Sauna's

[Sam2000]

Hi all,

Not been on here for ages but it's good to be back!

Random bit to start with but, for the first time this year, all of my housemates are out at the same time, two are at the theatre, one is clubbing, and two more have gone back home for a bit.Which finally means I can have a few hours alone naked. I've just got a couple of beers and watching DVD's! Anyone else ever felt such a sense of relief like this?

Anyway,

I was in Sweden recently visiting a Finnish friend (working in Sweden). They have a sauna and I went in with some of her friends, two other guys and two girls. It was about 80-100oC, and very humid in the sauna, but not uncomfortable as you might think. I've been in saunas before in Britain but always wearing a swimming costume, but the Nordics do it naked and I must say, it's a very good feeling. We sat and chatted for a while, and it feels so natural and unlike horrible British saunas which are just unhygienic and smelly the Finnish saunas just make you come out feeling better.

Normally in British saunas where you take a cold shower afterwards, they did it properly. Straight out, stark naked, into the garden to jump through the ice on the pond. Ambient temperature was -14oC and fairly windy. I cannot tell you how incredibly exhillerating it feels! If you ever get invited to a proper Finnish sauna I advise that you take it!

Anyone else ever experienced a proper sauna?!

[AndrewH]

Random bit to start with but, for the first time this year, all of my housemates are out at the same time, two are at the theatre, one is clubbing, and two more have gone back home for a bit.Which finally means I can have a few hours alone naked. I've just got a couple of beers and watching DVD's! Anyone else ever felt such a sense of relief like this?

At my school we sometimes have days where students of certain grade levels don't have to come in so early in the morning (usually because the underclassmen are taking an important test and they don't want anyone else around). When those days come, I only stay up a little bit so that I can sleep in the next morning but still wake up at a decent hour. My parents aren't around because they go into work early, meaning that I can just lounge around and play video games for an hour or two before school.

Anyone else ever experienced a proper sauna?!

I've been in the hot tub at Shangri La resort. It was the first time I've gotten out of a hot tub with no "swimming costume" that sticks to your skin and feels incredibly cold. So nice!!

[Sam2000]

Haha, good call. When I had study leave for various sets of school exams I would spend literally the whole day naked for weeks on end. I concentrated so much better and I dare say got me better results! At university, however, with people coming and going all the time there is rarely an opportunity...

A Shangri La resort? Far more upmarket than anything I'm used to! Sounds good though!

[AndrewH]

A Shangri La resort? Far more upmarket than anything I'm used to! Sounds good though!

That's just the name of the resort. "Shangri La Ranch." It's one of two resorts we have here in Arizona, the other being in Tucson. It's actually kind of small and in the middle of nowhere, but it's very relaxing. I've been there twice, but it's quite a long drive. I don't think I'll go again until I have a friend or two to go with.

[37joshua]

Sounds like a really nice experience, to be able to enjoy a private sauna with friends the Swedish way, with the dip in cold water afterwards outside and all of that.  I've been to sauna complexes in Central Europe where one can have an analogous experience, but the sort of rustic feeling that you had in a simple sauna that somebody owns must be especially unique.  If I'm ever in Scandinavia or Russia or those environs I hope to have the experience you had.

[Sam2000]

I guess being in Arizona the beach is a bit too far? How far is it to California?

I love Scandinavia and the Nordic countries, though I'm not hugely well-travelled around them because I am a poor student and the Nordics are expensive. I only knew one of them but her other friends were really nice too. Apparently most the Finns still visit saunas about once a week or so. Mostly they are gender-separate though there are a few mixed ones too. Always naked in them, they cannot understand why someone would want to sweat it out with a swimming costume on...I can't understand either. The only time I'd ever experienced it before was in Britain at a swimming pool which wasn't that nice.

The Finns have a reputation for being mental, and jumping through holes in ice is one of the major reasons. I don't think any of them expected me to brave it! Russia - there's a country I'd love to visit...

It's well worth it. In Europe flights are cheap between some countries with budget airlines (can cost as little as £30 or so to get to Scandinavia), take a detour to Finland or something and find some folk there to invite you back to the sauna!

[AndrewH]

I guess being in Arizona the beach is a bit too far? How far is it to California?

It's about a half a day's drive. Unfortunately, I've never been to a beach. I'd really like to go to Northern California, where more of the beaches are c/o. There are surprisingly few nude beaches in Southern California. 

[Sam2000]

Haha, I complain about a 45 minute train journey to get to the nearest beach...if I am able to borrow the car I can shave that down to half an hour on a good day...

The amazing thing about the USA and why I'd like to visit, you have everything from deserts, verdant plains, redwood forests, sub-tropical beaches, incredible mountain ranges and tundra...! Being in Phoenix must be interesting, it's strange to find this patch of green in the middle of a huge desert! What's the general attitude towards naturism in the States? I've heard conflicting reports...

[AndrewH]

What's the general attitude towards naturism in the States? I've heard conflicting reports...

Naturism (or even nudity in general) isn't quite as socially acceptable in the US yet as it is in other parts of the world, but slowly but surely it is gaining popularity. This is mostly because many more people are travelling to Europe and learning about nude and topless beaches, as well as other c/o areas.

Being in Phoenix must be interesting, it's strange to find this patch of green in the middle of a huge desert!

And what makes you think it's green? I mean yeah, we have plants and vegetation, but really it's mostly tans and browns (and grays, if you count the skyscrapers  )

[Sam2000]

Interesting. From what I can work out there is a perception in the USA that Britain and other European countries are totally open to naturism and the like. This was probably true 10 years ago but now it is becoming more closed to it. Germany, Denmark and France are still very open though. Good that it's growing in popularity, there are probably far more options for naturism in the wilds in the USA? In Britain you're never far from a town or village and we don't really have wilderness areas.

I studied Phoenix for my A-level geography coursework...it's quite funny just finding it on Google Maps and just seeing this green patch within the desert. I guess there is nothing to stop the expansion of the city really?

[AndrewH]

there are probably far more options for naturism in the wilds in the USA? In Britain you're never far from a town or village and we don't really have wilderness areas.

Yeah, there are lots of open areas out in the countryside where one can free-hike, but I've never done it. I'm a little afraid of getting caught for one thing, and out in the desert there's just too many chances of getting poked and pinched and punctured out there. I wouldn't want to hike out there clothed, let alone nude!

I guess there is nothing to stop the expansion of the city really?

It's kind of complicated. Phoenix still sees itself as a small western town rather than one of the largest cities in the country, and that's why it keeps growing out and not up. If you ask me, that's the most retarded thing I've ever heard.

[danvin22]

I usually go in a sauna or a steam bath for 15 to 20 minutes after I gym, I find it relaxes me
after an intense workout and I rather do enjoy it. I also find that it does something to my skin,
ever since i've been using a sauna my skin feels more supple.

[grahambell]

I go to sauna after swimming in the gym complex. There are two saunas: steam bath, and finnish one. I prefer the second one. The vast majority of people go into the sauna naked. Maybe with a towel to sit on. I would like to visit Nordic countries and to try a real Finnish sauna and to refresh in a lake or rolling on snow.

[NudistMetalHead]

Can't say I have ever had a proper sauna...

[Bobbert]

There was a sauna in my college in Georgia, but they had a sign saying that you had to wear a bathing suit. :(