Sauna: The Finnish way to health Quiz

Answer: A wooden cabin heated to about 90°C (190°F)

While the first saunas were often covered pits, today the typical sauna is a wooden cabin heated by an electrical stove (although some high end installations use a coal or wood stove). Cabins come in all sizes, from private household installations of 2 by 2 meters (6 by 6 feet) for two people to huge public baths seating well over 100 persons at a time.

Answer: A cold water bath or shower

The mechanism by which a sauna bath realizes its healthy and relaxing properties is based on the heating and subsequent cooling of the body. Thus, after enjoying the sauna, the bather will need a way to quickly and effectively cool down. This is done with cold water - either in the form of a powerful shower or in a special pool. Most public installations offer both forms - but please, even if you are a "pool cooler", briefly use the shower first to wash off the sweat and keep the water clean!

Answer: A large towel

The only item you really need to enjoy a sauna bath is a large towel - at least 5 feet / 150 cm long, although 6 feet / 180 cm would be better. During your stay in a sauna cabin, you sit on a wooden bench and your sweat would soil the wood and ruin the sauna if not caught by your towel.

Some public saunas require users to wear a bathing suit, especially if the installation is coed. However, wearing a suit is actually slightly detrimental to the health effects - heat will accumulate in the covered areas of the body - and it is preferable to find a "clothing optional" installation and in fact most Scandinavian and German saunas require going nude. Even in saunas where it is customary or required to go nude, it is very much appreciated however if you cover your hips with a towel or bathrobe whenever not directly in the sauna or cooling down.

Answer: Two to four baths of 10 to 15 minutes each

A typical stay at a sauna lasts between 2 and 5 hours during which you will take at least 2 and normally up to 4 hot baths of 10 to 15 minutes, each followed by a cool-down and a rest period. Experienced users can stay longer during each turn and also do more baths (although the extra health effect beyond the fourth session per day is negligible, spreading out six or more baths over a whole day can be quite meditative and relaxing), novices should take it easy. The general rule is to stay as long as you feel comfortable - if you experience significant palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath or any other significant discomfort, leave the sauna immediately and cool down very well.

The traditional Finnish sauna ritual is an often social occasion during which bathers stay in the bath for 45 minutes or longer, but in this case, the heat may often be a bit lower than in a modern bath (around 80°C / 175°F) and bathers also have access to cold water to do brief intermediate cooldowns.

Answer: Acute infectious diseases

A general rule of thumb is that regular, moderate sauna bathing can improve nearly any chronic condition that is reasonably stable. Sufferers of stable coronary heart disease and any type of stable abnormal blood pressure (both high and low) can benefit from the sauna effect. Acute conditions however can often be worsened by sauna and using the sauna while suffering from a fever should never be done and anyone with an unstable heart condition should also avoid the sauna until a stable state can be achieved. Sufferers from any stress-related diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome can greatly benefit from regular (at least twice weekly) sauna applications as well.

Answer: Pouring water on the hot stove

The löyly or Aufguss is the crowning moment of a sauna bath. It is celebrated by pouring some water on the hot sauna stove (which is covered with special rocks for this purpose) so that it will instantly vaporize and send a cloud of overheated steam through the cabin.

This steam will briefly condensate on the bathers' skin, reversing the cooling effect of sweating and creating an intense, pleasant heat sensation. In Finland, the water poured typically has a mild birch aroma from branches that had been placed in it for several days.

In continental Europe, it is usual to add aromatic essential oils to it in a variety of scents. If you attend a public sauna, and wish to experience löyly, be sure of their customs - in some of them, any visitor may pour on water, in others, the ritual is only celebrated by staff according to a set schedule.

Answer: The upper benches have a higher temperature

As hot air rises, there is a temperature gradient in every sauna, usually ranging from 40-50°C (105-120°F) at floor level to the nominal temperature shown on the thermometer at ceiling height. So, typically, from one bench tier to the next, temperature increases by 10-15°C (18-27°F). Choose the bench that best fits your level of heat tolerance, moving up as you gain experience and stamina. If you happen to attend a sauna that hosts staff-celebrated löyly and you feel you cannot tolerate the heat, please try to move down in time if there's room so that you don't have to leave in mid-ceremony which would allow heat to escape.

Answer: As early as they can behave appropriately

There is no minimum age for sauna. In traditional Finland, the sauna was even a place for giving birth because it was by far the most hygienic and best-maintained place in the house. In many European countries, spas organize "mother and child" sauna hours where children as young as 18 months are treated to shortened (approximately 8-10 minutes) baths at slightly reduced temperatures. Outside these special hours, you will want to wait until your child is fully toilet-trained and can enjoy sitting still in the sauna for 10 minutes before introducing them to bathing in a public sauna, but many 6-year-olds and even some 4-year-olds enjoy sauna on a regular basis.

Some spas put a minimum age of 12, 14 or even 16 on their saunas - this usually means they are targeted at a quiet adult audience. There are however just as many family-friendly places where the atmosphere may be a bit more lively and noisy but your children can enjoy the bath as well. Just check them out first and make sure you feel safe and well treated by staff.

Answer: You will save significant money

Having your own sauna means being your own master - you are the one who controls the temperature settings, determines the opening times, löyly schedule, dress code, hygienic standards and all other aspects of what makes a sauna bath relaxing and refreshing.

However, this freedom will not come at a low price. You can expect to pay at least $3,000-5,000 for a decent 50 sq ft (5 m²) sauna cabin and on top of that, you need the space to install it in and the bathing facilities for cold water applications. If you are really serious and want to set up your own luxury spa with jacuzzi, sauna and steam bath facilities, you may well be looking at an investment beyond the $50,000 mark and on top of that, you'll have the operating costs for power and water. (The author of this quiz knows what he's talking about...)

Answer: Beer

Participants in a true Finnish sauna ritual often drink small amounts of beer during their stay and, in fact, sometimes a small amount of beer is added to the löyly, creating a unique malty and smoky aroma. In Germany and the surrounding countries, drinking one half to one pint of beer after sauna is customary for many users.

The mineral and nutrient content of beer is well suited to replace the minerals lost during sweating, but under no circumstance should you overindulge and, if you prefer, non-alcoholic beer is a soft alternative with the very same minerals.

A final warning - *never* enter the sauna drunk. Doing so incurs severe health risks up to life-threatening circulatory shock!