Being a Sauna Master is a very responsible job. The Sauna Masters at Elamus Spa are constantly improving and training themselves in order to provide our guests with the best possible sauna experience. As well as providing an experience, Sauna Masters are also responsible for ensuring that everyone feels comfortable in the sauna. Our Sauna Masters have been trained by Dr Annelii Jürgenson, a rehabilitation doctor at the North Estonia Medical Centre.
There are many different types of sauna. The most popular saunas in Estonia include traditional Finnish wood-fired saunas, Turkish steam baths, IR saunas and Russian saunas. There are 22 different saunas at Elamus Spa, so there is something for everyone. Some like the traditional steam sauna, others prefer an aroma sauna, a steam sauna or even a Japanese bath. Tastes differ.
According to Dr Jürgenson, all saunas, regardless of type, have a healing and positive effect on our supporting and connective tissues. The sauna relaxes the muscles. It relieves tension and overloading of various connective tissues.
Saunas also alleviate back problems, neuralgia and nerve pain in the hands, as well as chronic joint and muscle conditions. However, if you have bone or joint problems, you should be careful with the cooling down after the sauna. It can actually aggravate the problem.
Sauna procedures also have a direct effect on the cardiovascular system. Blood vessels dilate, blood pressure drops and heart rate improves. As a result of all this, the overall blood supply to the body improves and the person starts to sweat to get rid of excess heat.
However, Dr Jürgenson emphasises that all these positive effects can only occur if certain sauna rules and recommendations are followed.
Eating too much before going to the sauna is definitely not a good idea. Alcohol consumption should be avoided; mineral water and tea are the recommended choices as drinks.
Check your heart rate before entering the sauna. If your heart rate after the sauna is more than 14 beats above the initial rate, it means that the temperature is too high for your body.
Staying in a hot sauna (70–80 degrees) for more than 15 minutes at a time is not recommended. If you have red patches on your body, stop immediately as this is a sign of blood circulation problems.
People with high blood pressure, heart disease or chronic lung disease should be more cautious about cooling, as sudden cooling causes an extreme increase in arterial pressure in the pulmonary circulation, which increases the respiratory rate.
Sauna rituals are mostly pleasant. However, it is possible for someone to feel ill or even faint. For such occasions, the Sauna Masters have the necessary skills to help the person.
If someone collapses or feels unwell during a ritual, the first thing to do is to sit them down outside the sauna. Fill a metal bowl with cold water and place the person’s feet in it. This is the fastest way to cool the body. If this does not help, use cold towels to cool the person’s hands and give them room temperature water to drink.
Not everyone likes or can stand a hot sauna. But that doesn’t mean you should miss out on the joys of the sauna. Elamus Spa has many low-temperature saunas and rituals that are suitable for almost everyone, including children.
For example, the Aroma Ritual, which focuses on meditation, breathing and relaxation.
In a low-temperature sauna, it is easy to close your eyes, smell the different aromas and enjoy the alternation of hot and cold created by the Sauna Master using a fan and a gentle mist. The aromas will take you far away from your thoughts and help you relax both mentally and physically, making the 10 minutes feel like a satisfying holiday.
The Whisking Ritual is definitely not for everyone. The gradual build-up of heat and a nice finishing steam will challenge even the strongest sauna-goers.
Whisking and ice-cold water halfway through the ritual make for a real sauna experience.
A bucket with pleasant whisks for healing the spirit and cold water and ice for refreshment are at your disposal. The steam water contains pleasant aromas to stimulate all the senses.
