Steam room rituals are extremely common among users of steam rooms, steam baths, and hammam’s all over the world. Turkish baths and steam rooms are filled with different cultural, familial, and personal rituals.
Going into a steam environment with the right mindset, open to psychological and physical changes, can maximize the benefit you get out of it. After all, if you aren’t going in thinking health benefits, are you going to enjoy yourself in there – probably not.
A steam room is just as much like going to the gym as it feels like being at the spa. It gets your pulse up and your body’s circulation going. For this reason, steam room rituals for beginners will build around getting the user used to the environment. The body must be trained for the temperature. Slowly but surely, anyone can get there as long as it does not conflict with one’s existing health condition.
What to do before entering the steam room
A basic steam room ritual occurs in many cultures before entering, one removes any articles or merchandise which could be warming. This includes rings, necklaces, and contact lenses. Hot showers are then had to wash off any makeup or body products. After you dry, then you would walk into the steam room wearing one or more towels or cotton cloths which are used to cover the bench.
Increasing your time in the steam room
You may want to only start with five minutes at first. Just get used to the temperature and the process of sitting there to sweat. It may be uncomfortable at first. If you wish to, adjust the temperature or humidity. If you cannot, listen to your body and remove yourself any time you begin to feel lightheaded. If five minutes goes ok, when you come back the next time, try ten minutes. Over time, your physical self and your mindset will adjust to the heat, and you will probably welcome it with open arms once you begin to see the benefits and see your body tolerating it.
After you leave the steam room
After you leave the steam room, it’s time to bring the body back to its normal temperature. Drink water or juice if you prefer. Avoid coffee or alcohol as you don’t want to dehydrate yourself. It may take some time for the body to acclimate to the steam environment so you may be uncharacteristically energized or alternatively fatigued immediately following a session. As long as you hydrate and bring your body safely back to its regular temperature after a steam room session, which it should do on its own, you will be fine and after a few weeks, your body will behave in a more stable manner.
Personal rituals
In the same way athletes have a pre-workout routine, many steam room and sauna users have personal rituals they follow before and after. Adopting personal rituals helps to get your physical and mental self to where it needs to get to, to enjoy the experience. This can be anything from having a certain beverage after your steam room or listening to some music before you go in. Make your steam room experience your own! This is all about the benefit you see out of it! Take the time to experiment with it and see where your thoughts fall on what you’re getting from it.