The short answer: heat up in the sauna for ten or fifteen minutes, throw a little water on the stones for a wave of steam, called löyly, then cool down outside or in a shower, and repeat two or three times. Drink water between rounds. There are no strict rules, only good habits.
Löyly: the steam is the point
A Finnish sauna is dry heat until you throw water on the hot stones. The steam that rises, löyly, is what makes the sauna feel soft and enveloping rather than simply hot. Start with a small ladle and wait: the heat reaches the top bench first and then settles. If it is too much, move to a lower bench.
Cooling down
The cool-down is half the experience. Step outside into the winter air, sit for a minute, and let the steam rise off your skin. Some people roll in the snow; many prefer a cold shower or just the cold air. Then go back in. Two or three rounds is plenty for most people.
A few good habits
- Shower before you go in
- Sit on a towel or a bench cover
- Take off jewellery; metal heats up
- Drink water between rounds, and keep alcohol for afterwards
- Leave when you feel like it: there is no prize for staying longest
Sauna etiquette
In Finland the sauna is a quiet, relaxed place. Public saunas are usually separate for men and women, and people go without swimwear. In a private sauna, like the one in a Grand Glow Chalet, you do exactly as you like.
The sauna in the Grand Glow Chalets
Every Grand Glow Chalet has its own private, handcrafted Finnish sauna, a few steps from the bed, and three of them also have a private outdoor jacuzzi: sauna, then hot water under the northern sky.