Sauna facts for kids
A sauna is a special small room or building that is heated to a very high temperature. The warm air in a sauna helps people relax and makes them sweat. Many people believe this helps them feel more healthy. However, it's important to use saunas carefully because the high heat can be tough on your body.
Different countries and cultures have their own ways of heating and using saunas. For example, in Finland, saunas are often heated to about 80°C. Sometimes, the heat can even go above 100°C! Finnish and Swedish saunas usually have low humidity (meaning the air is not very wet). This helps people feel comfortable even with the high heat.
In contrast, a Turkish hammam (which is also a type of bathhouse) has a lower temperature but much higher humidity. This means the air feels very wet.
Today, you can often find saunas in hotels, sports centers, and places for exercise. In Finland, saunas are very common. Many private apartments and office buildings even have their own saunas. Almost every house in Finland has a sauna!
Sauna Rules
Different places have different rules for using public saunas. In some cultures, people wear swimsuits in the sauna. In other places, swimsuits are not worn. People are more likely to wear swimsuits when men and women use a sauna together.
Some saunas are only for men, and others are only for women. Some places have special times when each gender can use the sauna. If you use a private sauna, like one in a home, the rules might be different.
How to Use a Sauna
A steam sauna can take about 30 minutes to get hot when you first turn it on. Some people like to take a warm shower before going into the sauna. This can help them start sweating faster.
When you are in the sauna, it's a good idea to sit on a towel. This helps keep things clean. If your face feels too hot but your body is comfortable, you can put a towel over your head. In Russia, some people wear a special felt "banya hat." This hat protects their head from the heat, allowing them to enjoy more heat on the rest of their body.
You can change how hot the sauna feels in a few ways:
- You can pour water onto the hot rocks of the heater. This makes more steam, which increases the humidity and makes you sweat more.
- You can choose how long you stay in the sauna.
- Your position in the sauna also matters.
The hottest air rises, so the lower benches are usually cooler. If the sauna isn't too crowded, lying down on a bench can make the heat feel more even across your body. When you pour water on the heater, the heater cools down a little. But the steam it creates carries more heat into the air, making the sauna feel warmer overall.
Sweating is your body's way of trying to cool itself down. It's important to leave the sauna if you feel too hot, dizzy, or sick. The sauna heater and rocks are extremely hot, so always stay far away from them to avoid getting hurt. Be especially careful when water is poured on the rocks, as it creates a sudden burst of steam. Also, be aware that anything metallic, like jewelry or glasses, can get very hot and cause burns. Contact lenses can also dry out in the heat.
You can adjust how hot different parts of your body feel by using a towel to block some of the steam. Covering your face with a towel can make the heat feel less intense. It might also be a good idea to put an extra towel or a special cap on your hair to keep it from getting too dry.
Cooling down is a very important part of the sauna experience. After leaving the hot sauna, it's good to wait a few moments before going into a cold plunge pool. It's also better to step into a cold pool slowly rather than jumping in all at once. In the summer, many people start their sauna session with a cold shower. Using saunas regularly can help your body adapt, reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve your heart health.
Images for kids
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A Finnish smoke sauna
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Wooden buckets (kiulu) are used in the sauna.
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Pedra formosa-lusitanian sauna front stone
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Swedish sauna house on the lake
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Latvian sauna covered by snow
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Russian banya in Antarctica
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Polish sauna
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Wood-heated floating sauna on Iowa farm pond
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An old sauna of Listening Point on the shores of Burntside Lake in Morse Township, Minnesota
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Modern collective sauna, Erding
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Modern sauna in Templin, Germany
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Modern sauna in Highgrove
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Smoke sauna stove
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Smoke sauna stones
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Rajaportin sauna in Tampere, the oldest working public sauna in Finland
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A modern sauna in Finland
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Finnish sauna in Estonia
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Sauna building in Finland
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Estonian sauna on a lake
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See also
In Spanish: Sauna para niños
