Saunas actually serve cultural functions in some societies. I don't know if it actually correlates with latitude, but it seems like the heavy sauna users are from Northern countries like Sweden and Finland. (And if you include "bathhouse", Russia.)
My guess is that the sauna is also popular for cleaning in societies/cultures that have taboos against bathing/immersion in water (such as among nomadic peoples in northern Eurasia).
I don't have an explanation of the sauna or steamroom in the U.S., though. I've never particularly liked saunas and have never been in a steamroom.
How clean can you (you nomadic eurasians) get from a steam bath? I imagine you'd be left with a salty crust from your evaporated perspiration, if you didn't rinse afterwards.
Google searching reveals I'm probably completely wrong about combining the sauna with a taboo against bathing (I can't find my reference) and it looks like everyone who uses the sauna follows the steam bath by showering, jumping into water, or even jumping into the snow.
The heat relaxes muscles & opens pores. It's a clean, soothing sweat. Additionally, I prefer herbal saunas, particularly mugwort, which infuse the breath & body.
"In an electric sauna, the ions are evenly divided between positive and negative; in a smoke sauna, where the stove is largely made of stone with little or no metal, the ions produced are mostly negative ions, creating the same sort of 'charge' to the air that one feels during thunderstorms."
I had a particularly memorable sauna at a wildlife preserve in Tatarstan. The park's caretaker had built it himself, and it was fueled with firewood. The traditional thing to do was beat each other with willow branches. And we jumped in the Volga afterwards.
They are huge in Finland. A friend of mine who got a masters there said he went to a reception that had a glass sauna in the middle of a banquet hall where coed groups got naked and baked while the rest of the party milled around outside with drinks. At least that doesn't sound like it belongs at the mineshaft.
I think I prefer a good sauna to a hot tub. In a hot tub, I just can't stop thinking about how dirty they seem and all the little microbes that are probably breeding in there. Plus the chemicals make my skin itchy afterwards.
Back in grad school I had colleagues who wanted to pose this question to a certain member of the faculty who more than once showed up for his sauna without realizing that the other people there were in fact looking for hot gay sex rather than sweaty discussions of neo realism.
I do suspect that you are supposed to rinse after the gay sex as well.
There is more than one maneuver. If you didn't care for the original, patented Shocked Delight Stimulus, you could, if your name were (say) Velma, opt for a Scooby Snack instead.
Ah, all right. You're right, they were tame. I have, unfortunately, seen Sccoby Doo slash. It's a train wreck that I found I couldn't look away from. Also Smurfs. Yeesh.
"Why do you want to eat me Yogi?" called out a voice. Yogi looked at his gummy bear and made a shocking cartoon face. His candy took the form of his best friend, Boo Boo.
No, none of this cartoon fanfic is well-written. The authors have a tendency to tell us that, suddenly, character X exhibited X's signature property or cliche, and said to no one in particular, "Gee, I'm relieved to have exhibited my signature property or cliche!" This, mixed with long descriptions of the scenery, with an emphasis that it is cartoon-style scenery.
As to the unbearable vastness of fanfic, I'm not really surprised. For every proclivity there's a proclivitor, and vice versa. But sometimes a given case will renew my sense of wonder.
"As boo-boo relaxed, crouched forward and huffing in shocked delight under the cold shower in the Ranger's locker room, Yogi snuck up behind him. Yogi thought to himself, "I'm haaarder than the average bear!"
"Ben, the friendliest of the Rangers. Got out of his Jeep. "A good shower is what I need after a long day rebulding that campsite!" he said to himself...
I didn't actually click on any of the links on the page. I vaguely knew that saran wrap was a tactile thing that some people liked. And of course we all agree that Roy Orbison is totally hot, so I guess its the most natural thing in the world, but somehow that creeped me out.
As I set to work I seem to hear the strains of Strauss's Blue Danube Waltz in my head. As I orbit him weightless it as if we are performing some graceful ballet together. The clingfilm unfurls in languid arcs in the zero gravity and then girdles him gently as I spiral around him. Soon, Captain Roy Orbison of the Space Pioneers is completely wrapped in clingfilm. In all the infinite galaxies there is not a man as happy as I. Tears of wordless joy leak from my ducts.
It lets northeners pretend like they're in Louisiana.
Posted by Michael | Link to this comment | 05-10-05 9:27 PM
that is not altogether related to the hot, gay sex, mind you.
Posted by Michael | Link to this comment | 05-10-05 9:28 PM
They provides a method for cheapskates to clean their carpets?
Posted by washerdreyer | Link to this comment | 05-10-05 9:36 PM
Saunas actually serve cultural functions in some societies. I don't know if it actually correlates with latitude, but it seems like the heavy sauna users are from Northern countries like Sweden and Finland. (And if you include "bathhouse", Russia.)
My guess is that the sauna is also popular for cleaning in societies/cultures that have taboos against bathing/immersion in water (such as among nomadic peoples in northern Eurasia).
I don't have an explanation of the sauna or steamroom in the U.S., though. I've never particularly liked saunas and have never been in a steamroom.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 05-10-05 11:16 PM
Really? You don't find them relaxing after a workout? Plus, good for the complexion.
(This may be the most unironic comment I have ever made, btw, because I earnestly like a nice steam.)
Posted by moira | Link to this comment | 05-10-05 11:22 PM
How clean can you (you nomadic eurasians) get from a steam bath? I imagine you'd be left with a salty crust from your evaporated perspiration, if you didn't rinse afterwards.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 05-10-05 11:24 PM
I wouldn't know, as I'm not a nomadic eurasian.
Google searching reveals I'm probably completely wrong about combining the sauna with a taboo against bathing (I can't find my reference) and it looks like everyone who uses the sauna follows the steam bath by showering, jumping into water, or even jumping into the snow.
Finnish sauna explained here.
Posted by Anonymous | Link to this comment | 05-10-05 11:51 PM
That was me.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 05-10-05 11:52 PM
The heat relaxes muscles & opens pores. It's a clean, soothing sweat. Additionally, I prefer herbal saunas, particularly mugwort, which infuse the breath & body.
"In an electric sauna, the ions are evenly divided between positive and negative; in a smoke sauna, where the stove is largely made of stone with little or no metal, the ions produced are mostly negative ions, creating the same sort of 'charge' to the air that one feels during thunderstorms."
Posted by aspyre | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 12:49 AM
I had a particularly memorable sauna at a wildlife preserve in Tatarstan. The park's caretaker had built it himself, and it was fueled with firewood. The traditional thing to do was beat each other with willow branches. And we jumped in the Volga afterwards.
They are huge in Finland. A friend of mine who got a masters there said he went to a reception that had a glass sauna in the middle of a banquet hall where coed groups got naked and baked while the rest of the party milled around outside with drinks. At least that doesn't sound like it belongs at the mineshaft.
I think I prefer a good sauna to a hot tub. In a hot tub, I just can't stop thinking about how dirty they seem and all the little microbes that are probably breeding in there. Plus the chemicals make my skin itchy afterwards.
Posted by cw | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 6:58 AM
you must rinse, yes.
It opens the pores. Also, opens the soul to cosmos.
Posted by text | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 7:41 AM
I've always enjoyed a dry sauna after a workout--it keeps the potentailly strained muscled warmer longer as they relax.
Plus a cold shower afterwards can be bracing.
Posted by Chopper | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 9:11 AM
Back in grad school I had colleagues who wanted to pose this question to a certain member of the faculty who more than once showed up for his sauna without realizing that the other people there were in fact looking for hot gay sex rather than sweaty discussions of neo realism.
I do suspect that you are supposed to rinse after the gay sex as well.
Posted by benton | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 9:13 AM
Bracing enough to elicit shocked delight?
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 9:15 AM
only if one performs the proper manuever.
Posted by text | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 9:40 AM
Man, I actually tried to link to that comment. That's what I get for not previewing.
Posted by Chopper | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 9:43 AM
There is more than one maneuver. If you didn't care for the original, patented Shocked Delight Stimulus, you could, if your name were (say) Velma, opt for a Scooby Snack instead.
(Who knew there was Scooby Doo fanfic?)
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 9:56 AM
Yeah, I'm so not following those links while I'm at work.
Posted by Chopper | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 10:00 AM
Yeah, whatever. Where's the Yogi/Boo-Boo fanfic?
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 10:02 AM
Fanfic or slash?
Posted by Chopper | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 10:05 AM
The links are beyond tame. Here's a taste:
That's the raciest bit – and then only because I cherry-picked it for the out-of-context "gerbil" reference.Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 10:10 AM
Ah, all right. You're right, they were tame. I have, unfortunately, seen Sccoby Doo slash. It's a train wreck that I found I couldn't look away from. Also Smurfs. Yeesh.
Posted by Chopper | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 10:15 AM
The Yogi/Boo-Boo fanfic is here:
I think the Internet is full.Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 10:20 AM
Dude, I bet if you go looking, you'd find Snorks fanfic. Saved by the Bell fanfic. The War in Iraq's Purpose Was to Free the Iraqi People fanfic...
Posted by Chopper | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 10:26 AM
SB, you're awesome. The only thing I have to say about the Scooby Doo stuff is that it's not very well written, is it?
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 10:27 AM
other than [...] the facilitation of hot gay sex
What, that isn't enough for you?
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 10:28 AM
It's enough for me...
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 10:31 AM
No, none of this cartoon fanfic is well-written. The authors have a tendency to tell us that, suddenly, character X exhibited X's signature property or cliche, and said to no one in particular, "Gee, I'm relieved to have exhibited my signature property or cliche!" This, mixed with long descriptions of the scenery, with an emphasis that it is cartoon-style scenery.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 10:34 AM
Secretly I was hoping for yogi/boo-boo slash.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 10:44 AM
As to the unbearable vastness of fanfic, I'm not really surprised. For every proclivity there's a proclivitor, and vice versa. But sometimes a given case will renew my sense of wonder.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 10:48 AM
You probably don't want to read this:
"As boo-boo relaxed, crouched forward and huffing in shocked delight under the cold shower in the Ranger's locker room, Yogi snuck up behind him. Yogi thought to himself, "I'm haaarder than the average bear!"
Posted by Chopper | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 10:52 AM
Good lord, I'm sorry for that.
Posted by Chopper | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 10:53 AM
You cannot take it back now, August Proclivitor.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 10:59 AM
Mr Ranger just might like this.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 11:00 AM
"Ben, the friendliest of the Rangers. Got out of his Jeep. "A good shower is what I need after a long day rebulding that campsite!" he said to himself...
Posted by Chopper | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 11:03 AM
Rangers, got out...
Posted by Chopper | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 11:04 AM
No no, the bad punctuation lends it versimilitude.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 11:06 AM
Fair enough.
Posted by Chopper | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 11:10 AM
But sometimes a given case will renew my sense of wonder.
This page is what last truly impressed me with the vastness and weirdness of the human psyche: Roy Orbison in clingfilm.
Posted by LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 11:32 AM
There's a joke waiting to be made using "took my picnic basket" as a euphemism, but I'm sort of burned out right now.
Posted by washerdreyer | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 11:43 AM
LB, that is the best kind of surreal.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 11:48 AM
It puts the lotion in the picnic basket.
Posted by Chopper | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 11:49 AM
"Clingfilm" is Saran Wrap (or something like it, but of a different brand), right?
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 11:58 AM
Disturbing, isn't it. I'd love to know if it was serious or a send-up.
Posted by LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 11:59 AM
And, yes -- it's the British English generic term for Saran Wrap.
Posted by LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 11:59 AM
I didn't actually click on any of the links on the page. I vaguely knew that saran wrap was a tactile thing that some people liked. And of course we all agree that Roy Orbison is totally hot, so I guess its the most natural thing in the world, but somehow that creeped me out.
Only the lonely.
Posted by benton | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 8:01 PM
As I set to work I seem to hear the strains of Strauss's Blue Danube Waltz in my head. As I orbit him weightless it as if we are performing some graceful ballet together. The clingfilm unfurls in languid arcs in the zero gravity and then girdles him gently as I spiral around him. Soon, Captain Roy Orbison of the Space Pioneers is completely wrapped in clingfilm. In all the infinite galaxies there is not a man as happy as I. Tears of wordless joy leak from my ducts.
This is a man with a gift.
Posted by Chopper | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 8:05 PM
A gift for creeping me out.
Posted by benton | Link to this comment | 05-11-05 8:25 PM
http://www.gratuitbaise.com/lesbienne/qrestin/incestpix/pg59/type.html sightstickysubmit
Posted by inhaled | Link to this comment | 12-13-05 11:53 PM