Page "Sauna" Paragraph 19

In Finnish and Latvian sauna culture, a beer afterwards is thought to be refreshing and relaxing.

Pouring a few centiliters of beer into the water that is poured on the hot stones releases the odor of the grain used to brew the beer.

This distinctive smell, however, sharply divides Finnish people.

Other scents can be used ( for example pine tar or eucalyptus ), but using any scents other than birch leaves is frowned upon by the traditionalists.

A common method for adding birch leaf scent is to wet the leaves of a vihta in water, and then place the vihta on the hot stones for a second or two.

This also conveniently heats the vihta for use to whip the users skin to increase blood circulation.

According to Finnish lore, the human body is most beautiful thirty minutes after a sauna.