World Sauna Rituals: How Different Cultures Do Heat & Steam
Humans have always loved a good sweat. We heat up, cool down, take a breather, and go again. From the cedar of the Russian banya to the marble glow of a Turkish hammam, every culture follows a version of the same loop: Hot → Cold → Rest → Repeat. Here’s a friendly tour.
What makes it a ritual (not just a hot room)
Think simple and cyclical: Hot → Cold → Rest → Repeat.
- Hot: time in heat (steam room, dry sauna, hot slab, mineral bath).
Cold: plunge, cool shower, fresh air, or sea dip. - Rest: sit or lie down, hydrate (water or tea), let your body settle.
- Repeat: 1–2 more light rounds are enough for most people.
This rhythm – not just the temperature – is what makes you leave clear-headed and calm.
Russian banya
Vibe: aromatic steam, venik & oak leaves, guided heat flow; a big “ahh” after the plunge.
Room: 70–100 °C, 40–60% humidity; steam comes from water on hot stones.
Typical round (Hot → Cold → Rest → Repeat)
- Hot: 7–10 min in steam on a lower/medium bench.
- Hot upgrade: Parenie Ritual – a bathmaster uses warmed venik (birch/oak whisks) to wave heat and gently tap muscles (8–12 min).
Cold: cold plunge or icy shower (10–20 sec; exhale as you enter). - Rest: 10–15 min lounge + herbal tea; optional Honey & Salt Scrub before the next round.
- Repeat: one more, lighter cycle if you feel good.
Tips: start lower, stand up slowly, hydrate, skip alcohol beforehand.
Finnish sauna & löyly
Simple and quiet. Dry heat with moments of löyly – the soft rush of steam when water hits the stones. Sit for a few minutes, step out for cool air or a dip, come back in. Maybe a gentle birch vihta whisk. Less talk, more calm.
Turkish hammam
Warm marble, slow pacing, thorough cleansing. You heat up on the central slab, get a vigorous kese mitt scrub, then a cloud-soft foam massage. Rinse, rest, float out.
Moroccan hammam
Earthy and botanical. You’ll see savon noir (beldi black soap), a firm kessa scrub, and rhassoul clay to finish. Rinse, sip mint tea, admire that just-polished skin.
German/Alpine aufguss
A bit of theatre. A sauna master pours scented water on the stones, then does rhythmic towel-fanning to move the heat around the room. Timed rounds, shared focus, respectful hush – sometimes music too.
Baltic pirts (Latvia/Lithuania)
Nature-first and nurturing. Gentle heat, herbal whisking, mindful breathing, slow cool-downs and tea. A close cousin of banya with a softer, herbal twist.
Explore the Latvian pirts event at Banya No.1 – Hoxton
Japan: onsen/sento & ofuro
Less “sauna,” more soaking. You wash first, then sink into a mineral onsen or wooden ofuro (about 40–45 °C). Quiet voices, no rush, a cool rinse, a long exhale.
Read more about the differences between the Russian banya and Japanese baths
Korea: jjimjilbang
A whole day if you want it. Different heat rooms (salt, jade, charcoal), a proper full-body scrub, naps, simple food, and family time. Come and go, warm and rest, repeat.
Iceland: geothermal bathing
Outdoors, mineral water, cool air on your face. Long soaks, short cool walks, big skies. Elemental and very “ahhh”.
First-timer cheat sheet
- Eat light; no alcohol beforehand.
- Hot: start on lower benches; keep round one short (6–8 min).
- Cold: a quick rinse or 10–20 sec plunge is enough to begin.
Rest: 10–15 min between rounds (feet up if you like). - Repeat: only if you feel good; stop while you still feel great.
- Skin care: after scrubs, moisturise after you cool down.
- Medical note: if pregnant or with heart/respiratory issues, keep cycles mild and talk to a clinician first.
Experience authentic Russian banya in London
At Banya No.1 – Hoxton we keep the Slavic ritual alive: breathable steam, birch and oak venik, and a calm tea lounge to unwind after. Our steam room runs at 70–100 °C with 40–60% humidity – ideal for guided Parenie Ritual and a brisk cold plunge.
