History:
Finland Steam Baths was established in 1928. Pentti and Aino Pakkala and their family emigrated to Brockton, MA. In 1957 from Jyvaskyla in central Finland. Pentti had been trained as a carpenter and began work in the Brockton area. A bad fall off scaffolding in the mid-60’s meant he could no longer do such demanding work. At the same time, another Finnish family was looking to sell
Finland Steam Baths, a business operated from
a two story wood and brick building on Copeland Street, West Quincy. So, in 1969, Pentti and Aino purchased the business and the building which includes living accommodation.
The Pakkala family began to upgrade the seven Steam Baths. The ceilings were changed from aluminum to Redwood, seamless epoxy floors were installed and the exterior of the rooms were insulated. New showers and fixtures were gradually added over the 24 years they ran the business. Each Summer when the Steam Baths
were closed, the walls and floors were re-painted. Heikki Pakkala, the youngest son, was the resident full-time licensed massage therapist having been taught by his father.
In 1991, Seppo Pakkala, the oldest son, took over the business from his parents. He continues to maintain the Steam Baths himself to high standards. He now does the massage and also uses the premises for other
BodyWork offering a variety of alternative and holistic therapies.
Over the years the type of people visiting Finland Steam Baths have changed dramatically. From an Eastern European working population to a predominately stressed out, over-worked American cliental. People are beginning to recognize the need to take time-out and unwind. Here we fill a different niche to the Health Clubs and Gyms. We try to provide a quiet and relaxing environment where you have your own private steam, shower and dressing rooms. The big advantage of this is
that you can choose who you steam with and go naked which is much healthier for your body. You also control the heat and humidity levels.
Finland Steam Baths has become renown for its friendly and clean atmosphere and visitors will drive for several hours to come here. We have some exciting new plans for the business and will keep you updated.
Sacred steam
"To
sweat is to pray, to make an offering of your innermost self. Sweat is
holy water, prayer beads, pearls of liquid that release your past,
anointing all your parts in a baptism by fire. Sweat burns karma,
purifying body and soul…The more you sweat, the more you pray. The more
you pray, the closer you come to ecstasy”
(Gabrielle Roth in Sweat Your Prayers).
Most ancient cultures have practiced sweat
baths in one form or another. From the Finnish sauna (pronounced
sow-nah), the Russian bania, Native American sweatlodge, Islamic Hamman,
Japanese baths, Turkish baths to the early Greek and Roman Baths. Each
are associated with their own rituals and worship of the benign spirits
of fire, earth and water which were thought to bring about good health
and healing.
In Finland there is the saying “Two places
are holy: church and sauna”, reflecting the importance of the sacredness
of the sauna to the Finns. The “house spirit” is said to live not in the
house but in the sauna and, since ancient times, the sauna has been
associated with birth, rites-of-passage, health and death. This is true
of all sweat baths and by entering such a place one cannot help but be
touched by the consciousness of these time honored traditions and
spirituality.
The cleansing and purification of
bodymindspirit can result in profound health benefits.The world’s oldest
medical book, written in India by Ayur Veda, advocated sweating as a
regular health program. The Greek historian, Herodutus, recorded in 450
BC that the Greeks had been using steam for some time to induce sweating
as a form of bathing and to help maintain health. In Baltic countries,
where steam is widely practiced, “the sauna is the farmer’s doctor, the
oldest sanitarium”. In the 16th century a Mayan dictionary
defined the sweat bath as a “bath for women after childbirth and for
sick persons used to cast out disease in their bodies.”
The physiological effect of heat and
sweating on the body are wide reaching. The heat creates a work load for
every system, function and part of the body. For example: blood vessels
widen and, hence, blood pressure decreases temporarily; skin pores open,
allowing the release of toxins and heavy metals; metabolism increases;
the immune and endocrine systems are boosted; temperature regulation is
improved; many bacteria and viruses are cleared since they cannot
survive at these higher temperatures; lungs and sinuses are opened; the
skin is deeply cleansed; total body relaxation and emotional release
occurs.
This covers most healthcare issues we
have, including headaches, menopause, muscle and joint pain, stress,
insomnia, poor circulation, menstrual cramping, hangovers, colds and
chest infections. Steam will also help with weight loss. Although
occurring initially through loss of water, when done regularly excess
weight will fall away as we become healthier and happier in ourselves.
The alternating of extreme hot and cold
which is incorporated in most cultures enhances the adaptability of the
body’s systems. For example, the temperature differential can easily be
100’ in winter when the Finns come out of a sauna heated to 200’F then
jump into the lake through a hole cut in the ice.
There are advantages and disadvantages of
each type of ‘steam’ bath with different degrees of heat and humidity.
As the heat goes up the humidity goes down. All types will have some
degree of moisture added to the air to be beneficial. So which is
better? This depends upon your own individual constitution and any
specific symptoms you may be having.
For example, if you have painful
‘arthritic’ joints which feel worse in cold, dry weather you may find a
high humidity steam bath more helpful. If they are worse in cold, damp
conditions then a drier sauna may be preferable. With acute inflammatory
conditions where there is already a lot of heat and swelling it may be
better to use ice until that initial phase subsides. However, the muscle
relaxation and emotional release that occurs may still improve symptoms.
Local muscle or joint pain indicates
stagnant or blocked energy and a build–up of toxins can irritate the
nerve endings resulting in pain. Steam increases the circulation both
locally and globally, bringing in fresh blood to the area and movement
of lymph thereby dispersing the blockage. The Finns use a switch of
birch leaves called a ‘vasta’ or ‘vihta’ to ‘beat’ themselves, which
not only feels and smells great, but enhances this effect.
Steam should be avoided with high fever,
exhaustion, dehydration, major heart or circulatory issues where the
individual is unable to walk 10 minutes on level ground. Care should be
taken with very low blood pressure. Steam is great during pregnancy
provided the mother feels comfortable. Babies do not tolerate extremes
of temperatures but can enjoy the warmth of the steam while playing in a
tub of cool water on the floor.
There is no doubt that steam has a very
calming and soothing influence. Similar to being by the ocean or
waterfall, there are an abundance of negative ions released as water
hits heat. This creates a feel good environment in which to release the
worries of the day. Lying on a bench and being washed and scrubbed from
top to toe is one of the simplest and most nurturing things you can
experience. The warm enclosed rooms provide the comfort and safety of
the womb and the tranquil space to let go. New insights and perspectives
can flow in and unwanted belief systems can ebb away.
Steam provides a simple, inexpensive way
to cleanse and purify on a spiritual, emotional and physical level.
Surrender to the caress of the steam and allow your sacred dreams to
fly.
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