What is Vihta used for?

Air circulation – a Vihta is used in a sauna to circulate the hot and cold air by using it as fan. Mixing the hot and the cold layer of a sauna will provide a more even heat.

Why do people hit themselves with branches in saunas?

Well, it’s actually common practice to use soft birch branches to beat your skin (or others’) in the sauna. It may sound strange, but the beatings are believed to improve circulation and, as a bonus, help relieve mosquito bites.

Why do people slap themselves with leaves in a sauna?

bunch of young tree twigs which are used to give a special massage in sauna. Using sauna whisk during massage promotes better blood circulation, cleans the skin and enriches it with health. During the course of massage, the bather lashes or slaps the other bather with whisk after dipping it in warm water.

How long does a sauna whisk last?

How long do your sauna whisks last? What is the best way to take care of them between sauna sessions? Usually one can use sauna whisk 2-3 times. The best way to take care of the whisks between sauna sessions is to leave them in warm sauna on a bench and to let them get dry naturally.

What plant is used in a sauna?

The plants Birch is the basis of the entire Finnish cleansing sauna culture. Alder – especially good for those suffering from rashes and it opens the lungs and airways as well. Alder leaves and the bark of branches are antiseptic and cure inflammation.

How do you make a Vihta?

It was great. Finns have been doing this for centuries….Make your own “vihta” – a bundle of birch branches

1. locate a birch tree and some new growth.
2. cut a few branches 12″ or so in length.
3. tie branches together with some twine.
4. cut the ends.
5. soak in warm water – in the hot sauna of course.

What should you not do in a sauna?

Don’t use a sauna if you’re ill. Drink at least one full glass of water before and after using a sauna, to avoid dehydration. Don’t drink alcohol before, during, or after sauna use. Don’t use recreational drugs before, during, or after sauna use.

Can you use eucalyptus oil in a sauna?

Eucalyptus oil is a natural stimulant that can help energize and wake you up in the morning. Sauna whisks (sometimes made out of birch or eucalyptus) have long been used in the Finnish tradition for the fragrant smell and healing properties. Eucalyptus oil can also be an effective agent against respiratory illness.

What’s a Russian bathhouse?

Banyas, or traditional Russian bathhouses, are an integral part of Russian culture. A banya typically includes a steam room with wooden benches, leafy branches that are used for massages, and buckets or pools of cold water. In Siberia, people will often walk outside of the steam room and lie down in the snow.

Do Russians like saunas?

Visiting a banya is incredibly relaxing, in a deep tissue massage kind of way, so take your time and enjoy it. Russians know this too, and so most saunas you visit will be well set up. A lot of the bigger banyas will have a restaurant attached to them too.

Why should you not wear shoes in a sauna?

You can wear flip flops or shoes only in a personal steam room or sauna. But for publicly shared saunas and steam rooms, wearing shoes or flip flops might come off as impolite to others who are barefoot. It is rude to wear shoes in a sauna or steam room since it makes the lower sections unsanitary.

Should you shower after sauna?

In most cases you should shower directly after the sauna using warm, cool, or even cold water to ensure that you have washed any sweat or bacteria off of the skin that could cause body odor or discomfort later in the day. So, just to be safe, let’s shower after the sauna for good measure.