Travelers come back from Germany with shocking tales from German sauna culture. "Yes, everyone does it," they say to their friend, "Men and women get undressed and bathe together!"
Their friend listens with great interest, eventually coming around to the question, "You didn't... did you?"
"Well, yes, yes I did. It's part of the custom, you wouldn't want to insult your German host."
The accepted views of nudity in Deutschland is so unique that stories about naked retreats fascinate outsiders and they always want to hear more. "At first it was too hot. I could only stand five minutes in the steam room. Then we had a cool plunge in the pool. We were naked, of course, both men an women together."
This usually ushers in a gasp. "Naked— men AND women?"
You have to be naked in a German sauna, no wash rags or fig leaves allowed. Clothing is forbidden. Saunas are not for the faint hearted. It would be impossible to have the sauna experience in a bathing suit. People would think you quite mad. You want this sensory experience for 92% of your body, but not the part that needs it most?
"Oh, you get used to the nudity," the cosmopolitan traveler responds. "It's not a big deal after awhile. Everyone's on their best behavior, no one stares, that would be inappropriate and the Saunameister wouldn't have it. She makes sure everyone follows proper etiquette. I got reprimanded for talking in the ruhezone. Hygiene is very important. Everyone has to shower before using the spa and they must always carry a towel to sit on. Also, you need slippers— you don't want to be caught barefoot in a German naked sauna!"
"I got up to 15 minutes in the sauna, it was really nice. We'd pour Aufusss on the hot stones-- scented oils like eucalyptus or pine. They had different ones, cloves was my favorite, my lungs felt so clean after breathing in the hot air. Then we'd plunge into the icy bath, sit around in our robes for awhile and do it all over again. It felt fantastic. By the end I was super-energized and relaxed at the same time. There's really nothing better.”
The friend shakes their head, unable to get over the mixed-sex nudity. "I don't know if I could be nude in front of strangers."
"Oh, pshaw. It's really no big deal. And you meet the most interesting people. We went to a spa in the Schwarzwald, it's been around since Roman Times, royalty used to take vacations there."
"Sounds pricey."
"It can be, but in Germany it's covered by health insurance. Sauna culture is part of preventive care, people use Kuren, the German word for spa treaments, to recover and recuperate. It's great. Everyone should try it at least once."
Germany has a wealth of options. Therme Erding is said to be the world's largest thermal spa. Baden-Baden has hot springs everywhere. German saunas include all kinds of pools, saunas and mineral baths. Caracalla Therme and Freidrichbad are renowned for their Roman themes, while Vabali Sauna in Berlin is like taking a vacation to Bali. Toskana Therme has beautiful mountain views. Other German saunas cater to families like Kristall Wohlfühltherme Ludwigsfelde, with plenty of pools and water slides. Vita Classica Therme and KissSalis Therme are known for their wellness programs, calm oasis' to soothe the overworked German souls.
German sauna culture is not to be dismissed, we can learn a lot from how an overworked, industrial powerhouse seeks to relax and enjoy life. It's a hidden secret. Don't be the last to try it. Celebrities like Victoria and David Beckham, Barack and Michelle Obama, George Clooney, Rod Stewart, and Richard Branson frequent German saunas, so why not you?
Tschuss!