Steam or Sauna, what's the difference?

[Parm]

At the gym I go to, there's a Steam room and a Sauna. What I don't know however is what's the difference?

I realise of course that the Sauna is hot and dry and the Steam is hot and wet but what are the benefits of each one? I just like sitting in them so I have a swim, then sit in the Sauna for a bit, then sit in the Steam for a bit too. I'd love to know what they're doing though.

[Stewart]

You sit in the steam room alone, you sit in the sauna with 2 ladies and some champagne on ice.

[chrestomanci]

In Finland some saunas are wood fired and have smoke instead of just steam.

[Theo]

Anyone in the know feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

A sauna makes you sweat - I imagine aiding in the expulsion of toxins, etc.

Steam rooms open up your pores, likely improving the condition of your skin.

[MadduckUK]

dosnt sweating open your pores?

[g8ina]

Jeez, have you lot never used a Sauna or steamie ?

A Sauna is generally dry heat at up to 100 Deg C (if you can take it), and the steam room is wet, only a low temp by comparison, but saturated so you feel its even hotter !

Sauna first, get the pores open, then a shower, then a steamie and a cold plunge (or ice cold shower if they don't have a plunge pool).

You can pour a little water onto the rocks in the Sauna if you want it to sting a little, but dry is best IMHO.

Very invigorating. I used to have 3-4 Saunas a week. Drink a little but often during the session.

DON'T fall asleep in the Sauna !!!!!

[MagicFreebiesUK]

thx for the info g8ina but why is it better to have the sauna before steam.

TIA

[Merlin4458]

cant breath in steam room lol

[g8ina]

thx for the info g8ina but why is it better to have the sauna before steam.

TIA

It's a case of opening the pores in the Sauna, and then DEEP opening the pores in the Steamie (I reckon - worked better for me that way round whatever the reason).

[Parm]

I've been using your technique g8ina and it feels fine to me!

I have a swim, then sit in the sauna, then have a swim, then sit in the steam, then have a swim and I'm done.

[g8ina]

... with a shower in between each one I hope

[Parm]

Yeah there's a shower outside the steam and the sauna so I always pass through it on my way

[autopilot]

A sauna can also benefit your mussels after a work out, like a massive heat pack for your whole body.

Although i do think sauna's are overrated. Like using them, but only because they are so hot and unpleasant that it feels great when you get out and shower/pool. Like banging your head against a wall, because its so nice when you stop!

[Moony]

Anyone in the know feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

A sauna makes you sweat - I imagine aiding in the expulsion of toxins, etc.

Steam rooms open up your pores, likely improving the condition of your skin.

If that is true, I'll go to the steam rooms now. Could be nice if you're right - I hope so.

[YorkieBen]

Saunas are horrible

I know a guy who was cutting weight for a weighin before a fight and he was in a sauna for over 5 hours

[Grimley]

Most of the steam rooms I've been in this country (mainly holiday inns with a leisure complex) emit menthol vapours which helped no end as I had a cold one time I used one.
Saying that I prefer Saunas than steam rooms.