Nudity in Germany's hotels wellness areas : why ?
#16
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
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Ok, cross checked with my wife: public saunas in FI are gender separate affairs, men and women have separate facilities. Most wear a towel or something to get to the room, then disrobe, place the specific sauna towel on the bench to sit on and use the other towel to wipe or cover some strategic parts if shy.
Since I grew up in India where the climate was a sauna for a few months a year (incl no serious electricity in the village for about 5 years) I don't really get the joy of making yourself sweat on purpose. My wife loves it, but is very private. What the germans do in the sauna shock her
Since I grew up in India where the climate was a sauna for a few months a year (incl no serious electricity in the village for about 5 years) I don't really get the joy of making yourself sweat on purpose. My wife loves it, but is very private. What the germans do in the sauna shock her
#17
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#18
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Programs: Mucci, BA silver
Posts: 562
If few people in a sauna would be naked or wouldn't be naked (doesn't matter, actually), those few that are different cause everyone else to feel that they think they are better. Hence, it's considered to be rude to be different (actually, being different is OK, showing that you are different is what's problematic).
Arguing with your feeling of being inferior due to the behavior of others isn't going to work well. Therefore there are rules that people can refer to when they think that someone isn't behaving appropriately. If it's printed, there's little room for discussions and interpretations.
The fact that you have to be nude in a German sauna is just an accident. It could just as well have been that you have to wear a red hat. It doesn't matter, as long as everyone behaves the same and this behavior can easily be requested.
This behavior isn't limited to saunas, but that would be an entirely different (political) discussion.
#19
Join Date: Aug 2010
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Just guess what would happen, if a clothed man would regularly stare at naked women in the sauna. But if he is nude as well, the women can at least stare back.
#20
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: HAM
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#21
Join Date: Aug 2006
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It really depends on where you go. The stylish places like Claudius Therme in Cologne and Therme Erding (nearby MUC) are definitely places where younger folks show up as well. They want all the stuff around the sauna as well, not only a small 5 square meter place with nothing else. That's where you find 70+
#22
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold
Posts: 6,911
Two German traits come together in a sauna. One is believing in rules, the other one the preference of everyone being similar.
If few people in a sauna would be naked or wouldn't be naked (doesn't matter, actually), those few that are different cause everyone else to feel that they think they are better. Hence, it's considered to be rude to be different (actually, being different is OK, showing that you are different is what's problematic).
Arguing with your feeling of being inferior due to the behavior of others isn't going to work well. Therefore there are rules that people can refer to when they think that someone isn't behaving appropriately. If it's printed, there's little room for discussions and interpretations.
The fact that you have to be nude in a German sauna is just an accident. It could just as well have been that you have to wear a red hat. It doesn't matter, as long as everyone behaves the same and this behavior can easily be requested.
This behavior isn't limited to saunas, but that would be an entirely different (political) discussion.
If few people in a sauna would be naked or wouldn't be naked (doesn't matter, actually), those few that are different cause everyone else to feel that they think they are better. Hence, it's considered to be rude to be different (actually, being different is OK, showing that you are different is what's problematic).
Arguing with your feeling of being inferior due to the behavior of others isn't going to work well. Therefore there are rules that people can refer to when they think that someone isn't behaving appropriately. If it's printed, there's little room for discussions and interpretations.
The fact that you have to be nude in a German sauna is just an accident. It could just as well have been that you have to wear a red hat. It doesn't matter, as long as everyone behaves the same and this behavior can easily be requested.
This behavior isn't limited to saunas, but that would be an entirely different (political) discussion.
#23
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Programs: Mucci, BA silver
Posts: 562
Is there evidence out there to show that in Germany we favor compromises of conflicts, equality of elitism, problems over opportunities, rules over discussions... yes. You only have to open a news paper and read the discussions about school systems, or listen to some political discussions. Or, just talk with people, or observe their behavior.
#24
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 975
It really comes down to cultural differences. If you don't feel comfortable with adopting the local culture, albeit temporarily, then don't take part in the activity.
But if you do, and even if that means getting out of your comfort zone, you might discover that you actually enjoy the experience and benefit from it.
(Of course, I'm assuming that you are sensible in your choice of activity avoiding unnecessary risks etc!)
The world is full of rich and different experiences. Embrace them but don't do yourself any harm!
But if you do, and even if that means getting out of your comfort zone, you might discover that you actually enjoy the experience and benefit from it.
(Of course, I'm assuming that you are sensible in your choice of activity avoiding unnecessary risks etc!)
The world is full of rich and different experiences. Embrace them but don't do yourself any harm!
#25
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: AGB, MUC, FKB
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Posts: 282
Even Stalin mentioned: "There won't be a revolution in germany, as you have to step on the lawn"
Refering to the many signs in parks not to do so.
This post is not intented to qualify for any Godwin point.
#26
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Posts: 701
Wow, even Comrade Dzugashvili noticed all of that? Very interesting. Can't wait to check out the German culture. T-minus 3 days
Last edited by FLYGVA; Feb 18, 2011 at 11:16 am Reason: repaired quote
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CDG
Programs: More shiny with hotels than airlines.
Posts: 184
So thanks again ! And for "Alsacienne", asking "why ?" never implied that I judge the practise as bad or good. It just means that I am curious about it.
#28
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: CGN
Programs: LH, HH, PC
Posts: 158
Very strong words.
Let me explain it more detailed:
The typical sequence in a sauna is
If somebody wears clothes in the heating room, the main purpose of the shower - to be clean for the next steps like jumping in the pool to cool down - is suspended.
The only way to avoid negative hygienic impacts would be to enter the heating room with fresh and dry clothes und not to use any facilities inside the bath after the heating turn.
In countries where entering the sauna with clothes is allowed, the temperature of the heating room is maybe not as high as it is in Germany or Finland. A steam bath has a temperature of about 40° which is not much more than a whirlpool.
Yes, I have several towels with the same colour to be able to clean them together at 95°.
For a similar hygienic reason as described above it is prohibited in many bath and pools in Germany to wear those knee-long swimming trunks (german article) for swimming.
Let me explain it more detailed:
The typical sequence in a sauna is
- Heating
- Showering
- Cooling down
- Resting
If somebody wears clothes in the heating room, the main purpose of the shower - to be clean for the next steps like jumping in the pool to cool down - is suspended.
The only way to avoid negative hygienic impacts would be to enter the heating room with fresh and dry clothes und not to use any facilities inside the bath after the heating turn.
In countries where entering the sauna with clothes is allowed, the temperature of the heating room is maybe not as high as it is in Germany or Finland. A steam bath has a temperature of about 40° which is not much more than a whirlpool.
Yes, I have several towels with the same colour to be able to clean them together at 95°.
For a similar hygienic reason as described above it is prohibited in many bath and pools in Germany to wear those knee-long swimming trunks (german article) for swimming.
#29
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Programs: Mucci, BA silver
Posts: 562
prohibited in many bath and pools in Germany to wear those knee-long swimming trunks (german article) for swimming.
The article also states that those knee-long swimming trunks are prohibited in some, not in many swimming pools.
#30
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Programs: Mucci, BA silver
Posts: 562
However, I don't think hygiene is the actual reason to demand nuditiy in saunas. It's kind of difficult to explain that we think that 70°C is hot enough to kill germs in food, 95°C to kill them in towels, but 90-110°C in a sauna aren't.