May 20, 2011
Naked Finnish men walked to the frozen lake for a swim as they spent a day at Helsinki's Suomen Saunaseura (Finnish Sauna Society).
Stepping naked out of the sauna, steaming bodies walk purposefully towards a hole in the ice to plunge into the Baltic Sea. Minutes later they emerge lightheaded, savouring a typically Finnish high.
The traditional saunas are usually practised among the priviledged. It is today the most elitist establishment of its kind, according to AFP.
At Suomen Saunaseura, Seppo Pukkila, president of Suomen Saunaseura society, is more than the president, owner or manager of a private club since he is in charge of the temperature.
Six mornings a week, he fills the saunas’ ovens with stacks of wood so that five hours later they they will reach the perfect temperature.
The two conventional chimney saunas are heated to between 60 and 80 degrees Celsius (140 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit.) Two smoke saunas — which do not have a chimney to let out the smoke — reach between 80 and 120 degrees Celsius.
Another one, also a smoke sauna sends the mercury soaring to between 120 and 150 degrees Celsius.
When it comes to sauna, all men are equally naked and sweaty no matter who they are -- Mr. President, student or office worker.
Former US president George Bush and President Martti Ahtisaari, who went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize, were among the VIPs who used to visit Suomen Saunaseura.
This sauna club is known internationally. The more you come to this place, the more want to come again. It is just another kind of addiction.
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