The sauna is a national pastime3 in Finland4. It is so popular in this northern European country that there is about one sauna for every three people, that is, 1.7 million hot houses for the 5.18 million populations.
Saunas are found there in private houses, farms and holiday homes. Most modern apartment blocks have a communal5 sauna for residents' use.
Finns have been going to the sauna at least once a week since the first log-cabin saunas came into being6 15 centuries ago. Before modern times, hot rooms were heated to produce steamy warmth by burning piles7 of tree branches. That is why sauna is also known as steam bath. Now, with electric-heating system, the sauna has lost much of its sanctity8. Many people still prefer the traditional way with smoking wood fires.
Until the middle of the 20th century, most Finns were born in the sauna (with the heat turned off), because of its sterile9 environment and hot water supply. Finns believe that only those with heart conditions, fevers and skin diseases ought to avoid using saunas. For everyone else, bathing in these steamy rooms is a treat. The sauna bath gives a pleasant and relaxing10 experience beneficial11 for both body and mind. It cleanses12 pores13 of the skin, alleviates14 pains and helps sleep more soundly.
The traditional Finnish sauna ritual15 is to shower before using the sauna, then pay two or more visits to the hot room where the temperature is increased each time, and humidity16 raised by pouring water over a basket of hot stones.
There is little danger of sauna users suffering from dehydration17 or heat exhaustion18 as long as you don't spend too much time in the hot room.
After completing the hot-cold cycle19, users ought to wash themselves and then lie down for a little while in the hot room at a lower temperature to relax. A cold shower rounds off20 the whole process21. After this, it is time to drink liquids and eat salty snacks22 to re-hydrate23.
桑拿浴是芬兰人 的休闲方式。在这个北欧国家，桑拿浴十分普遍，平均每三个人就有一个桑拿浴室，也就是说，518万芬兰人共拥有170万间桑拿室。
在芬兰，居民家里、农场、假日旅店到处都有桑拿浴室。大多数现代化的公寓社区都有公共桑拿浴室供住户使用。
1500年前开始出现第一批小木屋桑拿，从此芬兰人至少每周要洗一趟桑拿。过去桑拿浴室都是用木柴烧水引发蒸气的，所以桑拿浴又叫蒸气浴。现在使用电热系统，桑拿失去了很多原有的色彩。不过，不少人仍然沿用烟雾缭绕的木柴加热。
直到20世纪中叶，多数芬兰人都是在关掉热气的桑拿浴室中出生的。这是因为这里具有更好的消毒环境，而且热水供应也很方便。芬兰人认为除了心脏病人、发烧的病人和皮肤病患者不能洗桑拿浴以外，任何人在这个热气腾腾的浴室里洗澡都是一种享受。桑拿浴给人们一种轻松愉快的感受，这对于身心健康都有好处。它清除人们皮肤毛孔中的脏物，减轻疼痛，而且有助睡眠。
传统的桑拿浴是先淋浴，然后进入暖室两次或两次以上，每进一次暖室都要升温，并将水泼在一篮子灼热的石头上增加暖室内的湿度。
只要不在暖室中呆太长的时间，洗桑拿浴不会出现脱水或由于热气而衰竭的情况。
在完成这样的冷热交替之后，浴者就该洗洗身子，然后在温度稍低的暖室中躺一会儿，最后用冷水淋一淋，这样就圆满结束了一次桑拿浴。在这之后，应该饮水，并进食一些咸点心以补充体液。
1． sauna n． 桑拿浴
2． treat n． 愉快的事
3． pastime n． 消谴
4． Finland 芬兰 (Finnish 芬兰的；Finn 芬兰人)
5． communal adj． 社区的，公共的
6． come into being 产生，出现
7． pile [pail] n．＆ v． （一）堆；堆放
8． sanctity n． 圣洁
9． sterile adj． 消过毒的
10． relax v． 使轻松（relaxing 令人轻松的）
11． beneficial adj． 有益处的
12． cleanse [klenz] v． 清洗掉（脏物等）
13． pore n． 毛孔
14． alleviate v． 减轻（痛苦等）
15． ritual n． 例行习惯
16． humidity n． 湿度
17． dehydration n． 脱水
18． exhaustion n． 过度疲惫
19． cycle n． 循环
20． round off 圆满结束
21． process n． 过程
22． snack n． 点心，小吃
23． re－hydrate v． dehydrate （脱水）的反义，此处译为“补充体液”