Living Life Doing What I Love - Hot Springs & Sauna Edition
It's become the perfect season for outdoor bathing after a sauna, hasn't it? I'm Taishi!
(A middle-aged man with ambition│👉Self-introduction)
I wrote something like this quite a while ago.
If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I would spend four of them sharpening my axe.
That is a wise saying, but as someone who believes in leaving things to the experts and focusing on results per hour, my version is:
If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I would spend two of them going to buy an exceptionally sharp axe, use it to chop down many times more trees in two hours, and spend the remaining two hours in a sauna, cold bath, and outdoor air bath.
I love hot springs, saunas, cold baths, and outdoor air baths. With that said, this time I'll talk about the hot springs and saunas I want to visit whenever I have some free time.
What I do at hot springs and saunas
It's my habit to go to a local hot spring and sauna about once a week.
I usually go at night, after I've said goodnight to my two children and they've fallen asleep, and when my wife is out for a drinking party or something similar, so I can go alone and relax without worrying about anyone (the kids are old enough now to go to sleep on their own).
My standard routine at the hot spring and sauna.
Wash body and hair: Cleanse my whole body and feel refreshed. "Purify."
Hot spring: Go outside and feel the season in the open-air bath. Soak in the open-air bath for about 5 minutes to warm up my body a little.
Sauna: In the tiered sauna, I gradually aim for the top tier from the bottom. About one full cycle of the 12-minute timer. I zone out while feeling the sweat oozing out.
Cold bath: After rinsing off the sweat with water, I splash water on my feet, arms, shoulders, head, and torso—farthest from the heart—to get used to the temperature, then exhale and sink in up to my shoulders. I stay still for about 3 minutes without moving, feeling the boundary between the water and my skin, the "hagoromo" (robe of feathers).
Outdoor air bath: Go outside and sit in a chair. Zone out. I also like falling asleep like this. I love both sunbathing in the warmth of the day and moonbathing at night.
(Return to the sauna and repeat for 2-3 sets to reach a "deep relaxation state")
Hot spring: To my heart's content. I love the reclining bath. The front of my body is exposed to the outside air while the back is in the hot spring. Pure bliss.
Shower: Rinse off with a cool full-body shower.
A Three-in-One Benefit
For those who work out and are starting to go bald, hot springs and saunas offer a three-in-one benefit.
1. The 'Totono' (Reset) Effect
The cycle of sauna, cold bath, and outdoor air bathing releases beta-endorphins, substances that induce feelings of euphoria and happiness. It leaves both mind and body feeling refreshed. Pure relaxation!
2. Synergistic Effect with Strength Training
The high-temperature environment of a sauna promotes blood circulation, effectively supplying oxygen and nutrients to muscles, which seems to be effective for muscle recovery and growth. Improved blood flow also encourages the removal of lactic acid and inflammatory substances, contributing to muscle hypertrophy. When I work out three times a week, I'm usually sore somewhere, and this really helps relieve that.
3. Effect on Receding Hairline
Sweating and detoxing in the sauna removes sebum and dirt from the scalp, keeping it clean. This apparently helps prevent hair loss and promotes hair growth. *However, I haven't seen enough of an effect to stop my own AGA progression.
Hot Springs and Saunas are Precious Time Alone
Furthermore, I rarely get time to just zone out by myself, whether I'm at home or at work.
This weekly time, where I strip off everything I'm wearing and detach myself from everything around me, is an important time for me to reset and focus solely on myself as I go through life.
I'd like to recommend this to all the fathers and mothers out there who are busy juggling many different roles.
Writing this makes me want to go again, even though I just went yesterday. I always go to the same place, so I'd like to occasionally venture out to places where I can enjoy outdoor air bathing while looking at autumn leaves, or visit places known as 'meccas' for sauna lovers.
Have a great sauna life!
(Bonus) The Necessity of a Sauna Hat
This is a total aside, but related to my receding hairline: while saunas do increase blood flow, there is a concern that the high heat itself can damage hair and the scalp. That's why a sauna hat is a must-have item.
I personally love this item, which comes in a small bag and includes a sauna mat. It's made of Imabari towel fabric, so it's comfortable to wear and is a favorite of mine. The sauna mat folds up small and doesn't take up much space. If you're interested, please consider it as a companion for your sauna life!
To be continued
2023/11/11 Sauna-shuran 2023 has been announced!
I love motorcycles too!
(Related Links) About "Ambition"
👉Self-Introduction: Who I am and what I want to do
👉A Compendium of "Wouldn't It Be Nice" for All Mankind: Currently under compilation!
👉X (Twitter): Article updates and occasional musings