Saunas for good living

By Bernard Rowan

Have you ever enjoyed a sauna in Korea? One less-heralded reason for Korea's advancement as a civilization is saunas. Let me tell you why.

Every society depends on a robust population of working-aged men and women to create the goods and services, income, and wealth that help and drive human achievement.

At least that's one way to look at what we do, day-in and day-out. Also, people of all ages need relaxation, cleansing, healing, and rest to preserve health and contribute their best in all walks of life.

For example, Korea stresses "ppalli, ppalli" and "babbuseyo." Koreans live hurriedly and busily. Getting work done and doing it quickly are keys to the Korean psyche in the present-day context. They also provide a lens on Korea's success.

But these traits drain the body and soul as well. Stress goes with being busy! Urban life in Seoul has an active pace. Students prep for the national exam, and parents work to pay for raising a family.

Husbands and wives must balance work and family responsibilities, and paying for tutors and hagwon. The elderly often live in more isolated circumstances, and many women of all ages face added stress due to gender inequalities. These realities create stress for Koreans.

Among many ways to relieve life's draining tensions, the unrivalled and unmatched institution of Korean saunas stands supreme! The sauna culture of Korea is just wonderful!

Throughout the city, in hotels, neighborhoods, resort centers, mountains, and other places, Koreans and foreigners can enjoy dipping into pools of relaxing and healing waters.

The state and extent of Korean use of saunas deserves study. Their ubiquity and variety make saunas a national practice of note. I think they're a cultural heritage too. Many of my Korean friends make the sauna a principal place to prepare for or to end their busy days.

If social expectations center on work, achievement, and merit, tied to networks, and measured in varied ways, there will be pressure. If rising expectations and costs create the need to maximize effort, there will be stress.

But the ubiquity and wide use of saunas by Koreans gives them (and us!) a way to learn how to cool off, calm down, transcend what ails us, and refresh to keep going.

Both genders share some saunas; most are separate. There are hot and warm pools, and steam and sauna rooms. There are wading treks, places to massage the feet, and attendants to give patrons a skin scrub. Many establishments include various other "tang" or water treatments such as herbal medicines or mud baths.

Afterwards, nap, read, enjoy a snack, or get a haircut. No particular sauna pleases anyone. I suggest going with a friend who knows and likes a place for your first visit.

For those of you interested in hot springs, there are outdoor jjimjilbang. Take a look at the Korea Tourism Organization page on "Hot Springs in Korea" or "Take the Plunge: The Korean Spa Experience" at asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr

People exercise at many sauna facilities. I remember enjoying an exercise equipment workout before taking a sauna in Apkujeong.

As I trek on the hard pavements in Chicago or do my treadmill in winter in a building basement, I miss the happy experiences of saunas in Korea. The Commodore Hotel in Busan ranks among my favorites. Any decent hotel in Korea will have a good sauna.

In fact, Korean saunas often unite the generations. I have seen three generations of a family enjoying the bath together. That's another sign of the Korean sauna's currency and use.

We live in an age where people long to privatize social experiences. I say that while you may be able to install a sauna in your home or country house, public saunas remain an important social and personal institution. A society that invests in this form of leisure and therapy is making a wise investment over the long run.

Getting naked worries some people, but here I am reminded of the Stoic idea that baths are for bathing, not for beauty. Some baths provide a means to avoid appearing in the birthday suit.

Don't worry! Most Koreans saunas are professional establishments, and people aren't there for other reasons. Banish shame when visiting Korean saunas. They are humane and humanizing places.

Let's not romanticize. Koreans don't like therapists. Too many commit suicide. Countless others battle loneliness, fatigue, and exhaustion. There's some sign that it's harder on women than men. Han and hwabbyeong still matter. Koreans need to change in these areas.

But as we start the Year of the Horse, I think we should dedicate ourselves to continuing rejuvenation of the person, so we too can be swift messengers in our busy lives. The simple, yet wonderful institution of the sauna stands as one of Korea's advanced technologies.

Bernard Rowan is assistant provost for curriculum and assessment, professor of political science and faculty athletics representative at Chicago State University, where he has served for 20 years. Contact him at browan10@yahoo.com.