Bastu - national Swedish bath
There is nothing more suitable for cleansing the body and soul than a good bath. Today, more than ever, the Finnish sauna is popular and in demand, about which you can hear and read a lot, as well as visit it. But not everyone knows that she has a very close relative, which is the Swedish bathhouse Bastu.
Swedish bath Bastu
The Swedes are distinguished by their special love for everything comfortable, high-quality, natural and pleasing to the eye. So Bastu is the embodiment of all this. One of the features that distinguishes the Swedish sauna from others is the ventilation in the sauna, which provides 100% free air circulation, which will allow you to breathe freely and easily while in the sauna.
Basic principles of Bastu design
Bastu is a convection bath in which there is a constant movement of air masses, which greatly facilitates breathing. The principle of ventilation and drying at the time of the founding of this bath was as follows. Its structure resembled an inverted glass and stood above the ground. There were gaps in its floor that opened onto the street. The air from below the steam room, passing through the stove, heated up and rose inside, filling the room, it displaced the cold through these cracks. The principle of the “inverted glass” is still relevant today, only in a more modernized version.
Materials used in assembling Bastu
The sauna itself is assembled from ready-made panels or timber. For the external cladding, insulation and lining are used. If in a Finnish sauna foil is often used as a heat-insulating material, then one of the features of Bastu is the use of special mineral fiber as a heat insulator. This particular material is used because it is generally accepted that foil dries out the wood greatly.
If in the manufacture of a Swedish bath such materials as glass were used in windows and portholes of walls and doors, then the dominant material of Bastu is still wood. The cabins are made of softwood, particularly spruce or cedar. Mainly slow-growing spruce trees are used. Since the structure of the materials obtained from them is more dense. The resulting wood is subjected to vacuum heat treatment. After this procedure, its humidity is no more than 7%.
The advantage of cedar is that it produces almost no resin. A cedar sauna is beautiful and cozy with a golden and slightly reddish tint to the walls. Cedar wood also has an exceptionally pleasant aroma that fills the steam room for a very long time. The peculiarity of such materials is that they are extremely light and moisture resistant.
Swedish sauna installed in the bathroom of the house
Prefabricated Swedish baths, just like Finnish ones, are very convenient. They are assembled within a few hours. Recently, Bastu made from spruce logs has become very popular, which gives the sauna an exceptional color and pristine appearance. In addition to the types of wood described above, Canadian hemlock and alder are also used in the construction of a Swedish bath.
The rest of the interior decoration is also made of wood, but of a different species, which has a porous structure and heats up rather slowly. Which is simply irreplaceable in the manufacture of products whose surfaces are constantly in contact with the body. This is the African abah tree. Also in our homeland there grows a tree that is not inferior to abacha in moisture resistance and beauty. One can even say that in these qualities it leaves the “foreigner” behind. This tree is aspen. Benches, cornices, buckets, lamps, thermometers, flooring and all interior decoration are made from such wood inside Bastu. You can also complement the sauna with comfortable wooden chairs - sun loungers and a swimming pool, also made of wood. Aspen is simply irreplaceable if the Finnish sauna operates in the Russian steam room mode.
About 90% of bath and sauna technology experts consider the principles of building Swedish baths to be the most effective and best among all others in the world. There are indisputable facts about this. Despite the fact that the word “sunnah” came from the Finnish language, in ancient times the palaces of the Vatican and the Principality of Monaco were equipped with saunas built according to the Bastu principle. In fact, it boasts a fairly significant list of advantages that distinguish this type of bathhouse from others that are equally popular.
One of the main advantages is considered to be the prostate control of such a sauna. In order to launch Basta, you only need to press a few buttons. Also an undeniable advantage is the mobility of this bathhouse and its rather small size. Thanks to this, Basta can easily be installed in almost any room, including even in the bathroom or attic. But the room for placing a Swedish sauna must be heated.
Stoves for Swedish saunas
The Swedes use the stoves used in Bastu as heaters. These are special electric stoves designed for installation in saunas. They are quite easy to use and very practical. Using such stoves, you can warm up the entire sauna room in just 30 minutes. This is much easier than using wood-burning stoves in Russian baths, which not everyone can light, or any other stoves that run on liquid or solid fuel, since they require cleaning, and some require constant support for the fire to burn.
Heater for saunas and baths
Conclusion!
The Swedes preferred modern technologies, and in particular programmable heaters, which are practically autonomous. No one should have any difficulties when working with this technique. The electronic heater system is programmed to turn on and off independently. This allows you to set sauna operating modes, which may include continuous operation of Bastu throughout the day or week. In this case, the heaters operate in standby mode, remaining constantly warmed up.
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How I took a steam bath in the nudist baths of Austria
How I took a steam bath in the nudist baths of Austria
I wanted to touch on a slightly fun topic about how the Austrians usually take baths. I had to overcome myself and plunge into the nudist theme - visit the public baths. Shock and embarrassment. Yes, it’s customary for them to go naked to saunas, and then plop into the pool.
Then I went to sauna events: they whipped me with a hot flag, smeared me with a sticky, prickly and cold thing, and forced me to sit naked in a sauna for 20 minutes.
I did this only for you, to write this story! Of course I didn't take any photos. 
Holidays in Bad Ischl
In the fall, Lena and I had a decorous and aristocratic holiday at the wonderful resort of Bad Ischl in Austria. People come to this retirement town for the thermal springs. How can you live in Bad Ischl and not improve your health?
We collected towels and bathing accessories and headed to the Eurothermen baths.
Eurothermen thermal springs
I'll tell you the system briefly. At the entrance you pay a ticket of €16 for 4 hours. You are given a bracelet watch. You apply them to the turnstile and the time is up. If you dare to take off all your clothes and go to the nudist area, you will be charged another €7.5 for the whole day. They will need to be paid upon departure.
We go to the locker rooms. They are common. Here and there naked bodies flash. Of course, we changed clothes in the cabins. I didn’t tell Lena that there was a cult of naturalists here, but she began to guess.
Then we disperse to separate showers and meet near the pools.
Thermal pool complex
Main pool (Photo by Daria Pismenyuk)
I'll tell you about the pools. (Most of the photos are from Daria Pismenyuk). At the entrance we are greeted by a warm swimming pool with mineral water. We immediately plop into it. So glad! Along the edges there are underwater loungers with a Jacuzzi, fountains for the back and neck.
Going outside (Photo by Daria Pismenyuk)
Next we go outside for a swim. Through such a polyethylene portal we enter the cold evening air. It is drizzling, but the water is warm.
Outdoor pool (Photo by Daria Pismenyuk)
We made a circle in the outdoor pool. That's not all! There is a river with a current. She immediately takes us to an unknown place. We swim into the salt cave. Warm, a lot of steam, salt on the walls and ceiling. It's good to breathe some air there.
We swim further - open underwater sunbeds. But it’s already evening and we’re not interested in them.
The next stop is again a salt cave. Most likely there is some other salt in there. We played with the underwater currents and swam another circle along the river. The head is cold, but the body is warm. We are afraid of catching a cold and go to warm up in the jacuzzi.
In the small pool there are various Jacuzzis in a circle. Either a stream in the back, or in the ass. Pensioners are evenly distributed around the perimeter. By the way, we arrived already at eight o'clock. Grandparents are slowly leaving, and young people are arriving. This is good! After all, I still have to go to the nudist zone. I don't want to traumatize the psyche.
He left Lena to warm up in the jacuzzi, and he went to show off his charms in the nudist zone.
Nudist zone
Nudist zone
I go through the turnstile. The display says that I will be charged about €7 more. I open the doors. They say that you are crossing a nudist zone and it would not hurt you to undress. At the entrance there is a large hall with sun loungers. Some are cooling down after the bath, others are just reading the newspaper. I exposed myself and covered myself with a towel just in case. I rinsed off in the shower and went to the saunas.
How many saunas are there! I walked around for about 10 minutes and studied them. I went to each one. You must remove your slippers upon entry. You cannot sit on your butt on wooden surfaces. All places where the skin comes into contact with the wood must be covered with a towel! That is, put it under your butt and legs.
Kaiser sauna, Country house sauna, Mine sauna, Gallery sauna, Stone bath, Steam bath, Saltwater inhalation grotto, Infrared cabins, Large saltwater pool, Hot whirlpool, Cold pool.
I don’t remember which sauna is called. Choose from the list above according to your meaning. At the entrance there are signs everywhere: what it’s called, what the temperature and humidity are, how long you need to stay there.
I went into the first sauna. I looked at how everyone was laying out towels. I did the same. It seemed like no one was looking sideways at me. There were no grandmothers. There were ladies and men with decent physiques. Hot.
I went into the next sauna. It's not so hot there anymore. I sat and warmed myself. There are several girls around. One of them lies with her legs bent at the knees. He became embarrassed and moved on.
I looked into the bathhouse. It’s very humid and not hot – I’ll come here for the last time. I'm walking down the corridor. On the right, men are splashing in the jacuzzi. I don’t want to go to them After every sauna you need to take a shower - I took a shower.
Next is the infrared sauna. Two women are sitting. Will not go.
What is this foggy glass door? He opened it and went in. Still nothing is visible because of the steam. Here, apparently, you need to stand and breathe. I don’t know how many people stood and breathed next to me - I didn’t see anything. I felt somehow uneasy. Came out.
Ahead is a large swimming pool for naturalists. A naked old man is splashing in the water. There - on the back, back on the stomach. There are still people around the edges. I'll buy it later if no one is there.
Then the bathhouse attendant came and it began!
Then the bathhouse attendant came and it began!
The bathhouse attendant, with a towel on his hips, said something in German. Everyone obediently followed him. I came to get a report for you! I also had to go. What do I have to lose already?
Everyone went outside. It's kind of chilly there. There is another large round sauna outside! We all went there. The bathhouse attendant closed the door, put up some kind of sign, and turned over the hourglass. I realized that I was stuck here for at least 20 minutes.
Everyone sat in a circle on wooden benches opposite the trolley. The bath attendant turned up the heat. The temperature began to rise. People laid out their bodies on towels in a relaxed manner. I sat quietly, not showing much of my charms. On the top shelf at the level of my shoulders, a couple of men sat down and started a conversation with each other. I wasn’t very pleased to be near their scrotums and I moved away
While the temperature was rising, I timidly looked around at those around me. They were all quite young, 25-35 years old, with a pleasant build. There are slightly more men than women. How can I write more correctly? There is something to see
Queue for white powder
Meanwhile, the temperature is rising noticeably! The bathhouse attendant came in and kicked everyone out into the street. Everyone lined up. Everyone dipped their hand into the barrel. I took white powder. And rubbed it on his sweaty skin. What is this?
It was my turn. He scooped up the white powder with his hand. He began to rub it on his skin. The grains were very large. It tore my skin like sand. It's salt! Everyone went back to the sauna to sweat.
Why is the bath attendant waving the Austrian flag?
The show didn't end there. Now the temperature was already approaching 80. The bathhouse attendant came in. Brought a flag. Added essential oils. Why does he need a flag?
Not only did he bring the flag, but he also began to sing songs and wave it patriotically. It dawned on me - to make it even hotter! Now he approached everyone and waved the flag in front of their faces. The heat hit me so much that I was almost left without eyebrows and eyelashes. I'm already overheated. Time ran out and everyone began to leave. We took turns taking showers outside.
The crowd moved on in single file. Where to now? We went into a room with a swimming pool. Everyone takes turns diving into it. Me too. How cold the water is there! I instantly perked up and took off like a bullet. I've had enough for today. And Lena was tired of waiting.
When I came to her, I couldn’t say anything due to overheating. My body and I were in shock. I wanted to tell her everything and take her there, but it was already ten o’clock. Time to go home. That evening I slept like the dead.
Second round with the bathhouse attendant. Who will win?
The next evening I managed to persuade Lena to take off her clothes and go to the kingdom of naturalists. Yesterday I looked at the schedule of bathhouse performances. I've already been to the salt plant. Now let’s go together to learn some obscure German word
We are now taking bolder steps into the clothing-free zone. Lena quickly undressed and wrapped herself in a towel. The bathhouse attendant again calls you outside to the round sauna. Turns the heat back on.
What has the cheerful mass entertainer prepared for today?
We sat in a circle. Lena sits wrapped in a towel. I'm a little more relaxed. That's it... break. Everyone comes out. Lena had to part with her towel. There is a queue outside for the bathhouse attendant. Everyone approaches him and he carefully sprays liquid from a spray bottle in front and behind. What is it this time? Salt? No!
Mint water. The sensations are unusual. We go back to the sauna. It’s somehow strange - the air is hot, but the skin is cooled. Mint stings most in the folds, especially in the back
Not as extreme as yesterday with salt and flag. But at least they didn’t traumatize Lena’s psyche. She accepted nudism with dignity. She didn't feel very comfortable there. I’m already used to it.
He sent her to a normal pool, and he continued his experiments. I looked into the sauna, where the steam could make you hang an ax. I walked along the walls by touch. It seems like I didn’t run into anyone backwards. I swam naked in the pool - I love that. We also had a case in Kama
Warmed up in a not hot, damp bathhouse. The bathhouse attendant came and offered homemade strawberry jam for the stove. I don't know where to put it, so I refused.
Sticky bodies
Time for a new show! Everyone enters the wet room. There are tiled benches instead of wooden benches. There are no towels here anymore. Nothing can hide you from prying eyes! Everyone washed the bench from the shower and sat down.
Mr. bathhouse attendant gave everyone packs of sticky mass. Everyone diligently began to rub their thighs, legs, bellies, chests and arms. Well, me too. Lick it - it turns out it's honey. Okay, give me two!
I smeared myself properly and sat warming myself.
The eyes themselves look at those around them. There are more women attending such spa treatments, young ones by the way. The main thing here is not to goof off. I can’t even imagine what I would have done if... But everything seemed to go well. Rinse off quickly in the shower. And then it’s already ten o’clock again – it’s time to go home.
Total
The thermal baths are definitely worth a visit. I did not touch upon the topic of health improvement here. There is a lot of information about this, but few personal impressions are shared. It’s not easy for me to pour out my soul to you either, but I took a risk - after all, today is April 1st. I won’t say what’s true and what’s fiction. Otherwise I’ll say that everything is true, and you’ll laugh at me. At the first opportunity I will visit the thermal baths again.
