Topic > Saunas in South Korea

Other ways to raise our core temperature are saunas, hot baths and steam rooms. Many cultures around the world believe in the healing effects of various degrees of hot and cold therapy. In South Korea (and in Korean immigrant communities in the Western world), it is a common wellness practice to visit a jjimjilbang. Many saunas also contain different minerals, such as gold, amethyst or coal. Korean spa-goers see these spas as a place to relax and socialize while taking care of their health and beauty. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Most Korean beach clubs also offer massages, skin exfoliation, and special skin treatments. More elaborate Korean spa complexes include in-house restaurants, movie theaters, hair and nail salons, or even karaoke. Popular in Russian culture, especially in Arctic villages, is the hot and cold sauna experience called banya. Traditionally, sauna lovers spend time in a very hot hut with temperatures that, for the bravest participants, reach 100 degrees Celsius (212 Fahrenheit). The villagers sitting in the sauna then hurry to take a cold dip in the nearby open water (lake, pond or sea). Indigenous peoples throughout the Americas: from as far south as the Andes, such as the Incas (Chulla Chaka), to the Maya of southern Mexico and Guatemala (Temazcal), to the Plains Indians in Canada and the northern United States (Inipi-Lakota) peoples)—have long used sweat lodges as a spiritual space for purification. Depending on the tribe and cultural understanding of sweat lodges, many believe that extreme heat stimulates blood circulation and helps the body eliminate impurities and toxins through sweat. Sometimes medicinal herbs or plants, such as sage or eucalyptus, are incorporated for aromatherapy healing. The hamams of Türkiye are very famous. These are often immaculate beach clubs found in spacious buildings, typically made of marble. The standard steam room involves the participant traveling through a corridor with increasing heat intensity. This corridor usually leads to a room with divided slabs or stalls for the soap and massage experience of a professional masseur. Here you will be soaped and scrubbed before being doused with cold water. After the professional bath, there is often a steam room at a more comfortable temperature (but still warm enough) to relax before leaving. For everyone from sultans to peasants, hamams are the quintessential Turkish culture and a visit to Türkiye is not complete without this spa experience. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom EssayHow do you know when enough is enough? The absolute importance of listening to your body is essential when experiencing exposure to heat and cold. It's not a challenge to see how much you can tolerate or how unhappy you can be for a given period of time. Too extreme a temperature can be dangerous and even fatal. Therefore, it is crucial to start slowly and build up quickly. If you feel uncomfortable (other than a feeling like, “Wow, this cold shower would definitely be nicer if it were a hot bubble bath”), pay attention and adjust yourself appropriately.