Valdas on the roots of the Lithuanian sauna: “In the sauna it was easier not only to be born, but also to die” | Lifetime

– Since when did people in Lithuania start using saunas?

– 13 c. Archaeologists managed to find the oldest Lithuanian bathhouse in the Kernavė Pajauta valley. But I don’t even doubt that our ancestors built the sauna as they learned how to build houses. We have the Lithuanian word “sauna”, it is very old, just like our language.

– What was the purpose of the sauna?

– The first purpose of the sauna was to wash. People there did what was comfortable to do.

In the past, women gave birth in the sauna. It was the most sterile place in the field, the heat eased contractions, the relaxing atmosphere of the sauna was very helpful: mild heat, shingles smell. Also, as they say, happiness in the sauna is a folder that will not really confuse the newborn.

– How is the sauna represented in Lithuanian legends and myths?

– The sauna is subject to many prohibitions. For example, girls were not allowed to go to the sauna alone, and without an adult, boys could not play in the sauna. I heard these bans from witnesses they told me about their children’s bathroom.

Also, when the sauna is not heated, children are not allowed to be in and near the sauna.

The sauna has always been a special place, filled with all kinds of inexplicable prohibitions. Not everything is possible. Also in mythological tales, the sauna is covered in folk characters: demons and fairies.

– Is there a connection between the old religion and the sauna?

– It definitely is. Prof. Rimantas Balsys reveals the direct connections between the bathhouse and ancient religion in his article “The Little Peasant Church”.

In my opinion, in the ancient religion, people were spiritual in all their surroundings. The sauna was a special place where life and death meet. Matthew Pretoria, the chronicler of the King of Prussia, wrote that there were inhabitants in Prussia who bathed daily and bathed in them in honor of their gods.

For me, the sauna is an inexhaustible door to the depths of our spirit.

– What do you mean, life and death meet there?

– As I mentioned earlier, the women gave birth in the sauna. And as for death, the body of the deceased was washed in the sauna. It is also known that a weak patient was prepared to say goodbye to life in the sauna. The heat in the sauna made it easier not only to be born but also to die.

– What does sauna mean to you?

– A very mysterious place. Even though I have been in this field for many years, the further I go, the more I realize how much I don’t know. For me, the sauna is an inexhaustible door to the depths of our spirit.

– What do you think is most important when you go to the sauna with the company?

– If you want to get not only physical benefits from the sauna, but also spiritual benefits, it is very important that the sauna participants feel each other. Respect the silence in the sauna. Frequent talking and opening the sauna door is very annoying. Such behavior deprives people around us of the opportunity to receive spiritual benefits and complete relaxation.

– Do you need to drink more water than usual during the sauna?

– It is necessary to drink water during and after the sauna. Better at room temperature or warmer. You need to drink as much water as you lose weight during the sauna.

During the Soviet era, it was a good tradition to keep scales in public toilets. Heavy people could perfectly know how much water to drink. If you not only lie in the sauna, but also bathe, you can lose up to two liters of water. The body emits a lot of fluids, so if you don’t drink enough water, you may feel lacking in energy the next day.

– What should I eat in the sauna? And in general, should it be?

– Sometimes people like to party in the sauna. However, eating food is a great burden on the body. In the sauna, the stomach does not want to digest, because the body devotes all its energy resources to cooling.

However, if a person comes to the sauna without eating, he may feel weak and uncomfortable due to hunger. Before the sauna, it is better to eat lightly so as not to feel hungry and not burden the body.

– Others cover their heads with a felt hat when they go to the sauna. Necessary?

– If you don’t cover your head, none of that. However, in the sauna, except when lying down, the head is in the highest position. To stay in a comfortable state for longer, a hat and a hat are worn in the sauna. If the head is not covered, nothing terrible, but it will heat up much faster than the rest of the body, so you may feel discomfort, come out of the sauna, even if the body has not yet fully warmed up.

It is better not to bring cheap essential oils to the sauna.

– How to use essential oils in the sauna?

– Burning today becomes a common sauna smell. Do not pour essential oil or other fragrance liquid directly on hot stones, as it will burn. It is possible to pour only with water on the previously cooled edge of the oven.

Burnt essential oil asks me a lot of questions about what we actually breathe if the smell is synthesized. Essential oils are a wonderful thing, only these days it’s hard to get them naturally. It is better not to bring cheap essential oils to the sauna.

– How, in addition to essential oils, can we enjoy aromas in the sauna?

– In summer, you can use natural aromas of herbs and tree branches in the sauna. For example, mint, wormwood, turtle, cherry, fir, juniper, pine, spruce. Mosteli groups these plants together and spreads a rich aroma. When juniper is boiled in boiling water, you will have a fragrant broom and another decoction of the plant, which is very fragrant to wash after the sauna.

– What is the best way to cool off after the sauna?

There are many ways, but the most important thing is to listen to your body, which always knows which temperature contrast is best for you. It is best for one person to cool down to an outside temperature first, only to jump into the water later and another dive immediately. The contrast must be chosen individually.

For example, if you have a sensitive nervous system or heart problems, you shouldn’t rush to catch a cold. The main thing: listen to your body.

The number of entrances to the sauna must also be chosen individually; some need a few and others need up to six. If you rarely befriend the sauna and don’t know how much you need, it’s always best to moderate.

– What kind of human errors do you usually notice in the sauna?

– Shaving should not be kept in the sauna. Sometimes people use the same thing many times, even though they only have a few leaves left. With such brooms, only the back can be scrubbed, and you definitely will not get the desired effect.

During the summer, it only takes ten minutes to tie the broom. If the fresh broom is too heavy, you can dry it a bit.

Also, one of the biggest mistakes is rushing. On the day of the sauna, if you can, allow yourself not to rush and focus early, rather than postpone it as soon as you guess. In a hurry, a person may not experience the benefits of a spiritual sauna, they may not be able to fully relax.