Chris has been a devotee of saunas for years. He got a taste for them when he lived in Japan and can spend ages basking in the heat. I, on the other hand, have never been quite so keen. I've never really recovered from my early sauna experiences at the gym I used to go to in my twenties - a dark room in the basement so hot I felt like I was being burnt to a crisp within the first couple of minutes. The sweaty men in skimpy Speedos weren't really an incentive to stay in there either to be honest.
Recently, though, I've had a Damascene conversion. I've been noticing saunas popping up all over the place in Cornwall for a while now and it turns out they're enjoying a major renaissance across the UK. It made me curious - why are they so popular? I embarked some research.
From Turkish hammams to Japanese sentos, heat therapy is an age old tradition and in Finland, the sauna was invented more than 2,000 years ago. Over there, it's a way of life, not just the cleanliness but the sense of community that goes with it.
Used regularly, saunas have many health benefits and can help to lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, boost immunity and relieve pain. They're brilliant for detoxing, recovering after exercise and simply relaxing. I was intrigued and when I stayed at a spa resort in Denmark earlier this year I decided to put my prejudices to one side and embrace the heat.
As a woman of a certain age, I can work up a pretty good sweat without a sauna. Is it really a good idea to sit in a hot wooden box, I wondered? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. Exposure to heat can help the body to regulate temperature. Heat stress can help promote good sleep and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is all welcome news for midlifers.
Suddenly I wanted a sauna and Chris needed no persuading. The area next to the petanque court seemed like the ideal spot and we commissioned Cornwall-based Kernow Springs to build one for us and our guests to use. We opted for a wood-fired stove for a more traditional experience. It heats up quickly and it's easy to maintain a lovely a 70 degree temperature. Plus, there's just something about the glow of a real fire.
After just a short space of time, I've become a sauna devotee. I've been firing it up three times a week, experimenting with temperatures, times and a bit of cold therapy in the form of the outdoor shower. Quite simply, I feel great afterwards - relaxed and invigorated at the same time.
Here are our tips for getting the most out of your sauna session:
Make sure you stay hydrated by drinking a glass of water before you enter the sauna.
Enter and exit the sauna quickly to maintain the internal temperature.
Acclimatise yourself to the heat gently. Start with five or 10 minutes without adding any humidity.
Exit the sauna and have a cool down and some more water.
Re-enter the sauna for another 10 minutes or so. If you would like to add some humidty, add a ladle of water onto the rocks. This causes a whoosh of heat and steam known as loyly in Finnish.
Exit the sauna again and cool down with water. If you’re feeling brave, you can have a cold shower.
Re-enter the sauna for a final time.
When you exit the sauna for a final time you can use the shower or cool down slowly by sitting outside.
Drink plenty of water after your session and make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to relax.
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