Saunas, jacuzzis/hydropools/hot tubs, steam rooms
Saunas, jacuzzis/hydropools/hot tubs, steam rooms
Author
Discussion

Hoofy

Original Poster:

79,996 posts

311 months

Saturday 19th December 2015
quotequote all
Following on from my "how much do you pay for gym membership" thread, I'm just trying to maximise my use of the facilities.

Do any of you use these things and what for?

Don't you find them... boring?

Is the benefit real or is it BS?

Doesn't the noise of the tubs annoy you?

Digger

16,811 posts

220 months

Saturday 19th December 2015
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I use the steam room after nearly every session. Sauna not so much as I find it uncomfortably hot. Steam for whatever reason is more relaxing. It's right next to the pool, so I'll jump in every 5mins or so to cool down, rinse and repeat 2 or 3 times. Main benefit I find is it really does seem to clear out the pores.

There's also the reasonable chance of meeting barely-clothed young ladies . . . It's very dimly-lit with 3 or 4 of those blue led down-lighters, so given the right situation it can get quite "romantic" in there smile . . . apart from the other day when a couple of old geezers were giving each other shoulder rubs!

kowalski655

15,213 posts

172 months

Saturday 19th December 2015
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That's not a gym,that's a swinger's club!!

Hoofy

Original Poster:

79,996 posts

311 months

Saturday 19th December 2015
quotequote all
Digger said:
I use the steam room after nearly every session. Sauna not so much as I find it uncomfortably hot. Steam for whatever reason is more relaxing. It's right next to the pool, so I'll jump in every 5mins or so to cool down, rinse and repeat 2 or 3 times. Main benefit I find is it really does seem to clear out the pores.

There's also the reasonable chance of meeting barely-clothed young ladies . . . It's very dimly-lit with 3 or 4 of those blue led down-lighters, so given the right situation it can get quite "romantic" in there smile . . . apart from the other day when a couple of old geezers were giving each other shoulder rubs!
The sauna feels cooler than the steam room.

I do find it rather boring.

But yes, you get to see barely-clothed women.

Hoofy

Original Poster:

79,996 posts

311 months

Saturday 19th December 2015
quotequote all
kowalski655 said:
That's not a gym,that's a swinger's club!!
It's what you find at more expensive gyms. Pure Gym just supplies a puddle outside next to the bus stop.

Digger

16,811 posts

220 months

Saturday 19th December 2015
quotequote all
kowalski655 said:
That's not a gym,that's a swinger's club!!
Don't worry, you're not allowed to be naked, a towel or suitable swimwear etc required. smile

Hoofy

Original Poster:

79,996 posts

311 months

Saturday 19th December 2015
quotequote all
That was my second mistake.

SouthernBoy

4,121 posts

237 months

Saturday 19th December 2015
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Not currently a member, but I do use the steam room a lot and I do find it helps both with skin quality and really helpful for shaking off coughs and colds. Possibly a placebo. I'm going to install one at home this year as they are surprisingly inexpensive.

I do find the sauna a bit too hot and often full of overweight older chaps. Some may like this, though.

Not a big fan of a jacuzzi, but will use it now and then.


Hoofy

Original Poster:

79,996 posts

311 months

Saturday 19th December 2015
quotequote all
SouthernBoy said:
Not currently a member, but I do use the steam room a lot and I do find it helps both with skin quality and really helpful for shaking off coughs and colds. Possibly a placebo. I'm going to install one at home this year as they are surprisingly inexpensive.

I do find the sauna a bit too hot and often full of overweight older chaps. Some may like this, though.

Not a big fan of a jacuzzi, but will use it now and then.
Sorry but how are you lot finding the sauna hotter than the steam room??

SouthernBoy

4,121 posts

237 months

Saturday 19th December 2015
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
Sorry but how are you lot finding the sauna hotter than the steam room??
A sauna should be 70-100c, a steam room is generally 40-60c.

Hoofy

Original Poster:

79,996 posts

311 months

Saturday 19th December 2015
quotequote all
SouthernBoy said:
Hoofy said:
Sorry but how are you lot finding the sauna hotter than the steam room??
A sauna should be 70-100c, a steam room is generally 40-60c.
Oh! The saunas I've been in recently have been about 3C cooler!

Mastodon2

14,323 posts

194 months

Saturday 19th December 2015
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If the sauna is cooler than the steam room it's safe to say the sauna isn't working properly. Saunas can operate to 102 degrees, the dryness of the air keeps you safe from burns and gives that invigorating "breathing fire" feeling when you inhale deeply.

smiffy180

6,029 posts

179 months

Saturday 19th December 2015
quotequote all
Steam room to plunge pool and repeat with hydrotherapy pool every now and again.

Got a free pass to use before my comp at total fitness, spent about 3hrs doing the above and felt amazing biggrin

Du1point8

22,857 posts

221 months

Saturday 19th December 2015
quotequote all
Swim then steam room, sometimes swim again and steam room once more.

Never use the sauna as I have been spoiled and get to use proper sauna's in Finland and the one in the gym is a piece of crap in comparison, never have I used a sauna that has such a dry heat that its uncomfortable like the sauna that is in the current gym.

Hoofy

Original Poster:

79,996 posts

311 months

Sunday 20th December 2015
quotequote all
Mastodon2 said:
If the sauna is cooler than the steam room it's safe to say the sauna isn't working properly. Saunas can operate to 102 degrees, the dryness of the air keeps you safe from burns and gives that invigorating "breathing fire" feeling when you inhale deeply.
Oh right. Seemed more pleasant than the steam room, anyway. biggrin

Boshly

2,776 posts

265 months

Sunday 20th December 2015
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Jumping in the pool straight after sauna/steam? I hope you mean jump in shower? Otherwise yuk hurl

Digger

16,811 posts

220 months

Sunday 20th December 2015
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S
Boshly said:
Jumping in the pool straight after sauna/steam? I hope you mean jump in shower? Otherwise yuk hurl
Yup, there's a (stupidly hot) rinsing shower between steam/sauna & pool.

Has it occurred to you that humans might also sweat whilst swimming?

wink

Boshly

2,776 posts

265 months

Sunday 20th December 2015
quotequote all
Digger said:
S
Boshly said:
Jumping in the pool straight after sauna/steam? I hope you mean jump in shower? Otherwise yuk hurl
Yup, there's a (stupidly hot) rinsing shower between steam/sauna & pool.

Has it occurred to you that humans might also sweat whilst swimming?

wink
Good thumbup and yes - but there's s difference between jumping in a pool to cleanse yourself from profuse sweating and sweating a little whilst swimming (bearing in mind you shouldn't overheat too much in a normal heated pool).

One of my pet hates is people jumping straight into pool or jacuzzi after sauna or steam smile

Oh and I also know that some buggers pee in the pool etc but I prefer not to think about it biggrin

MC Bodge

29,576 posts

204 months

Sunday 20th December 2015
quotequote all
Digger said:
I use the steam room after nearly every session. Sauna not so much as I find it uncomfortably hot. Steam for whatever reason is more relaxing. It's right next to the pool, so I'll jump in every 5mins or so to cool down, rinse and repeat 2 or 3 times. Main benefit I find is it really does seem to clear out the pores.

There's also the reasonable chance of meeting barely-clothed young ladies . . . It's very dimly-lit with 3 or 4 of those blue led down-lighters, so given the right situation it can get quite "romantic" in there smile . . . apart from the other day when a couple of old geezers were giving each other shoulder rubs!
Don't they do checks to keep people like you out?

I like using the steam room when I was a gym member years ago. Now I wouldn't have the time.

M400 NBL

3,552 posts

241 months

Monday 21st December 2015
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I've always found that a 1/2 hour sauna after a long or heavy sessions speeds up recovery and reduces any aches.

So that outweighs the boredom, although there is load music in the main gym next door.

I also use my sauna at home (small plug-in infrared type) if I'm training particularly hard at home.

The steam room I used to use in another gym would seem to know when I'm leaving and pump hot air onto my foot by the door. I found that more boring that the sauna.