Mother Nature Network

One of the most popular wellness practices in North America has its roots in Northern Europe. Saunas, those sweat-inducing rooms found in hotels and health clubs around the world, were invented in Finland. Some Finns still use the historic method of heating rocks with a wood fire in an enclosed room for several hours before letting out the smoke and entering the room. Many locals also use vasta, a bundle of birch leaves and twigs that are gently slapped against the skin. Even without these traditional extras, the detoxification benefits of saunas are well documented.
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