What has kept the health and sanity of the Finnish people throughout centuries? It's not Chi Kung, I can reveal you.
The traditional way of using sauna is to have its stove heated so that the sauna room reaches some 85 degrees Celcius, completely undress, throw some water on hot stones, and sit near the ceiling in the sauna benches and just relax in the warmth and occasional steam. Silence is also an integral part of taking a genuine sauna. Sauna is not meant for gossiping or chatting, although modern people might mistake it for a social event. Traditionally sauna has been distinctly revered for cleansing not just the body but also the spirit. Sweating in hot temperatures is naturally a good way to purify and detoxify the body.
With the experience of our school, it's not difficult to say why the sauna has been accredited as having sanitary utility for the spirit: the foundational skills of relaxation and silence of mind are embedded in the proper sauna etiquette.
The Finnish cultural heritage doesn't know any chi flows as far as I know, but traditionally saunas have been built next to water beds (lakes, sea side), so that enthusiastic bathers might run directly from their sauna to (preferrably) chilly waters, even in the freezing winter conditions. This can also be substituted with rolling in the snow. Heat shocks like that surely get the chi flowing!
It interesting to note that the Finnish word for sauna steam, löyly, originally meant spirit or soul. Finnish language has also some other peculiarities that I would like to share with you some other time.
The following scientifically conducted research might be interest to you: Sauna Use Associated with Reduced Risk of Cardiac, All-Cause Mortality
I'm inviting everyone, both Finns and foreigners alike, to share your experiences with sauna.
With sincere respect,
Olli
The traditional way of using sauna is to have its stove heated so that the sauna room reaches some 85 degrees Celcius, completely undress, throw some water on hot stones, and sit near the ceiling in the sauna benches and just relax in the warmth and occasional steam. Silence is also an integral part of taking a genuine sauna. Sauna is not meant for gossiping or chatting, although modern people might mistake it for a social event. Traditionally sauna has been distinctly revered for cleansing not just the body but also the spirit. Sweating in hot temperatures is naturally a good way to purify and detoxify the body.
With the experience of our school, it's not difficult to say why the sauna has been accredited as having sanitary utility for the spirit: the foundational skills of relaxation and silence of mind are embedded in the proper sauna etiquette.
The Finnish cultural heritage doesn't know any chi flows as far as I know, but traditionally saunas have been built next to water beds (lakes, sea side), so that enthusiastic bathers might run directly from their sauna to (preferrably) chilly waters, even in the freezing winter conditions. This can also be substituted with rolling in the snow. Heat shocks like that surely get the chi flowing!
It interesting to note that the Finnish word for sauna steam, löyly, originally meant spirit or soul. Finnish language has also some other peculiarities that I would like to share with you some other time.
The following scientifically conducted research might be interest to you: Sauna Use Associated with Reduced Risk of Cardiac, All-Cause Mortality
I'm inviting everyone, both Finns and foreigners alike, to share your experiences with sauna.
With sincere respect,
Olli
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