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Saunas

What it is

A sauna is an enclosed room which pumps out dry heat - usually between 70 and 100 degrees Celsius - from very hot rocks. From time to time, water can be thrown on the rocks on the heater to create a cloud of steam that immediately raises the temperature in the room. It is essentially a set of large steps. You sit on the third and place your feet on the second. Or if there's space, lie down.

Saunas are easily distinguishable from steam rooms - you can see where you're going for starters! Whereas visibility is reduced by the steam in the latter, there's no visible sign of heat in a sauna, though you'll certainly feel the surge of hotness when you open the door. Think of one as a wet steam and the other as dry. Plus, unlike steam rooms, which are mainly made of MPC, almost every type of sauna is made of wood.

Be prepared to find it uncomfortable to breathe at first - you won't be used to such dry, thick air. Allow yourself to breathe and move slowly and you should soon begin to relax and enjoy the novelty of it. You have nothing to do except listen to your body and do what feels good.

What it does

A sauna’s purpose is simple; it makes you sweat. Heavy sweating boosts the detoxifying capacity of the skin, through which as much as 30% of body waste is passed. Which is why a sauna can help you sweat out a cold. Some people believe a regular sauna helps them keep infections at bay. All that heat is equally beneficial to your muscles (they’ll relax) and skin. By making all the blood vessels dilate, it allows essential fluids to be transported to the skin's surface, enhancing the development of collagen and giving the skin a softer complexion.

How you feel

Being in a sauna is not unlike sitting inside a big wooden, sweet-scented oven! Such dry air can initially feel a little uncomfortable, but once you begin to breathe slowly, and your muscles start to warm and your skin sweat out its toxins, you’re likely to begin to enjoy the experience, perhaps even sensing the cleansing that’s going on. If you start feeling uncomfortable, get out, cool down and drink some water.

What you should know

Drink plenty of water before and after; you'll sweat a lot, losing fluid as you do. Topping up your water levels will help flush toxins out of your system.

Keep an eye on the time. Fifteen minutes is the standard maximum advised. Another rule of thumb is to stay for as long as you’re comfortable. Listen to what your body tells you. Some spas recommend that you avoid facials or waxing after a heat treatment as it may leave your skin feeling very tender. Young children, expectant mothers and older people are advised to avoid saunas.

Though the basic concept is the same, saunas do vary, largely according to what area of the world they are in. There are lots of different kinds such as a laconium - where you can stay for as long as an hour, a hammam where the humidity approaches 100%, and a sanarium where the heat is gentler.

The cost

Because saunas are almost always part of gyms and spa facilities, most of them are free in the sense that you’ll have already paid to be wherever there is one. Depending on the type of sauna, you might need to pay a few pounds’ entrance fee.

The availability

Modern residential and hotel spa facilities are likely to supply at least one, or even a set of saunas. You can also find a sauna in most gyms and leisure centres.

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