The traditional Finnish sauna is believed to cleanse and refresh the body and mind and is considered an important cultural and spiritual ritual (the old saying “saunassa ollaan kuin kirkossa” means “behave in sauna as you would in church”). Different regions and even different Finnish households may have slightly different sauna practices, but most homes, hotels, apartment complexes, student dorms, gyms, and public halls in Finland have sauna facilities that are used daily or at least weekly.
After a quick shower to remove surface sweat and grime, the Finnish sauna ritual begins with a dry phase, during which bathers get accustomed to the heat from the wood-fired or coal-fired stove topped with hot stones. Individual bathers can choose their level of heat by moving closer to or farther away from the stove, by sitting on the lower benches (cooler air) or higher benches (hotter air), or by placing a cold wet towel on the head or the back of the neck. In fact, many Finns wear hats in the sauna, which shields the head from the heat and increases overall comfort.
In the next phase, water is thrown on the hot stones to create löyly, the heated steam atmosphere that surrounds the bathers and condenses on the skin along with the sweat from the dry heat phase. This “sweating from the inside and condensing from the outside” is considered a purifying ritual that cleanses and promotes good health. Many Finns also use a “bath broom” or small switch made of birch twigs, called a vihta, to lightly swish or beat the skin to enhance the stimulating sensation and promote circulation, alongside washing with water, soap, and shampoo.
The cooling phase of sauna usually involves a cold plunge in water (a pool, lake, pond, or a hole in the ice in winter) or a roll in the snow outside, though a cold shower can also suffice. The hot/cold contrast is invigorating and is an important part of the traditional Finnish sauna experience. The hot/cold phases can be alternated several times, according to personal taste.
After sauna, it is also common to have a small snack, like a cool drink and a sandwich or sausage, to rehydrate, refuel, and relax with body and mind cleansed and soothed.