How do you sauna?

bobadevoteebobadevotee
edited October 2023 in General

Recently got back to the sauna for the first time in a while and wondering what everyone’s opinions are on the best way to do it. Here’s the routine I enjoyed today:

Full shower, cleaning the hair (my hair was gross)
Dry sauna
Cold rinse (no cold plunge available but cold rinse was great)
Steam room
Cold rinse
Dry sauna
Cold rinse
Steam room
Shower part 2 because now my hair was all sweaty and gross
Mini face routine with serums and stuff

If I had more time, would’ve done another cold rinse and dry sauna because I heard you’re supposed to end on the dry. Oh well

Anyone here have a premium sauna routine I should be trying? I’ve noticed folks can have very strong opinions on it. I’m a novice but am really enjoying the health benefits so far

Comments

  • Mr_Cuddle_BearMr_Cuddle_Bear

    I love going to Korean saunas.
    -Start off with a shower and hot/cold pools
    -sometimes I'll splurge and go for a body scrub (it's insane when you see how much dead skin they scrub off you)
    -head out to the sauna area. I usually like the mid temperature saunas but I will do a few rounds in the ultra hot one where you have to cover yourself with a burlap towel to keep from burning.
    -head to the food area and get an order of baked eggs (baked in above mentioned ultra hot sauna)
    -take a nap
    -head back to the shower area to rinse off and head home

  • Minestrone101Minestrone101

    I heard the vehicle back scrub thing is not for cleanliness but to stimulate done cells in an area for immune system. Also, that twirling a dry towel and flossing it on your back after showers helps too.

  • SlowlyThawingSlowlyThawing

    I’m with Mr. Bear…Korean Sauna/Spa is the best! My favorite (they have two locations: One in California and one in Las Vegas ) with an insane number of options.

    Shower- Scrub-rinse-Hot Sauna-cold plunge-steam-rinse….then put on the funky t-shirt shorts combo they provide it’s off to the hot clay pebbles. Then into the Jade room for a nap. Depending on my mood…I may visit the red clay caves, opt for a massage but I always finish with one last trip to the hot sauna and then…and here’s my favorite….the ice room.

    When you walk out…you feel amazing!

  • JohnR1972JohnR1972

    @bobadevotee
    That sounds like a nice, but time consuming routine. I have a dry IR sauna at home that I use for about 30 minutes, 3 to 4 times per week. I then go straight from the sauna to stand in front of 1,800 watts of red light therapy panels for 20 minutes (10 facing the panels and 10 facing away from the panels). Some days I use the red light panels even if I don’t use sauna.

    I have considered getting a chilled tank for doing a cold plunge first thing in the morning but those are pretty expensive so for now I just do a cold shower. Not as effective but a whole lot cheaper.

  • Carrie_AnneCarrie_Anne

    I could use some sauna advice. Ive not used the sauna in my building, just steps away, but i need to because I’m told it helps with autoimune disease. I don’t have a routine - i guess all over shoer scrub, then sauna for??Maybe 15 minutes first time? Then hot or cold shower after? No steam room here.
    Any help is recommended!

  • [Deleted User]natickben (deleted user)

    Oh man. All of the steam rooms/saunas I’ve had access to in the last several years have been at gyms. And universally they seem to be used for decidedly not relaxing purposes by groups of men.

    Where are these magical and less gross places you all find? (note: the gross is not that they are men, it’s the misuse of shared spaces for their activities)

  • SunsetSnugglesSunsetSnuggles

    I do not sauna. :grimace: I detest being hot. I'll stick to my hobby of sitting outside in the snow, sipping iced drinks without a coat. (I never put coats on my drinks...it isn't considered classy.)

    ~ Sunset Snuggles

    🦄 Enthusiast 🏞 Travel Fiend 🐘 Animal Lover

  • stormydaycuddlestormydaycuddle Mod

    @SunsetSnuggles 😂😂😂😂
    I didn’t know it was such a serious sport. I’ve had a week long pass to a spa on a boat where they had 5 different saunas. I hopped between them with no plan in mind. My sister and I went to a spa where they gave you ten different muds in the sauna… again. No clue what was for what. I’m a sauna novice. I feel like a heathen.

  • MeadowMackenzieMeadowMackenzie

    Definitely put your serums on in the sauna!

  • PeopleLikeUsPeopleLikeUs

    Now that I'm coming up on 70, I've backed off. I used to test the limits of those places but now it robs me of energy. So at the Korean spa I start with shower, super hot and hard jet jacuzzi, long term (2 hours) medium heat in various rooms (salt, woods, eucalyptus) breaking a lot for water, shower, ending with ice room (10 minutes).

    I follow that routine up with a 2 hour yoga class, so that's my Sunday routine. But that's it for the week. I don't like anything getting in the way of my workouts, so one day of spa a week for me.

  • stormydaycuddlestormydaycuddle Mod

    @PeopleLikeUs thats what they were… a scented one, one that was cold as hell. Infared. I forgot them but those were it.

  • bekah_cuddlesbekah_cuddles

    I love going to the sauna with a group of friends, but I often rotate too quickly for most of them to keep up. My temperature regulation isn't great and I get too hot and too cold too easily.

    For me, the rotation is usually...
    1. Sauna
    2. Pool
    3. Hot tub
    4. Pool
    Repeat. But I always make the hot tub my very last spot. 😊

  • Mr_Cuddle_BearMr_Cuddle_Bear

    @natickben I took a look in your area and I don't see any Korean jjimjilbangs near you. The closest I could find is in Atlanta. :(

  • SoosonSooson

    King Spa & Sauna in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is a great place. They also have 2 other locations in Texas and Virginia

    https://www.kingspa.com/

    Lots of options: hot and cold pools, dry and wet saunas and even a small theatre which can be a great place to cuddle. The place is open to all ages and decent behavior is strictly enforced.

    One major downside is that they only serve healthy food.

  • Mr_Cuddle_BearMr_Cuddle_Bear

    @Sooson , I've been to both the Chicago and Virginia locations. (actually slept overnight in Chicago while waiting for an early morning flight) Not very impressed with the Va location to be honest.
    We have a King Spa & Sauna in New Jersey also, I believe they used to be affiliated but are not any longer.

  • SoosonSooson

    @Mr_Cuddle_Bear Nice way to save couple bucks avoiding booking a hotel room if that was the intention. I can't see myself spending the night there. Just too hot. But nice place to spend a cold winter day.

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel

    I have been to the King Spa in Dallas and it wonderful but I wouldn’t go at night as it is in a sketchy neighborhood.

  • Carrie_AnneCarrie_Anne

    @BoomerSpooner I remember there’s a King Spa in Dallas. For a first-timer, do they recommend or help you through the exact routine? I guess there are basic and add on packages? I wouldn't know where to begin. I would need direction

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel

    @carrieanne They do recommend and they talked me through everything. That was about 10 years ago. I believe it is on either Northwest Highway or Royal Lane but they told me there is a lot of car theft at night. As far as packages, I remember there were like three packages but everything could be a La crate if you prefer.

  • [Deleted User]HumbleBaron (deleted user)
    edited October 2023
    1. Steam room
    2. Sauna
    3. Hot tub
    4. Cold shower
    5. Face routine
  • Carrie_AnneCarrie_Anne

    Thanks @BoomerSpooner
    yes its at Royal, definitely a sketchy area at night but it looks like a great Spa and reasonable base price!

  • bobadevoteebobadevotee

    @natickben I just googled saunas in my area and did some research until I found one I liked. Ones in spas are more peaceful.

  • nurturingtouchnurturingtouch

    I sauna in my house. I bought one of those portable saunas and it looks HILARIOUS when I'm in it, lol. I laugh so hard every time I show people my setup.

    My routine looks like this:
    Eat snack
    Get into ridiculous-looking sauna contraption
    Sweat profusely
    Get out
    Rinse/shower
    Take epsom salt bath

    Inserting picture of portable sauna for giggles...

  • cuddlefaerycuddlefaery

    cries in POTS

    I've never been able to tolerate saunas more than a couple minutes at a time, dry or steam. Even before my dysautonomia flared into full blown POTS, I had to take breaks from hot tubs and baths 😭 when your old injuries cry for heat, but your nervous system laughs and then tries to kill your heart, lol...

    Best I could ever manage was a hot tub on the coolest setting in freezing outdoor temps with half my body out. Seemed like keeping part of my body shocked with cold at all times kept my circulation stable enough and semi mimicked the sauna effects.

    I'll just live vicariously through y'all and leave the tachycardia for other things 🤣

  • [Deleted User]boozybear (deleted user)

    Steam room at the gym. It very soothing and relaxing. Dry saunas are great right after a workout. Please stay hydrated before and after using them.

  • Maverick07Maverick07

    Steam room at the gym too, after working out, then cold shower.
    The times I go swimming, I use the hot tub afterwards, then again cold shower, and relaxing upside-down on a pool lounge chair 😎

  • pmvinespmvines
    edited October 2023

    I would say the fact that I'm not used to hearing them referred to as verbs tells you how much experience i have with saunas

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