Welcome to Debate Club! Please be aware that this is a space for respectful debate, and that your ideas will be challenged here. Please remember to critique the argument, not the author.

Stop Using Your Devices in the Sauna

2

Replies

  • Safari_Gal_
    Safari_Gal_ Posts: 1,461 Member
    edited January 2020
    I go to a gym in NYC and use the steam room and sauna all the time - love the relaxation - for what it’s worth - I’ve never seen anyone on their device. 🤷‍♀️ It’s through the locker room so women only - never noticed anyone doing much chit chat or exercising in there .... just laying around in towels or in the buff “chillin” (or not haha)

  • eddiesmith1
    eddiesmith1 Posts: 1,550 Member
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    Diatonic12 wrote: »
    And sometimes, you have no idea when someone is recording your conversation. Blind trust with blurred lines. Mmm hmm.

    Yeah, this would be my concern.

    A few years back I asked two girls (looked to be in the 12 to 14 year old range) who were taking selfies in the mirror to stop, because it was disrespectful of the privacy of other people who were undressing in the background, and they looked at me like they had no idea what I was talking about. I asked management to post a sign prohibiting the taking of photos or video in the locker room, but that never happened.

    Recently my gym posted a sign on the sauna asking people not to be totally naked in the sauna, which some people used to do (I usually draped a towel over myself because I didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable). After reading this thread, I'm wondering if the sign is management's way of trying to push responsibility on the gym members for not getting pictures taken of themselves naked in the sauna.

    Weird he only way to sauna or steam is naked imo. Now at my Y it is a premium change room limited to same sex adults (. Women have their own) I have seen Facebook comment from teens who sneak in complain8ng about naked old men. Lmao when I first went to the y with my great uncle guy in 1973 or so even the pool was clothing free. At that point it was Mycenaean and there was a separate ywca of course
  • mtaratoot
    mtaratoot Posts: 14,386 Member
    My gym has saunas in the locker rooms and a steam out by the pool. I often see folks come in to the sauna before they play racquetball. I think they are just getting their bodies warm to play, not a full sauna session. Never in the steam.

    I see folks bring in their music, and I can't imagine it's very good for the device at 120 degrees F. It's kind of amazing how much abuse people put these amazing (and expensive) devices through. I tried an experiment one time. I left my device in my locker, but I brought in my ear buds. They got really hot, and I took them back out and put them in my locker.

    The sauna is DEFINITELY a place people chat in my gym. When I go at times that it's not busy, it's really nice to have the room to myself, but I have no expectation of it. There's almost ALWAYS at least one other person in the steam. When I have time, I do both.

    Since the sauna is not co-ed, some folks opt not to wear shorts. Totally fine. Policy is no skin on the benches, so bring a towel to sit on. I think it's kind of sad that our culture creates some kind of shame associated with nudity. We're all born that way, and we all have bodies. There's nothing shameful. I've also noticed that most people shower without clothes on :smile: Doesn't seem to be an issue. The steam is co-ed, so everyone is clothed. Definitely a great way to warm up before a swim, and a great way to relax after. It's actually the steam room that attracts me to pay the premium price of this particular gym since it's not really conveniently located for me.
  • mtaratoot
    mtaratoot Posts: 14,386 Member
    KeriA wrote: »
    One woman started singing oldies in the shower and we all joined in at the Y. I don't take any electronics to the club since they get stolen.

    I can't even imagine this happening, but if it did, I hope it would be a fun song. Mostly in my gym folks are just showering to clean off. There is this ONE guy who turns on TWO showers and stands in between both of them for a LONG time just wasting water. I hate that!
  • BeGrandLike
    BeGrandLike Posts: 184 Member
    So I'm really curious as to whether this is just a US thing, or whether people have had it happen in other places, too?

    I'm not American, and I've never, ever seen anyone on their phone in the sauna. I've rarely even been present for people chatting there- maybe a hello and some short pleasantries, but then people tend to just go back to being quiet.

    Like, it hadn't even occurred to me that anyone would ever even think to bring their phone in there! But I get it, cultures differ and so does what's normal in different places.

    Have any other non-Americans noticed this, though?
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,142 Member
    BeGrandLike wrote: »
    So I'm really curious as to whether this is just a US thing, or whether people have had it happen in other places, too?

    I'm not American, and I've never, ever seen anyone on their phone in the sauna. I've rarely even been present for people chatting there- maybe a hello and some short pleasantries, but then people tend to just go back to being quiet.

    Like, it hadn't even occurred to me that anyone would ever even think to bring their phone in there! But I get it, cultures differ and so does what's normal in different places.

    Have any other non-Americans noticed this, though?

    I'm from the UK and live in Ireland, I've never seen people with phones in a sauna either at home or when I've travelled around Europe/Middle East, but have seen others (like myself) using waterproof MP3 players.
  • Ironwoman1111
    Ironwoman1111 Posts: 3,913 Member
    I use the sauna after working out and almost everyone brings their phone in with them. It doesn’t bother me at all. But I would imagine it bothers the original poster like it bothers me when I go for a massage and I can hear people talking outside or music with lyrics.😠 It’s supposed to be relaxing!
    As a side note, I always change out of my workout clothes and into swimwear and I always sit or lie down on my towel because I don’t want other people’s sweat on me.😝
  • Safari_Gal_
    Safari_Gal_ Posts: 1,461 Member
    edited January 2020
    BeGrandLike wrote: »
    So I'm really curious as to whether this is just a US thing, or whether people have had it happen in other places, too?

    I'm not American, and I've never, ever seen anyone on their phone in the sauna. I've rarely even been present for people chatting there- maybe a hello and some short pleasantries, but then people tend to just go back to being quiet.

    Like, it hadn't even occurred to me that anyone would ever even think to bring their phone in there! But I get it, cultures differ and so does what's normal in different places.

    Have any other non-Americans noticed this, though?

    I’m American - I’ve never seen this in the states! Might just be my gym where we are anti social lol (Well, it is NY - we just want to be left alone.) 😉
  • Theoldguy1
    Theoldguy1 Posts: 2,497 Member
    Ironwoman2219 wrote: »
    I use the sauna after working out and almost everyone brings their phone in with them. It doesn’t bother me at all. But I would imagine it bothers the original poster like it bothers me when I go for a massage and I can hear people talking outside or music with lyrics.😠 It’s supposed to be relaxing!
    As a side note, I always change out of my workout clothes and into swimwear and I always sit or lie down on my towel because I don’t want other people’s sweat on me.😝

    Someone else's sweat would be one of my lesser worries.
  • allother94
    allother94 Posts: 588 Member
    Devices don’t bother me. What bothers me are the jerks who use the dry sauna to dry their swim trunks or to dry off after swimming. The purpose of a dry sauna is dry heat. Evaporating the water from your smelly swim trucks into the air defeats the purpose.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    allother94 wrote: »
    Devices don’t bother me. What bothers me are the jerks who use the dry sauna to dry their swim trunks or to dry off after swimming. The purpose of a dry sauna is dry heat. Evaporating the water from your smelly swim trucks into the air defeats the purpose.

    I doubt the moisture from swim trunks is any worse than the moisture from sweat. Maybe thinking about it that way will help you feel less annoyed. People can use the sauna for whatever they want as long as they're being respectful and mindful of others.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    Nope, I usually listen to sports talk radio on a little walkman (yes, they still have those).

    If that bugs you, sorry.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    BeGrandLike wrote: »
    So I'm really curious as to whether this is just a US thing, or whether people have had it happen in other places, too?

    I'm not American, and I've never, ever seen anyone on their phone in the sauna. I've rarely even been present for people chatting there- maybe a hello and some short pleasantries, but then people tend to just go back to being quiet.

    Like, it hadn't even occurred to me that anyone would ever even think to bring their phone in there! But I get it, cultures differ and so does what's normal in different places.

    Have any other non-Americans noticed this, though?

    I thought it was weird when I started up at my gym and saw people with their devices in the sauna. I later realized that my gym has an app that when you download it, you get your gym pass bar code on your phone which gives you access to the areas of the gym for which you are authorized at your membership level. The sauna area is restricted to "premium" memberships and up, so people are using the app on their phones to access that area.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    edited January 2020
    Safari_Gal_ wrote: »
    BeGrandLike wrote: »
    So I'm really curious as to whether this is just a US thing, or whether people have had it happen in other places, too?

    I'm not American, and I've never, ever seen anyone on their phone in the sauna. I've rarely even been present for people chatting there- maybe a hello and some short pleasantries, but then people tend to just go back to being quiet.

    Like, it hadn't even occurred to me that anyone would ever even think to bring their phone in there! But I get it, cultures differ and so does what's normal in different places.

    Have any other non-Americans noticed this, though?

    I’m American - I’ve never seen this in the states! Might just be my gym where we are anti social lol (Well, it is NY - we just want to be left alone.) 😉

    I haven't either, but the only saunas I've been to in the US were at my current and prior gyms. The current one is single sex, small, and accessed through the women's locker room. There's usually no one else in the sauna during the times I use the gym (which is off prime time hours), or maybe one other person, and the door has a list of rules, including no cell phones.

    My prior gym was similar, and also it was before smart phones were common that I was a member (which makes me feel old!).
  • dbanks80
    dbanks80 Posts: 3,685 Member
    mom23mangos wrote: »
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    rachsoderberg wrote: »
    MikePTY wrote: »
    The sauna is just a sauna. It works just as well as intended if someone is on their device as if they are not on their device.

    It works as well as intended if your only intention is to sweat. You are correct there! But staring at your device won't give you the same lovely meditative qualities and it's possible your body won't enter a deep parasympathetic state as if you focused solely on your breathing (at least, not as quickly).

    But perhaps I'm silly to assume people want more from saunas than just to sweat. I may be the odd ball out with that one. Personally, it's one of the few moments I have where I could have the opportunity to sit in absolute silence with no disruptions or responsibilities, and it's frustrating to have that stolen from me.


    I haven't use a sauna in years but seems like when I did if anyone was in it, there was conversation. So even without electronics there wasn't silence.

    The sauna at my gym is where the majority of the socializing goes on. People are done with their workouts and don't mind a little chit chat. People are usually fully clothed unless coming from or going swimming. I admit I don't see how the people in full sweats and jackets can stand it. I usually have to at least shed my shirt. Lots of people also workout in there or stretch. I'll use it to do hot yoga sometimes.

    This^^

    This is when we do socialize because we are done working out. I myself do not talk while I am working out and don't mind some chit chat in the sauna.

    I was in the sauna this morning and a gym goer I know was fully dressed with a jacket on before her workout because she said it helps to loosen up b4 here workout. I thought to myself I would would pass out. LOL

    To each their own.
  • laurenebargar
    laurenebargar Posts: 3,081 Member
    Honestly I use my phone in the sauna, headphones in (not loud) and normally watch 15 or so minutes of a TV show while I am in there, it is one of the most relaxing parts of my day, so I would say that as long as im being mindful of others I have no reason not to use my device in the sauna.
    I also do go in fully clothed, maybe thats weird I dont know.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    mom23mangos wrote: »
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    rachsoderberg wrote: »
    MikePTY wrote: »
    The sauna is just a sauna. It works just as well as intended if someone is on their device as if they are not on their device.

    It works as well as intended if your only intention is to sweat. You are correct there! But staring at your device won't give you the same lovely meditative qualities and it's possible your body won't enter a deep parasympathetic state as if you focused solely on your breathing (at least, not as quickly).

    But perhaps I'm silly to assume people want more from saunas than just to sweat. I may be the odd ball out with that one. Personally, it's one of the few moments I have where I could have the opportunity to sit in absolute silence with no disruptions or responsibilities, and it's frustrating to have that stolen from me.


    I haven't use a sauna in years but seems like when I did if anyone was in it, there was conversation. So even without electronics there wasn't silence.

    The sauna at my gym is where the majority of the socializing goes on. People are done with their workouts and don't mind a little chit chat. People are usually fully clothed unless coming from or going swimming. I admit I don't see how the people in full sweats and jackets can stand it. I usually have to at least shed my shirt. Lots of people also workout in there or stretch. I'll use it to do hot yoga sometimes.

    This^^

    This is when we do socialize because we are done working out. I myself do not talk while I am working out and don't mind some chit chat in the sauna.

    I was in the sauna this morning and a gym goer I know was fully dressed with a jacket on before her workout because she said it helps to loosen up b4 here workout. I thought to myself I would would pass out. LOL

    To each their own.

    My gym has rules posted going into the sauna...no gym attire, no sneakers, no exercise, no wet clothing. There's never a gym attendant back there to enforce the rules, so people just do whatever they want which is annoying.

    Also, being fully clothed in an infrared sauna is kind of silly since the sauna uses infrared light that penetrates deeper into the skin to relieve pain and tension. You still benefit from sweating, but not from the deep penetration of infrared light.
  • dbanks80
    dbanks80 Posts: 3,685 Member
    edited January 2020
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    mom23mangos wrote: »
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    rachsoderberg wrote: »
    MikePTY wrote: »
    The sauna is just a sauna. It works just as well as intended if someone is on their device as if they are not on their device.

    It works as well as intended if your only intention is to sweat. You are correct there! But staring at your device won't give you the same lovely meditative qualities and it's possible your body won't enter a deep parasympathetic state as if you focused solely on your breathing (at least, not as quickly).

    But perhaps I'm silly to assume people want more from saunas than just to sweat. I may be the odd ball out with that one. Personally, it's one of the few moments I have where I could have the opportunity to sit in absolute silence with no disruptions or responsibilities, and it's frustrating to have that stolen from me.


    I haven't use a sauna in years but seems like when I did if anyone was in it, there was conversation. So even without electronics there wasn't silence.

    The sauna at my gym is where the majority of the socializing goes on. People are done with their workouts and don't mind a little chit chat. People are usually fully clothed unless coming from or going swimming. I admit I don't see how the people in full sweats and jackets can stand it. I usually have to at least shed my shirt. Lots of people also workout in there or stretch. I'll use it to do hot yoga sometimes.

    This^^

    This is when we do socialize because we are done working out. I myself do not talk while I am working out and don't mind some chit chat in the sauna.

    I was in the sauna this morning and a gym goer I know was fully dressed with a jacket on before her workout because she said it helps to loosen up b4 here workout. I thought to myself I would would pass out. LOL

    To each their own.

    My gym has rules posted going into the sauna...no gym attire, no sneakers, no exercise, no wet clothing. There's never a gym attendant back there to enforce the rules, so people just do whatever they want which is annoying.

    Also, being fully clothed in an infrared sauna is kind of silly since the sauna uses infrared light that penetrates deeper into the skin to relieve pain and tension. You still benefit from sweating, but not from the deep penetration of infrared light.

    My gym rules for sauna

    Spend no more than 10 mins at a time
    No pregnant women
    No newspaper/magazines allowed
    Absolutely NO shaving (thought that was interesting when I first saw that. They have that many people shaving enough to post a rule for it. Yikes)

    Of course every gym is different.
  • allother94
    allother94 Posts: 588 Member
    edited January 2020
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    allother94 wrote: »
    Devices don’t bother me. What bothers me are the jerks who use the dry sauna to dry their swim trunks or to dry off after swimming. The purpose of a dry sauna is dry heat. Evaporating the water from your smelly swim trucks into the air defeats the purpose.

    I doubt the moisture from swim trunks is any worse than the moisture from sweat. Maybe thinking about it that way will help you feel less annoyed.

    Wow! That worked. I’m cured.
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    allother94 wrote: »
    Devices don’t bother me. What bothers me are the jerks who use the dry sauna to dry their swim trunks or to dry off after swimming. The purpose of a dry sauna is dry heat. Evaporating the water from your smelly swim trucks into the air defeats the purpose.

    People can use the sauna for whatever they want as long as they're being respectful and mindful of others.

    Agreed. I personally use it to sell my homemade body spray and breed dogs.

  • allother94
    allother94 Posts: 588 Member
    edited January 2020
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    mom23mangos wrote: »
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    rachsoderberg wrote: »
    MikePTY wrote: »
    The sauna is just a sauna. It works just as well as intended if someone is on their device as if they are not on their device.

    It works as well as intended if your only intention is to sweat. You are correct there! But staring at your device won't give you the same lovely meditative qualities and it's possible your body won't enter a deep parasympathetic state as if you focused solely on your breathing (at least, not as quickly).

    But perhaps I'm silly to assume people want more from saunas than just to sweat. I may be the odd ball out with that one. Personally, it's one of the few moments I have where I could have the opportunity to sit in absolute silence with no disruptions or responsibilities, and it's frustrating to have that stolen from me.


    I haven't use a sauna in years but seems like when I did if anyone was in it, there was conversation. So even without electronics there wasn't silence.

    The sauna at my gym is where the majority of the socializing goes on. People are done with their workouts and don't mind a little chit chat. People are usually fully clothed unless coming from or going swimming. I admit I don't see how the people in full sweats and jackets can stand it. I usually have to at least shed my shirt. Lots of people also workout in there or stretch. I'll use it to do hot yoga sometimes.

    This^^

    This is when we do socialize because we are done working out. I myself do not talk while I am working out and don't mind some chit chat in the sauna.

    I was in the sauna this morning and a gym goer I know was fully dressed with a jacket on before her workout because she said it helps to loosen up b4 here workout. I thought to myself I would would pass out. LOL

    To each their own.

    My gym has rules posted going into the sauna...no gym attire, no sneakers, no exercise, no wet clothing. There's never a gym attendant back there to enforce the rules, so people just do whatever they want which is annoying.

    Also, being fully clothed in an infrared sauna is kind of silly since the sauna uses infrared light that penetrates deeper into the skin to relieve pain and tension. You still benefit from sweating, but not from the deep penetration of infrared light.

    My gym does the same thing. No wet clothes is a big one for me. It makes the air too humid. I’ve never sweated enough to get my clothes as wet as when I exit the pool. If someone can sweat that much, they are a better man than I.
  • aokoye
    aokoye Posts: 3,495 Member
    allother94 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    dbanks80 wrote: »
    mom23mangos wrote: »
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    rachsoderberg wrote: »
    MikePTY wrote: »
    The sauna is just a sauna. It works just as well as intended if someone is on their device as if they are not on their device.

    It works as well as intended if your only intention is to sweat. You are correct there! But staring at your device won't give you the same lovely meditative qualities and it's possible your body won't enter a deep parasympathetic state as if you focused solely on your breathing (at least, not as quickly).

    But perhaps I'm silly to assume people want more from saunas than just to sweat. I may be the odd ball out with that one. Personally, it's one of the few moments I have where I could have the opportunity to sit in absolute silence with no disruptions or responsibilities, and it's frustrating to have that stolen from me.


    I haven't use a sauna in years but seems like when I did if anyone was in it, there was conversation. So even without electronics there wasn't silence.

    The sauna at my gym is where the majority of the socializing goes on. People are done with their workouts and don't mind a little chit chat. People are usually fully clothed unless coming from or going swimming. I admit I don't see how the people in full sweats and jackets can stand it. I usually have to at least shed my shirt. Lots of people also workout in there or stretch. I'll use it to do hot yoga sometimes.

    This^^

    This is when we do socialize because we are done working out. I myself do not talk while I am working out and don't mind some chit chat in the sauna.

    I was in the sauna this morning and a gym goer I know was fully dressed with a jacket on before her workout because she said it helps to loosen up b4 here workout. I thought to myself I would would pass out. LOL

    To each their own.

    My gym has rules posted going into the sauna...no gym attire, no sneakers, no exercise, no wet clothing. There's never a gym attendant back there to enforce the rules, so people just do whatever they want which is annoying.

    Also, being fully clothed in an infrared sauna is kind of silly since the sauna uses infrared light that penetrates deeper into the skin to relieve pain and tension. You still benefit from sweating, but not from the deep penetration of infrared light.

    My gym does the same thing. No wet clothes is a big one for me. It makes the air too humid. I’ve never sweated enough to get my clothes as wet as when I exit the pool. If someone can sweat that much, they are a better man than I.

    You're clearly missing out (or something...). My t-shirt is saturated with sweat when I erg and I know plenty of people who sweat more than I do. It's not really an issue of how hard you're working so much as individual variation.
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,744 Member
    allother94 wrote: »
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    allother94 wrote: »
    Devices don’t bother me. What bothers me are the jerks who use the dry sauna to dry their swim trunks or to dry off after swimming. The purpose of a dry sauna is dry heat. Evaporating the water from your smelly swim trucks into the air defeats the purpose.

    I doubt the moisture from swim trunks is any worse than the moisture from sweat. Maybe thinking about it that way will help you feel less annoyed.

    Wow! That worked. I’m cured.
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    allother94 wrote: »
    Devices don’t bother me. What bothers me are the jerks who use the dry sauna to dry their swim trunks or to dry off after swimming. The purpose of a dry sauna is dry heat. Evaporating the water from your smelly swim trucks into the air defeats the purpose.

    People can use the sauna for whatever they want as long as they're being respectful and mindful of others.

    Agreed. I personally use it to sell my homemade body spray and breed dogs.

    Favorite post of the day right here. Too funny.
  • Buttermello
    Buttermello Posts: 127 Member
    It's much more relaxing to me to listen to some music, and not be in complete silence. So my phone goes into the sauna with me (and steam room, cuz its waterproof).
  • allother94
    allother94 Posts: 588 Member
    I’ll stop using my headphones when other stop drying their swimsuits by the heater and/or carrying on a conversation. Bottom line is that if there is no rule posted against a behavior, it’s ok. And a rule like “be considerate of others” is too vague.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories