 degrees Celsius. It is used for bathing as well as for mental and physical relaxation.
While a hot sauna may seem a cruel punishment to un-experienced bathers, it is actually a very pleasant experience. All you need is a towel and at least half an hour of time. Start with a shower, then enter the sauna for a few minutes, listening to your senses. When you've had enough, take a refreshing shower, cool off for awhile and repeat once or twice. And no need to worry, it's entirely safe .
There is no one right way to take a sauna. Above all you should be in good company, so that you can enjoy the experience in peace. One usually goes to the sauna naked, but you can wear a bathing suit or towel if you feel more comfortable: no erotic meaning is implied.
Try this first, and once you've tried it out, you can change it to suit your taste:
 | Start by taking a shower. This helps to keep the hot room clean. |
| Enter the sauna and sit on the upper bench. You may want to use a small towel to sit on. |
| Sit back for a few minutes and let the heat permeate your body and open the pores of the skin. |
| You may adjust the air moisture by throwing water on the stones of the heater. The steam will make the room feel hotter. |
| Step into the changing room to cool down, maybe take another shower. |
| You may go back to the heat a few times, taking your time to relax and enjoy the warmth. |
| Finally shower to clean yourself from the sweat. |
| Allow yourself to cool and dry properly before clothing yourself. |
| Follow the sauna with a peaceful rest and a drink. |
To get the most of the sauna, you will need:
| At least half an hour of time, preferably an hour or more, so you have ample time to relax. |
| A large towel to dry yourself |
You may also want to consider these:
| A smaller towel to sit on |
| A moisturizing lotion for after the sauna |
| A bathrobe to wear while cooling down |
The temperatures in a sauna are of the order of 60 to 100 degrees Celsius. The air can be relatively dry, or water can be sprinkled over the stones to increase humidity. The air must never be completely dry, however, since it could be harmful to the respiratory system.