Virgin Active blog
Finnish Saunas
As part of our spa glow-up, we’ve got a brand-new Finnish sauna now open at Virgin Active Mayfair. With pinewood interiors and serious heat, you’ll be surprised to find that this is anything other than relaxation. Here’s everything you need to know about how we’re turning the heat up on your wellness and recovery.
Key takeaways:
Our Finnish sauna is lined with pinewood, produces a dry heat with 10% humidity and can reach temperatures of between 80 - 90°C
The Finnish sauna boosts circulation, helps your muscle recovery and can aid detoxification
Our Contrast Therapy sessions use the Finnish sauna combined with the cold-plunge pool
What is a Finnish sauna?
The Finnish sauna is probably the one that you’re most familiar with. When someone says the word ‘sauna’, we often think of a wood-lined room with dry and sometimes quite intense heat. This is the Finnish sauna.
At Virgin Active Mayfair, our Finnish sauna is lined with pinewood and designed to reach temperatures of between 80 - 90°C. Apart from the temperatures, the reason that this sauna can feel so hot is because it produces a dry heat at just 10% humidity.
What are the benefits of a Finnish sauna?
Many people find that the Finnish sauna is quite relaxing. Being surrounded by heat and tapping into your breath will do that for you. But as well as that, the Finnish sauna has all the typical benefits of heat therapy, including:
- Boosted circulation
Muscle recovery
Relaxation
Improved cardiovascular health
Boosted mood
Increased detoxification
How to use the Finnish sauna
There are a few ways to sauna like the Finnish do, so follow these steps for the ultimate, authentic experience.
- Have a quick shower before getting into the sauna
Grab a towel to sit on
Find the perfect spot (remember that the higher you go, the hotter it gets.)
Take the experience in rounds, starting with ~10 minutes in the sauna followed by a cold shower or cold plunge and a drink of water
Repeat this experience twice
How to create your own Finnish sauna experience
When you’re sitting in Mayfair’s Finnish sauna, drinking in the benefits of this aromatic heat therapy, you’re already in the experience. But, if you want to take it further, you can make your Finnish sauna session your own by:
Make it meditative: Repeat a mantra quietly to yourself, practice structured breathing or settle into some meditation.
Feel the heat and take the plunge: Contrast Therapy sessions run regularly at Virgin Active Mayfair giving you guided cycles of sauna heat, cold plunge and breathwork with the help of an expert for a surge of serious feel-good.
Don’t forget: you’ll be sharing the sauna with other members, so stay respectful at all times.
FAQs
What is a Finnish Sauna?
The Finnish sauna is a dry heat sauna with temperatures between 80 - 90°C. They’re made with wood and the one you’ll find in Virgin Active Mayfair is lined with pinewood, giving off a subtle but totally relaxing aroma.
How long should you stay in the Finnish sauna?
If you’re a beginner, it’s best to start slow. Try 5 minutes in the sauna to begin with. Then, get out, cool down in the shower or cold plunge, drink some water and go again.
Are Finnish saunas good for you?
Finnish saunas are great for boosting your circulation, helping muscle recovery, aiding detoxification through sweating, improving your mood and increasing your blood flow.
How often should you use the Finnish sauna?
You can use the Finnish sauna as much as you like. If you’re new to the sauna, the best tip is to take it slow. Build up 5 minutes of heat, cool down in the shower and drink some water and then repeat up to 3 times. Once you’re used to the heat, you can try to spend around 10 - 15 minutes in the Finnish sauna at one time.
