Scandinavian Bath and Hydrotherapy | Scandinave Spa Refreshing Stations An Age Old Finnish Tradition Whether you call them Onsen, Hamman, Hot Springs or Finnish Sauna, the use of baths as a mode of relaxation is an ancient practice that dates back thousands of years. For Finnish people, the sauna is a place to be at ease with family and friends in search of physical and mental relaxation. The use of water as a way to relax and as a source of wellbeing is a European tradition best known today as “hydrotherapy.” Norvegian Steam Baths A Norwegian steam bath is a room where hot steam is released into the air to induce the body to perspire in order to start the detoxification process. An important starting point in the full bathing experience, this step promotes deep tissue relaxation and deep cleansing on the entire body. The Norwegian steam baths are usually followed by an immersion in cold water to release the body’s toxins. Finnish Sauna The Finnish sauna is a heated room, typically warmed to between 60 and 100 degrees Celsius. Water and Eucalyptus oil is poured onto hot stones in the room to produce steam, which increases the sauna’s moisture and heat levels.

The heat of the sauna envelops the body and has a relaxing effect on muscles. The Finnish sauna is followed by an immersion in cold water to release the body’s toxins. Hot Baths Hot Baths are a great way to relax while promoting the detoxification process. They raise the body’s core temperature, dilate blood vessels, promote blood circulation, lower blood pressure, draw contaminants out through the skin’s pores, and offer many other benefits. Thermal waterfalls in the hot bath environment help to release tensions in the muscles when you stand beneath them. The Finnish sauna is followed by an immersion in cold water to release the body’s toxins. Refreshing Stations There are several choices to refresh the body including showers, cool baths and Nordic waterfalls. Visit the cooling stations directly after you leave one of the warming stations and help your body flush out toxins, promote circulation and relax. Finally, indulge in a 10-15 minute rest in one of our relaxing rooms and your detoxification and relaxation process is complete. Finland Steam Baths, the last of its kind in Quincy, keep an Old World tradition alive - The Boston Globe Sending your article Your article has been sent.

Half a century ago, European immigrants and shipyard workers would head to a half-brick, half-wood building at 81 Copeland St. in Quincy and trudge up a flight of stairs to Finland Steam Baths on the second floor, to clean themselves of the dirt and grime from their hard labor. The shipyard closed in 1986, and the echoes of workers’ heavy boots on those steps are long gone, replaced by the patter of the polished shoes of business executives and young professionals looking to sweat out the stress of their modern lives by sitting in those same quiet rooms, surrounded by hot steam. While much has changed in Quincy over the years, Finland Steam Baths remains a local institution, a throwback to simpler times. Family-owned and operated, the business has been around since 1928, and today is the last of its kind in the city. Seppo Johannes Pakkala, the 65-year-old owner of the establishment, who sports a white beard and a laid-back attitude, greets every visitor with a warm and welcoming smile. He is happy when newcomers arrive at his door, and loves to see their rosy cheeks and smiles when they leave, refreshed and rejuvenated.

“If you don’t try it, you’ll never know,’’ he said. “You can’t get any cleaner.’’ Public hot baths have been around for ages, and working up a good sweat is an old tradition practiced within many cultures. The Finns and Swedes have their saunas, and people have used Turkish baths, Native American sweat lodges, Russian banyas - all for similar purposes. Traditional steam baths and saunas share similarities as sacred spaces of communal cleanliness, with one distinct difference. Steam baths are extremely humid, with the temperature staying around 120 to 135 degrees. A traditional Finnish sauna (pronounced “sow-nah’’ by Finns), on the other hand, is wood-fired and produces dry heat that can reach over 200 degrees. Pakkala said the immigrants who built public baths in Quincy most likely chose steam baths because they are not as intensely hot as saunas. The handful of steam baths built in West Quincy in their heyday, explained Pakkala, were the “American version [of sauna] for many of the Finns’’ who settled in the area.

One of the oldest surviving public steam baths in the Boston area today is Dillons Russian Steam Bath in Chelsea, established in 1885. But most have disappeared. Pakkala said his parents bought Finland Steam Baths from another Finnish family in 1969. “It was a mom-and-pop operation, and still is,’’ he said. Back then, there were many native Finns in West Quincy. Bob Bloomberg, a researcher with the Quincy Historical Society, said the biggest wave of Finnish migration to Quincy occurred between 1890 and 1920, and the city’s Finnish population reached some 1,200 at its peak. Today there are very few native Finns living in the city, he said. At Finland Steam Baths, the dressing rooms haven’t changed much since they first opened: The paneled walls are dark and polished, and constructed solidly of fir wood, which was commonly used in 1920s construction. There are six steam rooms, with two dressing rooms attached to each. Five hooks adorn the walls of each dressing room, along with a small mirror. An old-fashioned skeleton key pokes out of the keyhole in a side door that leads to the private shower and steam room.

The baths aren’t segregated by gender, and there is no limit on the number of people who can use a steam room. (The most they have held is nine people.) “Steamers’’ can bring their own soap, shampoo, or anything else you’d normally use in the shower (except for oils; those aren’t allowed because they are difficult to clean, according to Pakkala.) After you finish steaming, you return to the dressing room and shut the door, and turn the skeleton key to lock the door. Then you press a buzzer on the wall, which alerts Pakkala that you’re out of the shower and steam room, so he can begin cleaning it for the next person. The steam room itself is a cozy space - measuring about 5 by 7 feet - with two wooden planks where you can sit or lie and rest your feet against the wall. A furnace stands in one corner of the room, and above it hangs a pipe from which water streams. When you pull the lever on the side, water sprays down onto the hot furnace with a whoosh, creating clouds of steam.

A thermometer and hygrometer on the wall shows how hot and humid it is in the room; humidity can get close to 100 percent. Visitors are given a towel, a face cloth, and a bucket to fill up with cool water that can be used for washing, or cooling down. Some people run the steam full blast, with the door shut, while others take breaks from the heat in the adjoining shower room. As it enters its 84th year, the steam baths on Copeland Street continue to draw a loyal following of customers. Among the regulars is Keith Buckley, 54, a risk management consultant in the insurance industry, who has been coming for the past year and a half. “I had seen it for a few years,’’ said Buckley, who lives in Braintree and had driven past the two-story blue wood-and-brick building many times, wondering what it was like inside. “It took a while to make the plunge, so to speak.’’ Buckley is now a convert, and steams once a week. “It’s a place to get away from things and clear your head. It gives me time to relax and get away from the day.’’ Emily Sweeney can be reached at esweeney@globe.com .

© Copyright 2012 Globe Newspaper Company. Finland Steam Baths, the last of its kind in Quincy, keep an Old World tradition alive - The Boston Globe By Emily Sweeney Globe Staff March 08, 2012 H alf a century ago, European immigrants and shipyard workers would head to a half-brick, half-wood building at 81 Copeland St. in Quincy and trudge up a flight of stairs to Finland Steam Baths on the second floor, to clean themselves of the dirt and grime from their hard labor. The shipyard closed in 1986, and the echoes of workers’ heavy boots on those steps are long gone, replaced by the patter of the polished shoes of business executives and young professionals looking to sweat out the stress of their modern lives by sitting in those same quiet rooms, surrounded by hot steam. Advertisement The handful of steam baths built in West Quincy in their heyday, explained Pakkala, were the “American version [of sauna] for many of the Finns’’ who settled in the area. One of the oldest surviving public steam baths in the Boston area today is Dillons Russian Steam Bath in Chelsea, established in 1885.

But most have disappeared. Pakkala said his parents bought Finland Steam Baths from another Finnish family in 1969. “It was a mom-and-pop operation, and still is,’’ he said. Back then, there were many native Finns in West Quincy. Bob Bloomberg, a researcher with the Quincy Historical Society, said the biggest wave of Finnish migration to Quincy occurred between 1890 and 1920, and the city’s Finnish population reached some 1,200 at its peak. The number of Quincy residents born in Finland slowly declined over the years, and today there are very few native Finns living in the city, he said. At Finland Steam Baths, the dressing rooms haven’t changed much since they first opened: The paneled walls are dark and polished, and constructed solidly of fir wood, which was commonly used in 1920s construction. There are six steam rooms, with two dressing rooms attached to each. Five hooks adorn the walls of each dressing room, along with a small mirror. An old-fashioned skeleton key pokes out of the keyhole in a side door that leads to the private shower and steam room.

The baths aren’t segregated by gender, and there is no limit on the number of people who can use a steam room. (The most they have held is nine people.) Barry Chin/Globe Staff Finland Steam Baths proprietor Seppo Pakkala shows off one of the six steam rooms and adjacent shower. Water pours onto a hot furnace, creating the desired level of steam. “Steamers’’ can bring their own soap, shampoo, or anything else you’d normally use in the shower (except for oils; those aren’t allowed because they are difficult to clean, according to Pakkala.) After you finish steaming, you return to the dressing room and shut the door, and turn the skeleton key to lock the door. Then you press a buzzer on the wall, which alerts Pakkala that you’re out of the shower and steam room, so he can begin cleaning it for the next person. If you stay past the time limit, he’ll signal that it’s time for you to get out by flickering the light. The steam room itself is a cozy space, painted sea green - measuring about 5 by 7 feet - with two wooden planks where you can sit or lie and rest your feet against the wall.

A furnace stands in one corner of the room, and above it hangs a pipe from which water streams. When you pull the lever on the side, water sprays down onto the hot furnace with a whoosh, creating clouds of steam. A thermometer and hygrometer on the wall shows how hot and humid it is in the room; humidity can get close to 100 percent. Visitors are given a white terrycloth towel, a face cloth, and a blue bucket to fill up with cool water that can be used for washing, or cooling down. Some people run the steam full blast, with the door shut, while others take breaks from the heat in the adjoining shower room. “Pay attention to the body,’’ said Pakkala. “Find what your body likes.’’ Sitting alone in a steam room can be a meditative, spiritual experience. It’s relaxing, calming. Besides the steamy furnace, there is virtually no other noise. You can hear yourself breathe. “For a Finn, it’s place of quietness,’’ said Pakkala. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Longtime “steamers’’ Karen and Jim Mullaney of Milton chatted with Pakkala.

Jim Mullaney said he started coming to the Copeland Street Finnish baths in 1974. Occasionally, a novice will inquire about this level of tranquility. Pakkala’s wife, Nicki, recalled the time when someone asked, “Do you have music?’’ She laughed as she recounted how she replied with resounding “No!’’ Since Pakkala took over the business from his parents in 1991, he has added a variety of holistic therapies to the menu of services. It now has a website ( and a Facebook page. Prices have gone up, too: In 1991, a steam cost $8 per person; today, it’s $30 per person for up to an hour (or $50 per hour, for couples). It’s not an easy business to run; Pakkala said the costs of oil for the furnace, water for the steam, and laundering the towels can run high. Besides that, much has stayed the same, and Pakkala said he has no plans to change anything. Finland Steam Baths is open four days a week, and is closed in the summer.

Every summer, the Pakkalas put new coats of paint on the shower and steam room walls and varnish the benches. During those warmer months, in their free time, the Pakkalas can be found at the Uljas Koitto Temperance Society, a traditional wood-fired sauna retreat in Pembroke. His family started going there in 1958, and he continues the tradition with his family today. As it enters its 84th year, the steam baths on Copeland Street continue to draw a loyal following of customers. “People tell us they’ve driven past for years’’ and not stopped in, said Nicki Pakkala. But once they do come in, they almost always come back for more. They usually say, “Ah . . . OK . . . We get it now,’’ she said. Among the regulars is Keith Buckley, 54, a risk management consultant in the insurance industry, who has been coming for the past year and a half. “I had seen it for a few years,’’ said Buckley, who lives in Braintree and had driven past the two-story blue wood-and-brick building many times, wondering what it was like inside.

“It took a while to make the plunge, so to speak.’’ Buckley is now a convert, and steams once a week. Since he started, he said, he finds that he has less pain in his joints, sleeps better, and can recover more quickly from workouts. “I was used to going into [steam rooms] at gyms. This is something else. It’s private, so it’s different here. You’re not getting people coming in and out. It’s much more comfortable,’’ said Buckley. “It’s a place to get away from things and clear your head. It gives me time to relax and get away from the day.’’ Emily Sweeney can be reached at esweeney@globe.com . Follow her on Twitter @emilysweeney . Loading comments...

Sauna | Definition of Sauna by Merriam-Webster noun sau·na \ˈsau̇-nə, ˈsȯ-nə\ Medical Definition of sauna 1: a Finnish steam bath in which the steam is provided by water thrown on hot stones; also : a bathhouse or room used for such a bath 2: a dry heat bath; also : a room or cabinet used for such a bath Learn More about sauna BBC - Travel - The origins of bathhouse culture around the world Cultural Activities The origins of bathhouse culture around the world Starting as early as the Neolithic Age, the tradition of the public bath has changed over the years to adapt to evolving cultures and social norms. By Suemedha Sood 30 November 2012 Hot baths, saunas, steam rooms, hot springs – spa culture takes on various forms throughout the world, and learning to relax like a local is a top attraction in many destinations.

But as entwined as bathhouse culture has become with many modern day societies, the seemingly omnipresent practice of using heat to release toxins is actually tens of thousands of years old, dating back to the Neolithic Age when nomadic tribes would find relief from the bitter cold by soaking in the various natural hot springs they stumbled upon around the world. One of the world’s earliest known public baths was built in the Indus Valley around 2500 BC in the lost city of Mohenjo-daro. Called the “Great Bath” , this large pool constructed of baked brick was excavated in the early 1900s by archaeologists in present-day Pakistan. Anthropologists say it may have been used as a temple, since bathing and cleanliness may have been linked to religious beliefs. Much later, around 300 BC, the practice of public bathing was adopted by the Romans, and the bath became a vital part of society , visited by rich and poor. For many it was the only place to rinse off after a long week of manual labour and at the time, crowds of men and women bathed naked together , as the bath was a primary place to gather and socialize.

The tradition of the public bath has since spread around the world, adapting to evolving cultures and social norms with differing customs and etiquette for each destination. Turkish hammam Turkish baths, called hammams, were likely derived in part from Roman and Byzantine baths -- an export of the Roman Empire that extended to Turkey in the 7th Century. The concept was predicated on having places of extreme cleanliness, where purifying the body went hand-in-hand with purifying the soul. Popularized around 600 AD , hammams were also spaces where major life events were celebrated, and bathing rituals were incorporated into weddings and births. The hammam is still a common gathering place for socializing and relaxing today. Upon entering, visitors may be given a towel, a pair of sandals and an abrasive mitt, a keşe -- meant for exfoliating the skin. The hammam typically consists of three main areas : a hot steam room with a large marble stone at the centre, where bathers lay as attendants scrub them and administer massages; a warm room for bathing; and a cool room for resting. Areas are typically gender-separated and nudity is optional.

One historic hammam worth visiting is Istanbul's Cagaloglu Hamami , a palatial marble bathhouse that was built in 1741. Russian banya Early historical accounts place the Russian banya, or bathhouse, in a central societal role by the 900s. In Slavic mythology, there was even a banya spirit, named Bannik, who was believed to hide under bathhouse benches , only to reveal himself if a visitor was disrespectful or misbehaved -- in which case, Bannik would throw boiling water or hot rocks at the disruptive bather. Throughout Russian history, the banya has been enjoyed by all classes. Villagers who did manual labour used to visit a public bathhouse, often the only place to wash off, while wealthy Russians would sometimes indulge in private banyas. Bathhouses were also visited as a spiritual experience, often on Sundays , a tradition that continues today. The act of bathers hitting themselves with bunches of birch twigs called veniki, for example, is with the intended purpose of opening pores and increasing circulationas well as an act of self-flagellation. Today, most banyas are gender separated and nudity is optional.

They typically include a cold plunge pool and a hot steam room with wooden benches at varying heights -- the higher you go, the hotter the steam gets. One of the oldest banyas in Moscow (and one of the most famous) is Sanduny Banya , built in 1806 . It’s a large complex today, with swimming pools, a fitness centre, a beauty salon and a restaurant. Japanese onsen Japanese onsen are natural hot springs, born from the country’s plentiful volcanic activity, and the practice of soaking in these thermal baths for healing, spirituality and rejuvenation stems back to when Buddhism spread to Japan in the 500s. Some evidence suggests that Buddhist monks had a hand in founding some of the earliest spa-like spots around the country. Since Japan’s onsen are based around natural formations, some have been around for thousands of years. One such place is Dogo Onsen , located on the island of Shikoku, believed to have been in use for at least 3,000 years. Mentions of the onsen have been found in texts from early Japanese history, illustrating it as the great leveller, welcoming gods, emperors and peasants alike .

There is a certain cultural protocol to keep in mind when visiting a Japanese hot spring resort (nudity is required, for example). Before taking the plunge, refer to this guide to onsen etiquette . Korean jimjilbang Disrobing is also mandatory in jimjilbangs, or Korean bathhouses, which are always separated by gender. Jimjilbangs are a family affair in South Korea, with everyone from children to the elderly joining in on the pastime. The origins of this tradition could be linked to the country’s natural hot springs, some of which have been in use for more than a thousand years. Today, many jimjilbangs are open 24-hours and offer lodging for the night, perfect for weary travellers. Also unique to Korea are the materials used in the saunas, steam rooms and hot tubs. For instance, jade may be used in the sauna to relieve joint pain and stress, while baked clay may be used to promote detoxification. Body scrubs are also very common, using a mitt similar to the Turkish kese, but with milk and water to moisturize the skin while promoting circulation.

One of the more famous jimjilbangs in Seoul is the massive Dragon Hill Spa , a seven-storey spa featuring a seawater bath, a salt room, saunas, baths, a swimming pool, a fitness centre, gardens, a food court, a nail salon, a golf course, an internet cafe and a movie theatre. The primary draw is the main sauna, heated by charcoal and infused with an oak aroma. Native American sweat lodge The earliest accounts of sweat lodges in Native American culture appear in writings by European settlers from the 1600s , and according to anthropologist Raymond A Bucko, author of The Lakota Ritual of the Sweat Lodge, sweat lodges have not changed significantly since that time. Participants in the sweat ritual gather inside a dome-shaped hut or tent, where a pile of heated rocks lies in the middle. A sweat leader tends to the rocks and may pour water on top to fill the lodge with steam. He also leads the group in prayer and song. During the ceremony, offerings such as tobacco may be made to the spirits. Unlike other bathhouses, sweat lodge rituals can last up to several hours.

There are often multiple 30-minute rounds, with breaks in-between to let the outside air in and drink water. The Native American sweat experience, a ceremony expressly and wholly focused on the spiritual, pushes both the body and the mind to its limits. Suffering for the sake of moral strengthening is one important theme that permeates throughout the sweat lodge, Bucko explained in his book. Finnish sauna Saunas are ubiquitous in Finland , a country with around two million saunas , or approximately one sauna for every two or three people. Nearly all Finns “take a sauna” at least once a week (even those in incarceration ) and many families own portable saunas to take on camping trips. “Sauna” is even a Finnish word, meaning a hot steam bath -- the steam for which is created by pouring water over heated stones. Although the origins of the Finnish sauna are murky, Finland’s cold climate likely contributed to the creation of this heat-filled structure. According to the documentary Steam of Life”, a film focused on Finland’s spa obsession, some of the first saunas were heated huts that also served as homes.

In addition to bathing, saunas would have been used for chores requiring high heat, such as curing meats, and practices requiring sterile environments, such as preparing to bury the dead. The traditional Finnish sauna -- which dates back to at least the 12th Century - is a smoke sauna, heated by a wood stove with no chimney . After soaking in the heat, many locals will head outside to roll around in the snow or jump into a hole in a frozen-over lake , since going from hot to cold is thought to stimulate blood circulation. The oldest public sauna still in use in Finland is the Rajaportin Sauna , a smoke sauna dating back to 1906 and located in the southern city of Tampere. To stay in Finland and not take a sauna would be like visiting Ancient Rome and not stopping at the local bathhouse. What better place to experience this age-old tradition than a historic spa that helped shape the customs of today? Finland Steam Baths, the last of its kind in Quincy, keep an Old World tradition alive - The Boston Globe Sending your article Your article has been sent.

H alf a century ago, European immigrants and shipyard workers would head to a half-brick, half-wood building at 81 Copeland St. in Quincy and trudge up a flight of stairs to Finland Steam Baths on the second floor, to clean themselves of the dirt and grime from their hard labor. The shipyard closed in 1986, and the echoes of workers’ heavy boots on those steps are long gone, replaced by the patter of the polished shoes of business executives and young professionals looking to sweat out the stress of their modern lives by sitting in those same quiet rooms, surrounded by hot steam. While much has changed in Quincy over the years, Finland Steam Baths remains a local institution, a throwback to simpler times. Family-owned and operated, the business has been around since 1928, and today is the last of its kind in the city. Seppo Johannes Pakkala, the 65-year-old owner of the establishment, who sports a white beard and a laid-back attitude, greets every visitor with a warm and welcoming smile. He is happy when newcomers arrive at his door, and loves to see their rosy cheeks and smiles when they leave, refreshed and rejuvenated.

“If you don’t try it, you’ll never know,’’ he said. “You can’t get any cleaner.’’ Public hot baths have been around for ages, and working up a good sweat is an old tradition practiced within many cultures. The Finns and Swedes have their saunas, and people have used Turkish baths, Native American sweat lodges, Russian banyas - all for similar purposes. Traditional steam baths and saunas share similarities as sacred spaces of communal cleanliness, with one distinct difference. Steam baths are extremely humid, with the temperature staying around 120 to 135 degrees. A traditional Finnish sauna (pronounced “sow-nah’’ by Finns), on the other hand, is wood-fired and produces dry heat that can reach over 200 degrees. Pakkala said the immigrants who built public baths in Quincy most likely chose steam baths because they are not as intensely hot as saunas. The handful of steam baths built in West Quincy in their heyday, explained Pakkala, were the “American version [of sauna] for many of the Finns’’ who settled in the area.

One of the oldest surviving public steam baths in the Boston area today is Dillons Russian Steam Bath in Chelsea, established in 1885. But most have disappeared. Pakkala said his parents bought Finland Steam Baths from another Finnish family in 1969. “It was a mom-and-pop operation, and still is,’’ he said. Back then, there were many native Finns in West Quincy. Bob Bloomberg, a researcher with the Quincy Historical Society, said the biggest wave of Finnish migration to Quincy occurred between 1890 and 1920, and the city’s Finnish population reached some 1,200 at its peak. The number of Quincy residents born in Finland slowly declined over the years, and today there are very few native Finns living in the city, he said. At Finland Steam Baths, the dressing rooms haven’t changed much since they first opened: The paneled walls are dark and polished, and constructed solidly of fir wood, which was commonly used in 1920s construction. There are six steam rooms, with two dressing rooms attached to each. Five hooks adorn the walls of each dressing room, along with a small mirror.

An old-fashioned skeleton key pokes out of the keyhole in a side door that leads to the private shower and steam room. The baths aren’t segregated by gender, and there is no limit on the number of people who can use a steam room. (The most they have held is nine people.) “Steamers’’ can bring their own soap, shampoo, or anything else you’d normally use in the shower (except for oils; those aren’t allowed because they are difficult to clean, according to Pakkala.) After you finish steaming, you return to the dressing room and shut the door, and turn the skeleton key to lock the door. Then you press a buzzer on the wall, which alerts Pakkala that you’re out of the shower and steam room, so he can begin cleaning it for the next person. If you stay past the time limit, he’ll signal that it’s time for you to get out by flickering the light. The steam room itself is a cozy space, painted sea green - measuring about 5 by 7 feet - with two wooden planks where you can sit or lie and rest your feet against the wall.

A furnace stands in one corner of the room, and above it hangs a pipe from which water streams. When you pull the lever on the side, water sprays down onto the hot furnace with a whoosh, creating clouds of steam. A thermometer and hygrometer on the wall shows how hot and humid it is in the room; humidity can get close to 100 percent. Visitors are given a white terrycloth towel, a face cloth, and a blue bucket to fill up with cool water that can be used for washing, or cooling down. Some people run the steam full blast, with the door shut, while others take breaks from the heat in the adjoining shower room. “Pay attention to the body,’’ said Pakkala. “Find what your body likes.’’ Sitting alone in a steam room can be a meditative, spiritual experience. It’s relaxing, calming. Besides the steamy furnace, there is virtually no other noise. You can hear yourself breathe. “For a Finn, it’s place of quietness,’’ said Pakkala. Occasionally, a novice will inquire about this level of tranquility.

Pakkala’s wife, Nicki, recalled the time when someone asked, “Do you have music?’’ She laughed as she recounted how she replied with resounding “No!’’ Since Pakkala took over the business from his parents in 1991, he has added a variety of holistic therapies to the menu of services. It now has a website ( ) and a Facebook page. Prices have gone up, too: In 1991, a steam cost $8 per person; today, it’s $30 per person for up to an hour (or $50 per hour, for couples). It’s not an easy business to run; Pakkala said the costs of oil for the furnace, water for the steam, and laundering the towels can run high. Besides that, much has stayed the same, and Pakkala said he has no plans to change anything. Finland Steam Baths is open four days a week, and is closed in the summer. Every summer, the Pakkalas put new coats of paint on the shower and steam room walls and varnish the benches.

During those warmer months, in their free time, the Pakkalas can be found at the Uljas Koitto Temperance Society, a traditional wood-fired sauna retreat in Pembroke. His family started going there in 1958, and he continues the tradition with his family today. As it enters its 84th year, the steam baths on Copeland Street continue to draw a loyal following of customers. “People tell us they’ve driven past for years’’ and not stopped in, said Nicki Pakkala. But once they do come in, they almost always come back for more. They usually say, “Ah . . . OK . . . We get it now,’’ she said. Among the regulars is Keith Buckley, 54, a risk management consultant in the insurance industry, who has been coming for the past year and a half. “I had seen it for a few years,’’ said Buckley, who lives in Braintree and had driven past the two-story blue wood-and-brick building many times, wondering what it was like inside. “It took a while to make the plunge, so to speak.’’ Buckley is now a convert, and steams once a week.

Since he started, he said, he finds that he has less pain in his joints, sleeps better, and can recover more quickly from workouts. “I was used to going into [steam rooms] at gyms. This is something else. It’s private, so it’s different here. You’re not getting people coming in and out. It’s much more comfortable,’’ said Buckley. “It’s a place to get away from things and clear your head. It gives me time to relax and get away from the day.’’ Emily Sweeney can be reached at esweeney@globe.com . Follow her on Twitter @emilysweeney . © Copyright 2012 Globe Newspaper Company. Conventional Steam Saunas ( or "traditional hot rocks" ) vs. Infrared Saunas | SDS Australia Conventional Steam Saunas ( or "traditional hot rocks" ) vs. Infrared Saunas Which Is Right For You? The health benefits of steam saunas have been recognized for centuries, beginning with sweat lodges, traditional Finnish saunas, and other methods of heating the body and producing perspiration that cleanses the cells and pores. Typically, a heat source such as a wood, electric or gas sauna stove is used to produce the heat in a sauna.

But in recent years, a technology known as far infrared has been used to replace the traditional steam sauna with infrared saunas, and some people feel that the result is superior. How Does A Far Infrared Sauna Work? Manufacturers say that far infrared saunas use infrared light to heat the skin directly, rather than warming the air first. In an infrared sauna, a heater produces this radiant energy, which is similar to the heat from the sun. Most of these heaters draw on technology developed in 1965 by Dr. Tadashi Ishikawa, a member of the Research and Development Department of Fuji Medical. Infrared sauna promoters state that unlike UV radiation or atomic radiation, infrared radiant heat is safe and beneficial. When infrared rays hit your skin, they transfer heat energy, which proponents say penetrates more than an inch and a half into the body to heal and stimulate tissues. In addition, the heat causes you to sweat, thus achieving health benefits similar to those from a conventional steam sauna. In fact, some say that the more penetrating and intense heat of a far infrared sauna makes you sweat 2-3 times more.

Reasons to Choose a Far Infrared Sauna Those who favor the use of the far infrared sauna say that the right frequency of infrared rays triggers a process called resonant absorption, wherein toxins are removed from the cells in our bodies at a higher rate than with a steam sauna. Perhaps one of the most important differences between conventional saunas and far infrared saunas is that they function at a lower heat setting. In addition, the heavy, thick air can be difficult to breathe, and the evaporation can dry out membranes in the nose and eyes. Sometimes the exceptionally high temperatures make the wood benches and any metal surfaces extremely hot as well, creating potential for burns. A far infrared sauna functions between 100F and 130F. Claims state that less than 20 of the infrared energy from the heater goes into the air, so not only does the body receive 80 of the heat benefits, some people find that the air is more tolerable. And other than the heaters, there are no hot surfaces to worry about. Another claim of infrared sauna manufacturers is that an infrared sauna heater uses considerably less electricity than indoor or outdoor saunas that use electricity to heat.

Plus, the sauna is usually warm within 10 or 20 minutes, whereas a conventional sauna can take near an hour to reach optimal temperatures. And infrared uses no water, so you don?t have to plumb pipes or pay for that additional expense. In fact, many feel that infrared saunas are easier to assemble and they can be moved to a new location with relative ease. The Other Side of the Sauna Story On the flip side of the comparison, many people feel that a steam sauna provides benefits that can?t be matched by a far infrared sauna. Their main position is that the steam produced by a conventional sauna is essential to the healing process, especially in regard to respiratory health. In response to those who say a steam sauna will dry out membranes, supporters of Finnish and other conventional saunas state that the steam is beneficial to those with sinus conditions and add that because they operate without steam, infrared saunas are drying and can irritate nasal and lung passages. In addition the dry heat from infrared saunas can cause hair to dry out and skin to become itchy and flaky. Supporters of conventional saunas feel that information about the health benefits of saunas that operate with infrared have been exaggerated or claimed without proof.

They refer to different studies that show a traditional sauna produces more sweat and removes more toxins. And some say that any radiation, even infrared, is unhealthy and should be avoided. An infrared sauna has several heaters, and bathers must sit within a foot of the heat source in order to gain full benefits. In some cases, this has caused people to feel sunburned following an infrared sauna. Others who prefer conventional saunas feel that a steam sauna simply feels more healthy and refreshing. And because you can control the steam, heat, and humidity by adding more water or moving to a higher or lower bench in the sauna, you can tailor the experience to match your needs and preferences. Some people prefer a sauna that is heated with wood, allowing a traditional heat source as well as the option to add smoke to the sauna for additional purifying features. Others add aromatherapy oils to their sauna steam to create a dual cleansing and healing effect. This is typically not possible with an infrared sauna. And there is the tradition and ritual that comes along with certain aspects of a sweat lodge or Finnish sauna that have been a part of different cultures for hundreds of years.

For many people, a sauna is not only key to a healthy physical life, it is also important to overall spiritual health, and making the steam, or l yly (lou-lu), is an important part of that ritual. Gain First-Hand Knowledge Before Choosing When it comes to choosing between an infrared sauna and a steam sauna or one that operates with more conventional technology, it is best to try each type yourself and to talk with people who own them. Take time to fully research your options and talk to your doctor about health concerns with either type of sauna. In the end, the choice may come down to limitations in budget, space available, preferences in heating sources, or other personal factors. No matter which you choose, you will be joining the ranks of millions of people who use and enjoy saunas to improve their health, provide relief and relaxation from life?s stresses, socialize with friends and family, and even find spiritual peace.

Question: Hot steam bath - from Finnish?
Answer: Sauna