Embracing sauna culture in Tampere

Embracing sauna culture in Tampere

The post Embracing sauna culture in Tampere appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

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A beautiful lake view from Kaupinoja Sauna, the traditional Finnish public sauna place

 

Get the low down on Tampere’s sauna culture and an expert’s view on the impact sauna bathing has on our well-being…The Sauna Capital of the World is the ideal place to feel good and now is the perfect time to visit.

If you’ve exhausted all the usual places for your seasonal city breaks, why not escape to somewhere new that will really chase away those winter blues. How about Tampere?

Whether it’s improving our mental health or eating healthy and joining the gym, everyone is keen to improve their wellness and get a fresh start at the beginning of a new year.

In Finland, and especially Tampere, it’s deeper than that. The public saunas of Tampere are places to meet, catch up with friends and generally let off ‘steam’ – a bit like the Finnish equivalent of the British going down the pub!

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Social and cultural aspects of sauna bathing

Sauna in Finland is integral to major holidays such as Christmas, Easter and Midsummer are all celebrated within their hallowed wooden walls. Furthermore, important business meetings sometimes take place in the sauna where the informal setting encourages transparency and honesty – so much so that it has been known for Finnish leaders and other people in power to host international guests, using the sauna as an informal setting to foster better relations between other countries, cultures and trades.

Sauna is also a cornerstone of multi-generational family life. From grandparents to young children, many Finnish families often sauna together as a weekly ritual, strengthening family bonds and passing on traditions.

Philosophical and Spiritual Aspect

Historically, saunas were places for childbirth and healing, seen as a sacred space for cleansing both body and spirit. Today it’s also a place for reflection and many Finns find clarity and solutions to life’s challenges while sitting quietly in the sauna or simply chatting to friends.

Tampere is home to most public saunas in Finland with almost 70 in the city and the surrounding region. Each of these saunas preserve the unique Finnish sauna tradition and highlight its significance as part of the country’s customs, culture, and well-being.

Everyone is equal in the sauna and people congregate for social reasons as well as the chance to top up the feel-good factor.

Health and happiness rituals are not just a passing fancy, it’s a way of life and here’s why a trip to the sauna capital of the world could change yours…

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But what is it all about and what are the health benefits?

Built in 1906, Rajaportti sauna in Pispala, Tampere, is the oldest public sauna in Finland still in use today. Sauna Guide, Alex Lembke has the task of heating this busy hub every day. He also sauna bathes at least once every day, and he is passionate about sharing the secrets of what sauna culture really means and why visitors should embrace it.

“Imagine you’re in a good traditional sauna. It’s like a little piece of heaven on earth. A sauna is a place where you can reconnect to nature and feel the best of everything: the purifying power of fire and the warmth of the flames, the earthiness of the stones, air and the coolness of the water. It’s a place where you are unaffected by the outside world, where you can feel the joy of life and the healing power of the gods of steam. It’s like being reborn, like being brought back to life and made new. And it’s a place where you can feel your spirit soar to new heights.”

Alex added: “As the heater of the oldest public sauna still in operation in Finland, Rajaportti, and as a member of the Finnish Sauna Society, I have acquired extensive knowledge of saunas and the beautiful sauna culture over the years.

Through my work and my art, I want to help people from all over the world discover that beauty, and the joy and secrets of authentic Finnish saunas. I know the best saunas in Tampere and the region and I love nothing more than sharing my passion for all things sauna-related with my guests! On my customized authentic sauna tours for individuals and groups, I want to give a real insight into Finnish sauna culture that goes far beyond normal tourist tours.”

The tradition of sauna dates back thousands of years and is so sacred that in 2020 the sauna culture from Finland was inscribed on the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Sauna culture is the first Finnish element on UNESCO’s list. Heating a sauna, the customs and traditions related to sauna bathing, as well as sauna in songs, beliefs, and folklore for example are part of this living intangible cultural heritage. Saunas have existed in other cultures, but in Finland they have become entwined in the national culture. In Tampere, saunas have always been an essential form of relaxation.

What else is there besides the sauna?

It’s not just about the heat. One of the rituals of the sauna is to embrace the mix of hot and cold –

Combining the heat of the sauna with the icy impact of the lake is the secret to instant euphoria. Many sauna-goers will dart between both in a rinse/repeat cycle – regardless of the season.

In winter, it’s commonplace to dip into holes in the ice when the lakes have frozen over. The Finnish tradition of avantouinti – taking a dip in a frozen lake and its * health benefits have been well documented. This action is reported to enhance blood circulation, lower blood pressure, and be beneficial against cellular aging and loss of skin elasticity – and leaves you feeling invigorated.

Additionally, wild swimming – also with reported health benefits – is popular here and it’s easy to see why given the geographical landscape. The city is nestled between two lakes; Lake Näsijärvi and Lake Pyhäjärvi, but there are almost 200 lakes inside the city boundaries, and on almost every lake there’s a beach or a place to swim in.

 

 

 

The post Embracing sauna culture in Tampere appeared first on Travel Daily Media.

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