Exercise

[sobrique]

Went to the gym last night. Spent some time swimming.
'twas rather nice.

Recently, I've decided that I enjoy saunas.
However, I'm still not quite sure how to explain to someone why it's a good idea.
I mean, I know that after I do the 'hot for 15 minutes, cold shower, hot for 15 minutes, cold shower' cycle, I'm really very relaxed for the next ... while.
But I still don't quite understand why. I mean, on the face of it, sitting in a 'really hot' (how hot are saunas? 40-50 degrees?) room for a while, getting sticky and then trying to give yourself a heart attack by a sudden cold splash seems a particularly peculiar form of insanity.

A 'steam room' somewhat similar, only a bit cooler, and wetter.

Best I can find is the Wikipedia entry on Saunas
Or the Health Benefits of Saunas provided by someone who actually sells them. (Which includes the danger phrases 'some say' and 'enthusiasts say')

Comments

[darkgodfred.livejournal.com]

A sauna at 40-50 degrees is weeeeak. So is a cooler steam room.

I've suffered both at 55 degrees.

I think the theory on them is Roman. The idea being that you sweat out all the gunk in your pores and then a slave oils you up and scrapes it all off with a sort of metal spatula.

Regardless, they feel good and relaxing which gives them sufficent justification to exist.

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

It gives the muscles in your skin that do vasoconstriction a good workout.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

I had a feeling that the one at the village was 70 degrees the other day, but I'd discarded that notion as nuts. Either that dial not being temperature (but humidity or something) or ... something else.

But yes, I find them relaxing, but I'm not sure I can explain why.

[velvet-nothing.livejournal.com]

The Wikipedia article says 80 degrees.

[(Anonymous)]

I seem to think that it was around 70 when I was in there a while back. Remember 40 degrees is a very high fever. It was far hotter than the human body gets.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

OK, mental note then. Check thermostat properly when I'm next there :)

[the-wood-gnome.livejournal.com]

I own one of those 'spatulas'.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

Yup 70 degrees. OK, my brain wasn't playing tricks.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

Why?

[(Anonymous)]

used to do Roman re-enactment, never actually used it though