The Investment Scientist

In the last three or four years since my family moved to Germany, I have slowly adopted some German health practices that might be considered unusual in America. One of these is regularly going to the Spa. 

A German spa usually consists of several (dry) Sauna rooms all set at different temperatures, at least one steam room, several ice water pools, and basins to wash your feet. A German spa is a great place to subject my body to a bit of stress.  I have reaped tremendous health benefits since what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.

Heat Stress

Spas in Germany usually have a Finnish sauna room. In these rooms the going temperature is usually 90 degrees celsius. Every so often an Aufgussmeister  (water pouring master) will bring a scented bucket of water and pour it on the red hot stones. The steam rises from the stones and the Aufgussmeister then does a dance to push the steam toward the patrons in the sauna room, all of them sweaty and naked. For a moment, the temperature in the room can reach 100 degrees celsius. My entire body was under heat stress. It’s said that sitting in such a sauna room for 15 minutes is like sprinting for 15 minutes straight.