If you are lucky enough to have a sauna at home, you don’t have to worry about etiquette. However, if you are sharing your sauna experience with others (like at the gym), there are some important rules to follow. It includes:
- Take a shower after your workout before going to the sauna.
- Get in and out quickly. The saunas are sealed so that there is no heat inside. Opening the door generates heat and should be done quickly.
- Pay attention to the clothes (or lack thereof) inside. In some saunas, a nude body is acceptable. Otherwise, it is preferable to wear a towel or bathing suit.
- Regardless of whether you are naked or not, you should never sit directly on a bench. Be sure to take a towel with you and take it with you when you leave.
- Do not stretch if the sauna is crowded.
- If the temperature is too high or too low for you, ask the groups to come to an agreement before installing the thermostat or pouring water on the stones in the sauna. Keep in mind that you can also adjust the temperature to your liking by changing the seat level.
- Speak quietly and avoid intimidation. Saunas are designed for relaxation.
- When using the sauna, do not shave, pluck, comb or groom your hair.
- Do not leave debris behind, such as plasters or hairpins.
Sauna safety tips
Regardless of whether you visit the sauna in public or in private, there are important safety precautions you should follow and be aware of:
- Despite their advantages, saunas are not for everyone. Talk to your doctor before using the sauna, especially if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, irregular heart rhythms, or unstable angina. If you have any of these conditions, limit your sauna use to five minutes per visit and make sure you cool down slowly.
- Consult your doctor before using the sauna if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
- Do not use the sauna if you are taking medications that interfere with your body’s temperature regulation, or medications that make you drowsy.
- Do not go to the sauna if you are sick.
- Drink at least one full glass of water before and after using the sauna to stay hydrated.
- Do not drink alcohol before, during or after using the sauna.
- Do not use recreational drugs before, during, or after using the sauna.
- Do not eat a lot before going to the sauna.
- An article published in the American Journal of Public Health recommends that healthy people do not sit in the sauna for more than 10-15 minutes at a time. If you are new to the sauna, listen to your body and start slowly (no more than 5-10 minutes per session). You can develop your heat tolerance over a few visits.
- Never let yourself fall asleep in a sauna.
- Leave the sauna if you feel dizzy or unwell.
- The Finnish sauna tradition often ends with a dip in ice water. This may not work for everyone, especially those who are pregnant, people with heart conditions, or other medical conditions. It may be better to allow body temperature to return to normal gradually after using the sauna to avoid dizziness.
- The sauna temporarily raises the temperature of the scrotum. Being a man doesn’t mean you can use the sauna as a birth control. However, regular sauna use can temporarily lower your sperm count and should be avoided if you are actively trying to fertilize your partner.
The National Health Service (NHS) warns that overheating in a sauna can be hazardous to the health of the mother and baby during pregnancy. The likelihood of overheating in a sauna or steam bath is also higher.
