Today, we had our first family sauna.
Earlier this week, we watched a children's TV programme where a little girl tried the sauna with her grandfather. So we decided it's time to introduce our kids to this wonderful Finnish tradition.
The sauna is attached to the bathroom but our kids aren't allowed to go into the darkened room by themselves. They were really excited when we opened the door today and they could go in.
The sauna is the most under-utilised room in our home. Yes, we have our very own sauna. We've not used it since we moved in in June last year and it was tempting to use it as a store room. But this would mean that we will never ever use the sauna the way it should be - moving all that junk out, then in again, would be too much of a hassle.
This evening, our sauna fulfilled its purpose.
We got the kids to strip down to their underwear while I had a towel wrapped around me. Finnish tradition would have had everyone stark naked because they view the sauna as a gender-free zone. We thought it might be better to keep some level of modesty.
The kids started off sitting happily on the wooden seats and watching Daddy pour water onto the hot stones. Then the steam came and it got a little uncomfortable. Jules enjoyed the experience and had fun drying himself (and others) with the little hanky I gave him. Estelle found the steam suffocating and wanted out quickly. Mommy and Daddy hadn't had enough so we chatted with them until we finished the pail of water.
Traditionally, the Finns would jump into icy waters (either lake or river) or roll in the snow after about 30 minutes of sauna. We just took a cool shower and dried off. It's a simple introduction for the kids.
My first sauna experience was some 8 years ago at a hotel in Helsinki. Another guest, a Finnish lady who had lived abroad for many years, taught me the correct way to enjoy Finnish sauna. It should be very hot and very steamy. I followed with a cold shower and was jumping and squealing. This hot-then-cold treatment combined with aerobic activity really got my heart pumping.
Spending some time in the sauna is beneficial to health. Pores on the skin are opened, toxins are excreted though perspiration and skin is moisturised. Our cheeks were flushed like we had just worked out at the gym. I also felt warmer, which is a great feeling because we are almost always in long sleeves the last 3 months, sometimes more than one layer.
Wikipedia seems to have a balanced description of the Finnish sauna and its benefits. Health claims on some of the other websites seem a little far-fetched.
The sauna is an important aspect of Finnish life. Many homes, except maybe apartments, have their own saunas. Ours is powered by electricity. The Finns go to the sauna together as a social activity and is as common as, for example, having a meal together.
HG has a T-shirt that reads: "Where's the sauna? I have a meeting."
Even Finnish offices have saunas. According to HG, there are saunas at the Nokia office in Singapore, mid-level in one of the blocks at Alexandra Technopark. The Finns sometimes hold casual corporate meetings in saunas. I can't imagine what serious issues a bunch of naked and sweaty men (not sure if women attend, not withstanding the gender-neutral stance) can be discussing. But I'm told that the relaxing and open setting is a breeding ground for innovative ideas. The secret of Nokia's success, perhaps?
So PS, you can now tell Ethan that Estelle is indeed having a good time at the sauna in Finland.
Rabbit update: Our wild rabbit didn't come home one night. It might have been hampered by a heavy snowfall and stayed over at a friend's place. This morning, we had two rabbits in our patch. I wonder if we'll have a brood by spring...
A bunny on the left and another under the tree.
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