If taking a cold shower before your next sauna session sounds like torture, you may soon be alone. This hot-and-cold water hydrotherapy treatment is gaining popularity among sauna enthusiasts and celebrities across North America, even though it originated about 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers) away.
The Finns are often credited as pioneers of this hot-to-cold practice. That’s not surprising, since the Scandinavian country has 2 million saunas for a population of just 5.3 million. That’s one sauna for every two Finns, according to Visit Finland.
The sauna is a warm tradition that is as closely associated with Finland as Finnish snowflakes. The sauna was originally a method of sterile “washing” before the advent of hot water. The word “sauna” is actually Finnish and translates into English as “bath”.
The earliest saunas in Finland were dug into a ridge of earth, and later sunk into the ground with wood. Stones were placed in a stone oven and heated with wood. However, these early saunas had no chimneys, and bathers had to wait for the smoke to clear. Over time, saunas evolved into what we know today: They are traditionally heated with a metal stove and can reach temperatures of up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius).
Winters in the northernmost regions of Finland can last up to seven months, which requires very hot saunas. But what about a cold shower? That’s an equally extreme way to cool down. As Visit Finland describes it:
“When you get out of the sauna, jump into a lake or go snow skating. If you’re skating in snow, make sure it’s fresh and loose: old ice and snow will act like sandpaper on your skin.”
Rolling naked in the snow — Oh, and did we mention that many Finns do it naked? — sounds like the worst possible spa experience. But the Finns have spilled some secrets, said Dr. Mark Timmerman, a family physician and sports medicine specialist in Wisconsin.
According to Timmerman, writing for the North American Sauna Association, when the skin temperature rises, sauna users experience a “fight or flight” response that increases alertness, reduces the perception of pain, and improves mood. Jumping into cold water or snow after a sauna also increases your adrenaline levels, he explains.
In addition to the adrenaline rush, Timmerman says exercising in a hot sauna and cold bath can help ease the pain and inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that often gets worse if you don’t catch a cold after using a sauna.
Health benefits like improved circulation and detoxification are why luxury cruise line Viking Cruises offers hot and cold spa treatments on its ocean liners. The other reason? The family-run business is closely tied to Norwegian heritage and traditions, including the Scandinavian hot sauna and cold plunge.
While the various hot and cold spa treatments are tempting, few attract visitors more than the exquisite snow cave. This surreal igloo immerses cruise ship guests in an authentic Scandinavian bathing tradition. The stone-walled caves contain real snow, which is created in a similar way to the artificial snow at ski resorts.
I’m not one to roll around naked in the snow, but I couldn’t resist visiting a snow cave (in a bathing suit) on my way to Norway. It was about the size of a walk-in closet, and there was a snow-covered bench for those brave enough. (I stood up.) The cave’s purple lighting and snowy forest decor make it feel like a Frozen set, which is one of the many reasons I keep going back. I alternated between shivering in a pit and sweating in a hot tub and sauna for at least two hours, two days in a row. Finally, did I feel detoxified? No. But I did feel relieved, relaxed, and more ready for the Norwegian snow ahead.
Of course, the snow in the Viking caves wasn’t actually snow. The system mixes compressed air and water to form ice crystals, which are then blown into a cold cave where the temperature is controlled to keep the snow uniform. Spa staff defrost the snow and generate new snow every few days to keep the caves looking their best.
While a warm sauna followed by a plunge into cold water (or a cabin sauna followed by a soak in a snow cave) is invigorating and safe for most people, it’s not for everyone (as Viking makes clear to guests). In fact, people with heart conditions should consider more gentle spa treatments.
Cold receptors in the face and scalp respond to the rapid drop in temperature. This stimulates the “diving reflex,” a complex cardiorespiratory response. This causes shortness of breath, decreased cardiac output, and a rapid drop in heart rate.
In Finland, saunas are not only relaxing, but also delicious. Finns drink beer and grill sausages on sauna stoves while sweating out the toxins accumulated during the day.
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