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The saunarium is part of the Wrocław AquaPark – the entire complex includes many attractions, including, of course, slides, a wave pool and a lazy river. That Saturday, however, I wanted to completely relax and regenerate my body, so I decided to spend that day only in the saunarium, although it is most profitable to choose combined tickets, which allow you to use both the swimming pool area and the sauna area (as well as the gym and fitness classes). ).
It might seem that you can't stay in the sauna all day long, but in Wrocław you can see that it is possible. We have at our disposal not only various types of sleighs inside the building, but also a winter garden and an outdoor sauna village, where, in addition to many houses with further saunas, we also find a heated swimming pool, a huge relaxation area with sun loungers, and even a sauna bar, which from the very the morning was popular.
I decided to use the interior rooms first. Importantly, most saunas have the so-called textlessness. This means that we go inside naked. This may seem like a barrier, but nudity is such a natural thing in this place that the atmosphere is completely relaxed. No one looks at each other, you can't take photos or use your phone. Due to nudity, only adults can use the saunarium. There is also a separate section for women in the building, to which men are not allowed, and women can use the saunas only among women.
They say it's good to rest for a while before taking a sauna, so I start my visit with a delicious coffee at the buffet. I saw delicious-looking breakfasts being prepared, but I had already eaten mine that day. Besides, there will be time for eating. It is not recommended to use saunas immediately after a large meal or on an empty stomach.
I take a shower and to warm up I go to the biosuna, where the temperature is around 55˚C and high humidity. I read that it has a relaxing and relaxing effect – sounds like something for me. There are glowing dots flashing on the ceiling, resembling a starry sky. I look at them for a few minutes and move on. Under another starry dome, I see a bubbling jacuzzi, which I decide to use. Moroccan portals and mosaic tiles add an oriental atmosphere.
There are other types of saunas right next to it. First, I find one marked as infrared. As I later learn from Oskar, one of the sauna masters, it is especially liked by seniors. It is not too hot in it, and thanks to the technology that emits infrared radiation penetrating deep into the tissues (about 3.5 cm), you can quickly feel an improvement in circulation. In addition, the infrared sauna has special radiators installed in the seats, which help irradiate the back, shoulder and neck area, bringing relief, among others. in case of joint degeneration or discopathy.
Oskar also told me that one of the regular customers who has been coming to the saunarium almost every day since its inception is an over 90-year-old man in great shape. A moment later I saw him with my own eyes. He was just entering the infrared sauna. It must be admitted that sauna really helps him!
Then I go to the steam sauna. It is very humid and, as the name suggests, there is a lot of steam, but the temperature is “only” about 40-45 ˚C. Apparently, time spent in such a sauna improves heart function, removes toxins, supports weight loss and improves the condition of the skin. I hope!
While moving around the internal part, it is difficult not to pay attention to the atrium, in the middle of which there are the so-called showers of sensations. Using water effects, music, lighting and scents, we can be transported to streams of tropical rain or the middle of a Siberian storm. It is worth stopping here for a moment between visits to subsequent saunas and checking out the experiences available in the showers for yourself. Right next door we can also feel like we are in Greece and on the Dead Sea at the same time. Straight from the atrium you enter the swimming pool, which is surrounded by a mosaic arranged in Greek patterns and columns. However, the water in this pool has a chemical composition that reflects the water from the saltiest sea in the world, and at the same time it is pleasantly warm – it is about 33 degrees.
Once you've warmed up, it's worth checking out the cooling zone. Proper sauna also involves cooling the body. This supports the detoxification of the body and has a soothing effect on the skin. During cooling, the frequency of heart contractions decreases and the entire body becomes highly oxygenated. Alternating exposure to high and low temperatures is also a good method to naturally support immunity.
Before I go outside, I look into two more rooms. The first one is the Kivi stone bath (“kivi” is Finnish for “stone”). And as the name suggests, instead of wooden seats you will find stone benches here. It is also impossible not to notice the metal bucket that moves from time to time and pours water over the heated stones. According to Oskar, this mechanism has not been replaced since the facility opened in 2008. Sometimes you just need to oil it, which is something regular visitors to the stone bath are not fond of. They claim that the gentle creaking adds to the atmosphere of relaxation in this place. And it is especially suitable for people who do not like high temperatures and humidity, but want to relax or clear their respiratory tract.
With curiosity, I also enter the nearby Suolla sauna, where the main attraction is the salt wall. It turns out that it has a very positive effect on the body. A brine solution full of, among others, is used here. iodine or bromine. So you can take a deep breath here and feel like you are in a seaside resort. This room is recommended for beginner sauna users, it is not too hot (max. 65 degrees) or too humid. These are apparently optimal conditions for improving well-being in many diseases, from depression to sinusitis.
The sun is shining more and more, so it's time to check what's happening outside. One of the exits leads directly to the outdoor, heated swimming pool. So I enter the water and, while relaxing on the hydromassage couch, I look around the sauna garden, full of greenery and places to rest. Both right next to it and a little further, on a small hill, there are wooden houses that house not only saunas, but also, among others, a snow cave or a relaxation room where you can listen to the sounds of Tibetan singing bowls and gongs. Between the cottages there is a brine graduation tower, where it is worth taking a few deep breaths. I visit a nearby sauna bar, order a cool drink and decide to lie down on one of the many deckchairs and catch some sun rays. Even though the complex is actually located in the city center, with residential blocks peeking out from behind the fence, it is quiet and peaceful, you can listen to the birds singing. After a while, I notice that a queue is slowly forming for one of the outdoor saunas. I'm guessing these are people willing to take part in the ceremony.
Although I had heard before that sauna culture also includes special ceremonies performed by sauna masters, I have never had the opportunity to take part in such a thing. I even wondered what this was all about and what the actual effect of waving a towel like this would be. So I stood in line (the ceremonies are mixed throughout the day – paid and free options are available), each sauna has a limited capacity, so the “first come, first served” principle works. I did it, and after waiting for a while, I took a seat in the Finnish Kelo sauna, where the rustic decor adds to the atmosphere. Relaxing music began to play from the speaker, and the sauna master got to work. Drops of essential oils landed on ice balls, which were then placed between heated stones. As soon as the towel spun for the first time, I immediately understood the meaning of performing such ceremonies. Hot, fragrant air hit your face with exceptional intensity. I closed my eyes and absorbed the rising aromas. I attended a stimulating ceremony dominated by citrus scents, but you can also find calming lavender, sweet chocolate that adds endorphins, or forest and herbal scents that perfectly cleanse the respiratory tract.
After the screening, I managed to talk to the masters of the ceremony for a while. I asked how Poles approach sauna and whether there is a noticeable increase in the popularity of this way of spending free time. Unlike Finland, where the sauna is often a place for everyday meetings and lively discussions, in Poland the sauna culture is (at least at this moment) more focused on relaxation. Everyone tries to stay quiet and not distract others with loud conversations.
I'm slowly getting ready to leave, because I'm going to spend the end of this relaxing day in the comfort of my home, but on the way I also visit the relaxation zone and the winter garden. You can lie down here on a heated couch and, surrounded by green plants, watch the changing seasons in the outdoor garden (and people lining up for the next ceremony).
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