There’s a history of steam baths, sauna baths, steam rooms, and all sorts of different heat treatments in cultures from all over the world. Although we associate contemporary saunas so closely to Finland, they’re far from the only sauna culture out there. Here’s a quick list of a few countries who have a strong history of saunas, steam rooms, and sauna baths.
Japan
The Japanese Sento is a body cleaning ritual in tribute to Buddha. Japan has a strong bathing culture, with a Sento being a temple-style bathhouse used for public bathing and socializing. Japanese Sentos involve getting nude, washing the body under any of the available faucets, entering a warm bath when one relaxes with the others who are there, and sometimes there’s a massage room or sauna to compliment the experience.
Russia
The Russian banya has been an integral part of the culture for centuries and is essentially a traditional Russian sauna or steam room, although some resemble more closely a bath house. A Russian sauna is a wood-fired, dry sauna where a stove with sauna rocks is used to warm the space. In a sauna in Russia, a ‘venik’ is used to clean the body. This is a collection of soft tree branches. They’re used to gently beat the body from head to toe.
Finland
Yes, the Finnish sauna is unmistakably the most popular sauna culture in the world and a crucial element of daily living in Finland. Finnish saunas have been around for thousands of years, resembling the modern, contemporary sauna in many ways. A Finnish sauna is typically a room with wooden walls and a wooden ceiling, using a stove known as a ‘kiuas’ to heat the space. Considering the cold weather in this part of the world, a sauna in Finland is a perfect escape. A common difference between there and the West is that in a Finnish sauna, nudity is the norm.
Iceland
An Icelandic sauna may not be well known in North America however Iceland has a strong outdoor sauna and pool culture. The mineral rich water in pools across Iceland are naturally heated, from the volcanic activity happening in the region. Natural hot springs are common among tourists and locals, including the world-famous Blue Lagoon. Iceland saunas and spas, though rare in North America, tend to mimic the more natural settings of Iceland and act as a tribute of sorts to home.
Turkey
A Turkish Hammam is the same as a Turkish bath and is a Middle Eastern tradition. It’s considered a form of public bathing, cleansing, and relaxation, and has been around since the 15th century when the Ottomon Empire conquered Constantinople from the Romans. When this happened, the Roman style of public bathing merged with the Islamic style and the result was the aforementioned. Traditionally, a Turkish hammam starts with a room to warm the body, a second room to wash and cleanse the body, and then, a third room to cool off the body in a room with a lower temperature.
These are just some of the sauna cultures from around the world. Despite Finnish saunas being most well-known by far, there’s something unique to be found in each of these sauna styles. If you’re searching for a sauna or steam room for your home or commercial space, speak with a representative today at Steam Sauna.