February, 2008

Forget fancy dress - the latest private parties
in Chiang Mai are far hotter...

     Saunas, in some form or another, have been around since the dawn of time, used by civilizations across the continents for their curative and cleansing properties, as well as for ritual purposes. Scandinavian cultures are most often credited with creating the sauna, but historical and archaeological evidence suggests that, in fact, a melting pot of different cultures have been harnessing the healing powers of the heated space over thousands of years.

     Primitive saunas are thought to have been used as early as the 5th century BC by a nomadic tribe known as the Scythians, who threw “seeds of hemp*”, onto heated stones in an enclosed pit to induce a trance like state and purge themselves of toxins. The ancient Greeks and Romans incorporated sauna and steam room processes into their elaborate bathing rituals, while some of the earliest American settlers wrote of Native Indians using ‘sweat lodges’ to ease pain and purify the body and soul. Even in ancient Russia was the sweat room a popular feature, conducted in the bosom of bath houses known as bania, said to be inhabited by a grouchy water spirit known as Bannik.

     It is the Finnish version of the sauna, however, that has survived the trials of time and most easily ingratiated itself into the modern world both on home ground and abroad. So successfully has this take on steaming endured, that in Finland today there are roughly as many saunas as cars (an estimated two million) while Scandinavian style saunas can also be found in health and fitness centres across the globe. Chiang Mai latched on to this ancient health and beauty secret a good while back, and most of the city’s gyms and spas are equipped with saunas, steam rooms or both. But recently, a local wellness centre began offering a slightly spicier take on the tradition of hot air bathing…

     A few years ago, amidst clouds of scented steam in a traditional sauna, a vivacious American traveller named Rose sat in a blissful reverie as she was scrubbed down with an aromatic herbal mix by a local Laos healer. “I was filled with this deep sense of well-being and connection to this lady, and I thought how great it would be if you could bring people together in this way to steam together, exchange ideas, nurture each other.”

     Today, Rose owns Wild Rose, a wellness studio in Chiang Mai’s old city, where private (optionally co-ed sauna parties) are offered as a healthier, sexier alternative to pubbing and clubbing. “Sauna parties are about getting together and doing something different than just going out to bars,” says Rose, “They’re a mutual experience for people to enjoy scrubbing each other down, painting each other with masks, swapping knowledge about natural health and beauty secrets, and feeling fantasic together afterwards.”

     Between steamy sessions, Rose provides a choice of fragrant homemade scrubs, masks and astringent potions to exfoliate, soothe and replenish the skin, while cool showers and chilled herbal teas provide a break from the heat of the sauna. The skin treatments contain a blend of herbs, fruits, oils and salts, each possessing unique healing elements. “I use all kinds of plants, herbs and spices that are locally available bergamot, pandanus, turmeric, ginger, salt, lemongrass. Some have astringent properties, some work with circulation, some are antiseptic, some relax the muscles. I call the sauna packages I offer the ‘eat it or wear it’ menu, because most of the ingredients I use can be eaten as well as used on the skin,” she says smiling. “You’re either sipping on it, scrubbing with it, or bathing in it!”

     For health conscious individuals and especially for those who prefer to stay sober there’s no doubt that sauna parties are a far more palatable alternative to the sleaze of Spicy on a Friday night. But the good news for those who enjoy a few pints after dark is that a sauna party doesn’t require absolute abstinence. Though saunas and alcohol together are a notoriously dodgy mix, the Finns actually recommend quaffing a beer after the end of a steam to replace the carbs lost in the sweating process. So pack the fridge, get naked, and prepare to feel fabulous…

     Wild Rose offers a full schedule of wellness events and activities, including yoga classes, meditation retreats, nutritional workshops, women’s circles and more. Call Rose on 089 950 9377 for details and directions.
     Saunas, in some form or another, have been around since the dawn of time, used by civilizations across the continents for their curative and cleansing properties, as well as for ritual purposes. Scandinavian cultures are most often credited with creating the sauna, but historical and archaeological evidence suggests that, in fact, a melting pot of different cultures have been harnessing the healing powers of the heated space over thousands of years.

     Primitive saunas are thought to have been used as early as the 5th century BC by a nomadic tribe known as the Scythians, who threw “seeds of hemp*”, onto heated stones in an enclosed pit to induce a trance like state and purge themselves of toxins. The ancient Greeks and Romans incorporated sauna and steam room processes into their elaborate bathing rituals, while some of the earliest American settlers wrote of Native Indians using ‘sweat lodges’ to ease pain and purify the body and soul. Even in ancient Russia was the sweat room a popular feature, conducted in the bosom of bath houses known as bania, said to be inhabited by a grouchy water spirit known as Bannik.

     It is the Finnish version of the sauna, however, that has survived the trials of time and most easily ingratiated itself into the modern world both on home ground and abroad. So successfully has this take on steaming endured, that in Finland today there are roughly as many saunas as cars (an estimated two million) while Scandinavian style saunas can also be found in health and fitness centres across the globe. Chiang Mai latched on to this ancient health and beauty secret a good while back, and most of the city’s gyms and spas are equipped with saunas, steam rooms or both. But recently, a local wellness centre began offering a slightly spicier take on the tradition of hot air bathing…

     A few years ago, amidst clouds of scented steam in a traditional sauna, a vivacious American traveller named Rose sat in a blissful reverie as she was scrubbed down with an aromatic herbal mix by a local Laos healer. “I was filled with this deep sense of well-being and connection to this lady, and I thought how great it would be if you could bring people together in this way to steam together, exchange ideas, nurture each other.”

     Today, Rose owns Wild Rose, a wellness studio in Chiang Mai’s old city, where private (optionally co-ed sauna parties) are offered as a healthier, sexier alternative to pubbing and clubbing. “Sauna parties are about getting together and doing something different than just going out to bars,” says Rose, “They’re a mutual experience for people to enjoy scrubbing each other down, painting each other with masks, swapping knowledge about natural health and beauty secrets, and feeling fantasic together afterwards.”

     Between steamy sessions, Rose provides a choice of fragrant homemade scrubs, masks and astringent potions to exfoliate, soothe and replenish the skin, while cool showers and chilled herbal teas provide a break from the heat of the sauna. The skin treatments contain a blend of herbs, fruits, oils and salts, each possessing unique healing elements. “I use all kinds of plants, herbs and spices that are locally available bergamot, pandanus, turmeric, ginger, salt, lemongrass. Some have astringent properties, some work with circulation, some are antiseptic, some relax the muscles. I call the sauna packages I offer the ‘eat it or wear it’ menu, because most of the ingredients I use can be eaten as well as used on the skin,” she says smiling. “You’re either sipping on it, scrubbing with it, or bathing in it!”

     For health conscious individuals and especially for those who prefer to stay sober there’s no doubt that sauna parties are a far more palatable alternative to the sleaze of Spicy on a Friday night. But the good news for those who enjoy a few pints after dark is that a sauna party doesn’t require absolute abstinence. Though saunas and alcohol together are a notoriously dodgy mix, the Finns actually recommend quaffing a beer after the end of a steam to replace the carbs lost in the sweating process. So pack the fridge, get naked, and prepare to feel fabulous…

     Wild Rose offers a full schedule of wellness events and activities, including yoga classes, meditation retreats, nutritional workshops, women’s circles and more. Call Rose on 089 950 9377 for details and directions.