They have been popular since ancient times and were classed as sacred spaces. With the pressures of modern life, a sauna session could be just what the doctor ordered…
It’s hard to beat the feeling of your body melting into the grooves of a warmed wooden bench as the day’s problems disappear.
But while the relaxing properties of a sauna are widely understood, the benefits to body and mind go far beyond a bit of pampering.
As well as giving us much needed R&R, regular sauna sessions can improve cardiovascular function, soothe aches and pains, and may even improve brain health.
Evidence suggests that sauna rituals existed as long as 7000 years ago. Back then, sauna bathing held a mystical charm and was associated with the afterlife.
Tribal leaders and the community used sauna spaces for spiritual ceremonies, such as purification rituals, honouring the dead and healing the sick.
An important part of the folklore was that sauna rituals should be undertaken in daylight as they were said to become the territory of the supernatural after sunset.
Over time, the indigenous Finnish people gradually expanded the use of saunas beyond their spiritual purpose as they learnt about their practical uses. During the harsh winter months, these warm sanctuaries were used for safe havens against plunging temperatures and were even used by pregnant women as birthing rooms.
Eventually, the sauna developed into what we use it for today — a space to gather, relax and rejuvenate.
According to the Global Wellness Institute, there’s a difference in how us Brits view saunas compared to some of our neighbours.
They say: ‘When it comes to how a sauna “gets done”, there has been a serious disconnect between Northern, Central and Eastern Europe — where sauna-going is a way of life — and the rest of the world.’
However, sauna culture is on the rise in the UK, as people are wising up to the health benefits a session can bring.
When a person sits in a sauna, heart rate increases and blood vessels widen. This increases circulation, in a similar way to low to moderate exercise depending on the duration of sauna use.
Increased circulation may help reduce muscle soreness, improve joint movement and ease arthritic pain.
Sauna use has been credited with lowering stress levels too, which in turn may be linked to lowering cardiovascular events. One study followed 2315 men over the course of 20 years, and found those who used a sauna may have a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Another study linked sauna use to improved brain function. Frequent sauna bathing predicted decreased risk of dementia in a cohort from Finland.
But aside from a plethora of health incentives, the social side of sauna bathing is fuelling its popularity.
A wellness tr
