AVANTOSWIMMING

Avantoswimming, or winter swimming, is a hobby that has many positive health effects. The health effects of avantoswimming have been studied, among others, by docent of thermobiology Pirkko Hiissa Huttunen and the Occupational Health Institute.

Exposure to cold increases the secretion of noradrenaline and beta-endorphin, which promotes stress tolerance. As avantoswimmers say, stress and other worries ”stay in the avanto”, and after swimming you feel relaxed and the quality of your sleep improves. Adapting to the cold stimulates and boosts the immune system, and those who have been practicing avantoswimming for a longer time get e.g. flu less often.

Cold exposure also affects fat metabolism; it can increase the proportion of so-called good brown fat and improve the insulin sensitivity of diabetics. Open swimming relieves the joint pains of people with rheumatism and also helps with muscle aches. It can also have a positive effect on blood pressure. At the University of Jyväskylä, the possibilities of avanto swimming in the treatment of anxiety and depression are currently being studied.

It must be remembered that exposure to the cold and plunging into avanto is a shock to the body. The health effects arise when the body defends itself against the shock effects of the cold. However, beginners should proceed with caution. We recommend carefully reading our ABC’s of Avantoswimming tips!

You can also get: Avanto! The Winter Swimmer’s Handbook. Pasi Heikura, Pirkko Hiissa Huttunen and Taina Kinnunen. (Only in Finnish)

THE ABC’S OF

AVANTOSWIMMING

A

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!

There are many sets of ideas about avantoswimming and even more about combining sauna and avanto. However, the most important thing is to do what feels good for you. Many people plunge in the avanto first and last, but if you get chills for hours as a result, there is no reason to stick to it. Some take a dip, others swim a lap or two. Some spend an hour in the sauna and avanto, while others plunge just a few times. For many, it is important to take a breath before going to the avanto from the sauna and the same when they return from the avanto; for others, this causes dizziness and they go back and forth at a brisk pace. Some people like to warm up slowly, others want a proper löyly you can feel in your bones.

The first time you go to the avanto, it’s good to just wade in for a while, and try to relax and breathe calmly a few times. Find your own way in complete peace, it’s the only right one for you!

B

KNOW YOUR LIMITS!

Avantoswimming relaxes and keeps you healthy, but it is also an extreme sport that must be practiced with skill. Listening to the adepts, you might think that there is nothing that avantoswimming can’t cure, but it is not suitable in every occasion. If you have a fever, you should not go to the avanto. And if you have a heart problem, you should consult with your doctor about the suitability of avantoswimming for you.

It’s also not wise to challenge or force anyone or fool around with extreme performances. As an endurance sport, avantoswimming takes years of getting used to, and no professional stays in the avanto for many minutes after a long absence. Getting used to hot sauna and löyly also requires becoming accustomed to the heat, and first-timers should be able to take it easy. Our job is to maintain the sauna and avanto, we can only offer very basic first aid and then call in experts, in case anybody starts to feel seriously ill.

C

COME PREPARED!

A swimsuit is mandatory. We also recommend footwear, because there may be sharp objects in the yard, and to protect your feet from the heat in the sauna and from the cold in the avanto. It’s also good to wear some headgear: it’s hot in the sauna, and in the avanto heat evaporates through the head. It’s also a good idea to take either your own foldable seat or a wooden seat you can find by the sauna, because the benches are mercilessly hot. After the sauna, you can easily feel cold, and very mellow, and your blood sugar is low. So you should dress properly, dry your hair, equip yourself with a drink and, if necessary, a snack.

D

REMEMBER TO DRINK SOMETHING!

Going in the sauna dehydrates, and Kaupinoja sauna is very effective here. Dehydration can cause dizziness, so drinking is important to maintain a balance. We have a tap for drinking water in Vilpola, and you can buy drinks from the staff if you didn’t bring your own. No glass bottles for the sauna! Alcohol cannot be recommended as a drink either.

E

CLOSE THE DOOR, THE HEAT ESCAPES!

You enter the sauna through the door. A few dozen sauna-goers soon cause a crowd there and the door remains open all the time. Heat also escapes from the door with each opening. To keep enough löyly for everyone until closing time, you should open the door sparingly and avoid blocking it.

F

SAUNAPEACE

Saunapeace is traditionally a sacred thing. We do sauna together and it’s fun for us; we have a public sauna and we are proud of it. In addition to remembering to enjoy the sauna and avanto yourself, you should remember to let others enjoy them as well. Many people come to the sauna to get rid of the stress and tension of the week. Let’s keep the hustle and bustle out of the sauna itself!

Those on the upper benches are generally responsible for throwing the löyly, and of course also need to take into account the other people. Let’s give space to others, leave löyly and hot water for others, and let everyone have saunapeace.

G

VOCABULARY

AVANTO	is an opening made on the surface of frozen natural water
AVANTOSWIMMING	for finns avantoswimming means swimming in the avanto, not just swimming in cold water
KIUAS	is a sauna oven with a layer of stones on top. The kiuas can be heated by burning wood in the oven, or with electricity or oil
LÖYLY	is created when water is thrown on the hot stones of the kiuas
SAUNAN PESÄ	is part of the kiuas where wood is stacked and lit when heating the sauna
LÄMMITTÄJÄ	is a person who heats the sauna, accepts the sauna fee and acts as a general manager during the shift at the sauna
SAUNAPEACE	saunapeace is an old concept originally intended to protect vulnerable naked people from abuse. Today, we mean everyone’s right to do sauna in peace, away from noise and bustle, and to get away from the stress of a busy life