Mostly to my non-german readers: About saunas

[elfy]

A friend of mine told me, that when she was in Canada, it was quite hard for her to find a sauna. And as she found one, people actually wore swimsuits when they used it. I now wonder ... in the country where you live, how is it there? Are there saunas? I mean, saunas for normal use and not for some sort of sex business? Are they common? And are they used naked or do people wear stuff? Do YOU like to go to the sauna? Or would you like to try it, but you've never been to one?

I'm just curious :)
Here in germany saunas are quite common, you find several big wellness clubs / spas with lots of saunas in every city and quite some public baths have a sauna area, in smaller citites you also fairly often stumble upon saunas and I know a hand full of people who have private saunas at home. Also, fitness-clubs tend to have saunas as well. In these days saunas are usually for both sexes, sometimes there is a certain area/day just for women, but it gets rarer. It is not only uncommon to wear something in a sauna here, it is actually discouraged or even forbidden.
Personally I love to go to the sauna :D I wish the really nice ones weren't so expensive.

Comments

Not in Venezuela...

[themooselet.livejournal.com]

Back in Venezuela saunas are a very rare thing, only for very fancy clubs. No wonder, with our 30°C year-round!
Latin Americans in general have a hard time getting naked in front of strangers --wearing a tiny tiny swimsuit is no problem (for one tires to choose one that enhances one's features and hides the faults), but full nakedness? Never! Not even at the gym showers, surrounded by other women only!
You can imagine it was a struggle to convince me to go to a sauna here in Germany --but once the clothes were off and I realized that people were relaxing and not, as they'd do back home, ogling or criticizing, it was somewhat fun.

Re: Not in Venezuela...

[elfy.livejournal.com]

Very nice that you got comfortable so quickly! I think especially in winter going to the sauna is a fantastic thing to do :) And yes, I guess quite some first time goers are surprised, that usually noone is staring at you at all.