Traveling in Europe can be a great opportunity to experience the sights, cuisine, and traditions of other countries, and can also lead to lucrative opportunities for those seeking to do business in these parts. In Europe, particularly in Finland, the country where the sauna tradition originated, it helps to understand the etiquette of the sauna, particularly of mixed saunas, where you will encounter both males and females, from when to accept an invitation to the sauna to the entire process of a sauna.

Worries And Preparation

The prospect of a sauna, particularly a mixed sauna, can be a little scary, since most Americans are not used to the idea of sitting in the nude with anyone else present, let alone a stranger. A mixed sauna, as far as European thought goes, is a place without gender. It is not a place of sexual activity, any more than changing in a locker room at the local gym is a sexual activity.

In Finland in particular, the sauna is a sacred place, second only to being in church, so don’t worry that people will be staring at your body, even in a mixed sauna. With that in mind, should you receive an invitation to go to a sauna, whether it is a single gender or mixed sauna, the most polite thing to do is to say yes; such an invitation is a sincere form of good will, and in business negotiations, is a sign that things are going well.

Before you take your first sauna, take a shower first, since it’s considered polite to be clean upon going in one, even if the whole point of a sauna is to sweat. Also, consider bringing a towel to sit on, as you may be uncomfortable sitting nude on the typically wooden seats in a sauna, and it’s simply more hygienic.

In The Sauna

The most important thing to remember when in a sauna and in mixed saunas particularly is not to stare at anyone while inside. Though for Americans it’s often unusual to be naked in the company of others, it is more commonplace for Europeans and they treat it accordingly; a naked body is something everyone’s seen before, and so it’s rude to stare. Similarly, don’t go out of your way to act too shy about sitting in a mixed sauna, as it will only call attention to yourself. Taking everything in stride is the way to go.

Conversation in the sauna tends to be kept to a minimum, and it’s best to keep your voice down to a whisper unless people are doing otherwise; once again, use the same sort of caution in a mixed sauna that you might in going to church, spending your time there without making overly loud noises. Sit and relax on your bench and let the heat soak in.

Your best bet in all cases is to not be afraid to accept your invitation to a mixed sauna, avoid self-consciousness and staring, and beyond those basic rules, just follow the lead of your host and you should find yourself enjoying your first experience in a mixed sauna.

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