A sauna is a bath, house or cabin specially built so that someone can enjoy a steam bath. Generally, temperatures exceed 80 degrees C in these structures. Taking a sauna is a relaxing experience that leads to sweating, which has many health benefits. The word sauna is derived from the Finnish “savuna” which means “in smoke”.

In the early days, saunas were huge holes in the ground that could house entire communities or tribes. In the center, there was a fire pit. The hole was covered with a roof to prevent rain, cold and heat from entering. Saunas have been in use since the 1700s when public baths were equipped with sauna facilities.

Saunas are used in both hot and cold climates. Although sauna use is a national tradition in Finland, it is also popular in other countries under different names. These include banya/banya in Russia; spa in Rome; hammam in Turkey and sauna in North America. Today, saunas are common in public sports arenas and physical education complexes at universities and colleges in North America. The very low humidity levels in Swedish and Finnish saunas, combined with the high temperatures, make the heat bearable for us, as our bodies cannot withstand temperatures above 100 degrees C.

Saunas have many health benefits. Sweating releases toxins from the body. Heat promotes the generation of white blood cells and improves the immune system. But saunas can be harmful for people with high blood pressure. A cold shower after a sauna can increase blood pressure. Saunas can cause heat stroke. In the United States, the sauna industry is expected to grow with increased health awareness.

The wooden saunas of the past have generally been replaced by electric and gas saunas, which are more environmentally friendly. Finland dominates world sales of saunas.