As you may already know from our previous blogs on the subjects (see here and here) saunas and steam rooms have a number of health benefits. These include improved circulation, reduced joint pain and stiffness, and even a stronger immune system.
If you regularly use your local sauna or steam room in order to reap these benefits and relax, you might be feeling a need for some variety. Luckily for you, the concept of bathing in hot rooms is a worldwide phenomenon! Each culture approaches it a little differently, so read on to find which exotic option tickles your fancy the most.
From Mexico: The Temazacal
This originates in the indigenous Mexican population, and was used for both ritual and medical purposes. The Temazacal is a small, low-ceilinged building generally made from packed earth. There are no windows and once the session begins and blankets are dropped over the entrance it is very dark. Just as with a familiar Finnish sauna, the high temperatures come from heated rocks in a put in the centre of the room. Where available, volcanic rocks are used. Water is poured onto them, creating a hot and steamy atmosphere.
There is a strong emphasis on using the Mexican Temazacal for spiritual cleansing, so Mayan chanting and drumming are likely to feature in your experience, but they are also known for a noticeable improvement in your skin! This may have something to do with the application of aloe vera, or perhaps the beating with bunches of basil that you are encouraged to participate in. Sessions vary between 30 minutes in length to several hours.
From Turkey: The Hammams
The origins of this luxurious steam room experience date back to the Roman Empire. Why, then are they called “Turkish”? Because of the history of one of the medieval age’s great seats of power: Istanbul/Constantinople. When the Roman Empire fell, the Byzantines carried on many Roman traditions, including the tradition of communal baths. In 1453, the Ottoman Empire, a Turkish empire conquered the city, renaming it Istanbul, and they soon adopted this practise.
Unlike the Temazacal, there is no spiritual aspect to a hammam. You enter one to relax in hot steam, and often to be thoroughly scrubbed! A true Turkish bath has three rooms: the warm room (ılıklık), where attendants will scrub you clean (or you can wash yourself), the hot room (hararet), (for enjoying the heated steam) and the cooling-off room (soğukluk). You travel through them in that order, ensuring your body undergoes the full heat and cleansing experience. The architecture is often very impressive, with marble featuring prominently in the steam room.
From Japan: The Onsen
As a country with active volcanoes, it is perhaps not surprising that Japan should develop a thriving bathing culture around its volcanically-heated springs. Many Onsen are rich in certain minerals from their natural volcanic source, such as sulphur, iron, or salt. This can change the colour of the water – iron-rich Onsen will be red, for example. And, yes, sulphurous ones smell like eggs, but you become accustomed to it quickly.
It is mandatory to thoroughly clean yourself by showering before entering the Onsen waters. The water can be very hot (50 degrees Celsius), and in fact it has to be cooled from its natural state before bathers can safely use it. Once in, you can soak and relax.
Traditionally people using an Onsen must be naked. However, the use of a swimsuit is spreading. Many Japanese Onsen will not allow people with tattoos to enter; this is due to the association of tattoos with the yazuka, the Japanese mafia. However, this is changing with the rise in popularity of tattoos on tourists.
If you fancy something a little different in your back garden, contact Aegean Spas on +44 (0)20 8959 1529. With 30 years’ experience in the industry, they offer you the chance to design your ideal sauna or steam room.
References:
- https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/americas/temazcal-sweat-lodge-mexico-benefits-wellness-retreat-trend-what-is-it-ceviarem-oaxaca-a8185811.html
- https://www.bustle.com/articles/171116-what-is-a-temazcal-ritual-heres-what-you-should-know-about-the-ancient-cleansing-bath
- http://www.turkishculture.org/architecture/turkish-bath-96.htm
- https://theistanbulinsider.com/what-to-expect-when-visiting-a-turkish-bath-or-hamam/