It smells of Swiss stone pine and spice. Of aromatic mountain herbs and sometimes also of very unusual sauna fragrances. They rise steaming between the thermal springs in the Kirchheim high valley and the bathing and sauna houses on Carinthia's deepest lake, Lake Millstätter See - and transform the southern balcony of the Alps into what is probably Austria's largest sauna landscape!
Here I take TIME for myself.
The positive effects of a sauna have been proven. Mountain herbs and the scent of Swiss stone pine add to the experience. The sauna masters in the Nockberge mountains have the right recipe for both sauna professionals and anyone who wants to work up a sweat for the first time.
You can take a sauna at different temperatures in saunas with a regional flavour, such as the garnet stone sauna or the Swiss stone pine sauna. In special places, such as the outdoor sauna, a sauna hut right by the lake, or traditionally, as the Romans once celebrated. A beneficial side effect: the healthy infusions are the perfect preparation for an active winter on and off the slopes!
My sauna autumn calendar
Therme St. Kathrein: 11 October, 08 November and 13 December
Millstätter Bathhouse: 17 October, 15 November and 15 December
Sauna IME in autumn is the perfect preparation for winter. Regular visits to the sauna are healthy and relaxing! The booster for the immune system is often used to get through the year disease-free. To fully utilise the positive effects of a sauna, it is important to follow a few sauna rules.
Healthy and rested: If you feel unwell or perhaps even have a fever, you should avoid the sauna. Visiting the sauna is also not recommended if you suffer from phlebitis, varicose veins, certain skin diseases or open wounds. If you have any concerns, you should always consult a doctor beforehand.
Training, break and then into the sauna: To protect the circulation, it is advisable to rest for around 15 - 30 minutes after the sports session. Your pulse rate should have dropped back down to 100 beats per minute before the sauna session.
Sufficient fluids: Before a sauna session, the fluid balance should be well balanced. The best way to do this is with lukewarm to warm water or diluted fruit juices. Avoid excessive fluid intake between sauna sessions, as this promotes the detoxifying effect.
Eat - not too much and not too little: Neither an empty nor a full stomach is conducive to a relaxing sauna experience. Both are an additional burden on the body. Light food, fruit for example, is suitable as a meal before the sauna.
Drying off before a sauna session: It is important to dry off thoroughly after a shower. The evaporating shower water cools the skin and the beneficial heat effect of the sauna is delayed.
What you need: Sauna guests are well equipped with towels (preferably two - one for the body and one for sitting or lying on) as well as a bathrobe and slippers or bathing shoes for before and after the sauna session. One of the towels should be large enough to completely cover the entire body, including the feet, so that no sweat gets on the wood.
Textile-free: In the saunas, saunas are generally used without clothing. Swimwear and slippers are removed before the sauna for reasons of hygiene and health. At the same time, the textile-free use of the sauna promotes the even formation of evaporative cooling through sweat on the skin. However, the towel can always be used to cover the body or a sauna kilt can be worn.
Before you really get going: Before entering the sauna, shower with soap and dry your body thoroughly. Many sauna masters recommend a hot foot bath between cleansing the body and the sauna session. Your feet should become really red. If you wish, you can spend a few minutes in the steam bath before the sauna session to moisturise the mucous membranes. Then it's off to the predominantly dry sauna.
Sauna temperature - approach slowly: Sauna sessions at lower temperatures are suitable for the first time. 60 °C is a good temperature to start with. With experience, this can be increased up to 100 °C.
By the way: It is better to lie on the lower benches first. The temperatures here are slightly lower than on the seats higher up.
Listen to your body: The duration of a sauna session is also individual and the following applies at the beginning: it's better to go shorter!
The recommendation is to sit up slowly after 8-12 minutes and spend another 5-10 minutes sitting down. This is easy on the circulation.
Fresh air: The sauna infusion is followed by a short fresh air bath. In winter, a few steps in the snow are also a pleasant way to cool down. Exercise revitalises the muscles.
Cool down slowly: Plunge pools or Kneipp treatments with cold water are suitable for the second cool-down phase. This causes the blood vessels in the skin to contract and the heart rate to calm down. A warm foot bath is also recommended. It reduces perspiration.
Tip for showering: If you want to shower before a fresh air bath, you should only shower briefly. Afterwards you can take a long shower.
Replenish fluid stores: The body also loses important salts such as magnesium along with the fluid. That's why people like to drink still mineral water containing magnesium after the sauna.
Sauna & effect: If extensive rest periods are planned, there is nothing to be said against several sauna sessions (about 2-3) a day. Regularity is important for a lasting, immune system-promoting effect. A sauna day should be integrated into your diary once a week. Particularly positive: your well-being improves from the very first visit!
The light of the south makes the larch gold in the UNESCO Carinthian Nockberge Biosphere Reserve shine and guarantees marvellous views while hiking and biking. As you take a break in the deckchairs in front of the huts, your gaze falls into the valley, where thermal water and sauna fragrances rise steaming skywards! Autumn TIME is sauna TIME, but also TIME in nature - a time that is celebrated with particular enjoyment between lake and mountain and makes the south of Austria an insider tip as a travel destination in October and November.
