Sauna Etiquette

[airedailleurs]

To think that in a small gym sauna it is not ok to:

• have loud mobile phone conversations (surely the heat would damage the phone anyway, why even bring it in?)
• wear sweaty gym clothes that smell awful due to the heat
• leave washed gym clothes to dry in the sauna when you're not there (that still smell of sweat as only rinsed through under the tap)

All of these are common in the gym I belong to. Thoughts please!

They all sound horrific and surely the staff would not allow these things to happen/continue?

Surely not. Also you don’t mean at the moment in the UK I assume?

@cravingthelook, when I told the gym manager he just said it was difficult to monitor the ladies' sauna as not enough female staff.

@Sparklesocks no not right now, before the lockdown.

Just waiting for more responses before telling you what happened when I asked a lady who was talking on her mobile phone to keep the noise down.

Staff are usually pretty good about stopping this. Are the staff aware?

That is horrible behaviour, complain to the gym manager.

@YeahWhatevver and @Notaduck - have said above that I did complain, they said they didn't have enough female staff to monitor the ladies' sauna and men weren't allowed to go in. They were able identify one of the women concerned from my description and asked her to stop but she didn't.

Also you don’t mean at the moment in the UK I assume?

Jesus, do we really have to include a disclaimer every time we talk about anything that happened pre-lockdown?

I’d be tempted to print out some sauna rules, make up a fine for non compliance, laminate them, put them up and appoint myself enforcer.

@sparklesocks FFS it is actually possible to discuss things that happened/will happen outside of lockdown.

To answer the question, yeah I think all those things go against sauna etiquette.

I'd also add people having very loud conversations. It's supposed to be a place to relax.

Gross. Can you find a different gym and give it a scathing review. The gym is responsible for the behaviour of members when they have been told about poor behaviour.

Mobiles never been allowed near a pool/sauna/steam room in any gym I’ve been in. I assume to stop photos being taken and the risk of damage. Keep complaining (when they’re back up and running obvs). I hate how inconsiderate some people are nowadays.

@TestingTestingWonTooFree they already have a laminated list of rules stuck up just next to the sauna entrance but people just don't take any notice.

OK so on the last occasion I went in the sauna (end of Feb I think), a lady was already in there and was talking loudly on her phone. I asked her politely not to as I wanted to have a sauna to relax and she became extremely aggressive. I ignored her and carried on trying to lie down and relax. She then stood over me brandishing her bottle of water and threatened to hit me with it for disturbing her conversation (she said it was a work call). God knows how but I managed to completely ignore her and she stood there for a good few seconds.

As I didn't react she then softened and sat down and put some music on her phone 'so that I could relax'. She then pretended to leave the sauna a couple of times, opening and closing the door while still inside to see if I would look over (I didn't).

I was absolutely terrified and did not report her to the gym manager as I was worried she would be able to find me somehow and come round to my house!

Just remembering all the details now during lockdown, is this a matter for the police or should I just forget it and move on (and never go back to that gym!).

Or people that use smelly oils in the sauna / steam room or release menthol into the air so that it’s all scented. So selfish! If it was meant to be a mentholated sauna / steam room it would be!

Also any kind of loud / constant conversation .

Sounds dreadful behaviour - whether in a sauna or not.

Let's hope that once your gym is open again this person doesn't come back.

She sounds insane and I’d complain louder / cancel membership

That defeats the whole purpose of a nice quiet relaxing sauna. Ffs people are so selfish but doncha know that their life and business is sooo much more important than you having a bit of quiet time before you go back to work / your kids / whatever.

Well...at least you didn't have the experience we had..accompanied DH on a business trip to Holland. His colleague there and his wife looked after us for a weekend, part of one day at a spa. When going in the sauna and steam rooms they just stripped off which was a little shock lol. What do you do with that! We had to follow suit

Haha yes I know I have had the naked sauna experience in Germany. It's actually more healthy as long as you sit on a towel and be careful where you look!

Not having enough female staff is not a good enough excuse, they clearly need to hire more. It's like saying "I'm sorry that we can't supply the service you are paying us for, it's because we prefer to hire men" 😂

@Wanderer1 yes I know but it's very cheap and good value. I haven't been in the sauna since then and obviously haven't been to the gym at all for weeks but was starting to wonder if I was just intolerant (obviously not in last case).

I'd keep complaining until the gym does something about it. That's terrible behaviour.

I loved the "proper" spa at the youth hostel we stayed at in Switzerland. Being naked is much more hygienic and since everyone is the same it soon stops feeling odd.

All of those things are gross but even without them saunas are horrific. I can't imagine anything worse than sitting in a stifling hot room with a bunch of sweaty strangers 🤢

@Namechangednorth most northern ountries do not allow any clothing in saunas, and have seen a few where the saunas are mixed or have male assistants in female saunas. The most bizarre thing was to get undressed in front of good friends who we have been holidaying with, strangers have not really bothered me as much haha.

Wow, YADNBU. I'd be fuming.