NAVIGATING THE HEAT: How care is practiced towards the self and others in a public sauna

Abstract

Saunas are becoming more popular, making the lack of sauna studies even more evident as knowledge of how saunas function as a social space is scarce. This paper will explore how sauna-goers practice self-care and care towards others in a public sauna as well as the dynamics between these two notions of care. These aspects will be examined by using sweat therapy theory which argues that sauna goers can improve their overall wellbeing while also being provided with social support. This paper will come to argue that the body is a central theme in practicing self-care in a sauna, through preparing, listening, and caring for the body. This paper will also argue that the social aspect of sauna going is important to self-care. Acts of care towards others are prominent throughout the sauna experience, primarily through physical acts of care and embodied communication. Furthermore, tensions and dynamics in the public sauna are balanced through the collective goal of obtaining wellbeing and relaxation. This study builds on ethnographic data collected through semi-structured interviews and participant observations in a public Finnish sauna located in Sweden.