It is wintertime and for many people, it is also the beginning of the sauna season. A visit in the sauna strengthens the immune system, opens the pores, and improves the circulation of blood through the body.
Sweating in the sauna can also provide relief for joint diseases such as back pain.
But how does the sauna affect our bodies?
During the sweating phase, the body temperature rises to 39 degrees as in fever and strengthens the activity of immune cells, which are particularly important for the defense against infections. The subsequent cold bath relaxes the muscles, the blood pressure rises for a short time and thus activates the metabolism and the immune system. The skin also benefits, the blood vessels dilate and blood circulation increases.
But where does the sweat bath come from?
Contrary to popular opinion, it is not the Finns who are the inventors of sweating.
Simple saunas can be traced back to the Stone Age. They were holes in the ground lined with stones over which water was poured. The resulting steam was used for cleaning. The oldest relics come from Asia.
It is assumed that these first simple saunas served purely for personal hygiene and later had the purpose of freeing the soul from evil spirits. However, early versions of saunas can be found not only in Asia but also in all parts of America and Europe.
Why do we always associate sauna with Finland?
The inhabitants of present-day Finland originally came from Asia, and since they were nomads, they brought steam baths to their new homeland along with other cultural assets. However, the climate changed the shape of the sauna. The frozen floors were unsuitable for burrows and so new ways had to be found. This was the birth of the log cabins. As you can see, although the sauna does not come from Finland, it has a centuries-old tradition and is extremely popular there. The saunas were mostly built near water so that you could cool down in nature.
And how did the sauna come to Germany?
In 1936, when the Finnish Olympic Games were held in Berlin, they asked for a small sauna to be built. Returning soldiers who had learned how to take a sauna on the Eastern front opened their first saunas in Germany. This is how Schwitzbaden has also established itself and is very popular in our country. While it is customary for the Finns to have their own sauna, our saunas take place in public places.
Saunas in the Green Pearls® Hotels
Of course, sauna offers should not be missing in the hotels. We have taken a look at the green pearls for you and would like to introduce some great sauna concepts. Right at the beginning, we will travel to Warpe in a shepherd’s wagon.
Okelmann‘s
In the small community of Warpe in Lower Saxony, you will find the small sustainable boutique hotel Okelmann’s in a building dating back to 1879. For generations, man and nature have been the focus of Okelmann’s. It is all about recollection and relaxation and of course, a sauna is not to be missed. In the family-run small Eco- Hotel you can take a sauna in the shepherd’s carriage, which also has a shower and a rest area with magazines to browse through. There you will also receive face masks and fresh Grander water. According to the philosophy of the hotel, only organic infusions are used.
Hofgut Hafnerleiten
In Bad Birnbach near Passau is a small paradise for lovers of architecture and nature: the Hofgut Hafnerleiten. The Lower Bavarian oasis of peace and tranquility focuses on individuality and lures with nature as a vacation for the soul. The Finnish sauna with a view of the bathing pond and the sauna infusion made by the chef provides for the greatest possible relaxation. Delicious homemade teas with dried strawberry, blackberry, and raspberry as well as rosemary keep you warm in winter With a dip in the bathing pond you also strengthen your immune system.
Lifestyle Hotel Sand
At the famous Timmendorfer Strand, you will find the Lifestylehotel SAND. The hotel stands for a modern, light, and holistically sustainable approach. The sauna is located on the roof. It offers a spectacular view of the nature reserve in the hinterland of Timmendorfer Strand and the Baltic Sea.
In Corona times you can reserve the sauna with a maximum of two persons exclusively for you. In addition, there is the SAND sauna wellness basket with homemade samova iced tea and natural surprises such as a massage glove and scented shower tabs for your personal well-being.
Eco Park Hotel Azalea
In the heart of the small Italian town of Cavalese, the Eco Park Hotel Azalea is located. As the name suggests, the Azaela is a natural oasis surrounded by a lush garden full of roses, gladioli, tulips, and dahlias. Where the old town with its alleys, hidden backyards, and colorful flowerbeds shows its best side, Cavalese opens up to the Val di Fiemme.
Of course, you can also take a sauna to your heart’s content in the small wellness area. The offer includes a Turkish steam bath, a Finnish sauna, and an ice pool as well as a relaxation room in the vaulted cellar or garden.
MANOAH Houses
Directly at the Zeulenrodaer Meer in the Thuringian Vogtland, there is our new green pearl, the MANOAH houses. The name Manoah was chosen quite deliberately. It comes from the Hebrew and means “place of rest”, “gift” or “gift” and stands for the simple attitude to life of the vacation houses at the lake. The modern solid wood houses are built exclusively from sustainable materials and equipped with everything you need for your nature vacation.
Very close by, i.e. in about 30 minutes on foot, you will find the Biohotel Zeulenroda, to which the vacation homes belong. As guests of the Manoah houses, you can use the wellness area for a reduced fee and receive a 25% discount on all Panorama Spa offers. The sauna offer includes a bio-zirber sauna, hemlock fir sauna, birch steam bath, snow chamber, plunge pool, adventure showers, relaxation room, 20 m long infinity pool with large panorama windows, children’s oasis with nappy-changing room as well as a shower wheelchair and pool lift.
Read more: DISCOVER OUR FAVORITE PLACES
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