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sva_

Same thing in Saunas, staff will tell you to take your clothes off.

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Yes, this is how it is.

But surprised by the post above:

"can expect to hear the heavy breathing of amorous couples from about 20-30m away as"

You are naked. But any kind of inappropriate activity is a big no no. Even staring at another person or something. Buddies of mine went to a sauna and there was even a famous actress in it. It is considered normal and egalitarian.

This being said, try Budapest. The scale of this bath will blow your mind: https://bathsbudapest.com/szechenyi-bath

I was blown away already before I realized there is even an outdoor area. It is BIG.

I spent my birthday with a bunch of mates in the Szechenyi Bath as we were travelling around Europe about 15-20 years ago - December with snow falling, playing chess in the outdoor pool with the old fellas. Just a standout memory and a great day

Well that’s how (non-mix) saunas work in Finland.

Biggest difference to Germany is that German saunas are usually mixed. Including mixed showers and changing rooms (in saunas, not in public swimming pools).

The showers are rarely mixed. On the other hand mixed changingrooms for public pools (and saunas) is the norm everywhere around europe. Its for capacity reasons and you have private booths for the changing part.

In Berlin showers in saunas are usually mixed. Talking specifically about saunas only, different in public pools etc.

You're probably talking about different showers.

Showers within the sauna area are usually mixed. Showers within the dressing areas are not.

I think we are talking about different things. Typical saunas are the neighbourhood saunas, Kietz-Saunas. They do not have any separation. Not in dressing rooms, showers, nor in sauna areas. It's all mixed, except usually a women only day once a week.

Saunas in public pools etc may have different arrangements.

I saw people wearing their bathing suits/trunks into a sauna - and quite frankly it’s disgusting.

Well, it is a cultural things. Many Americans have body issues.

https://www.wanderingermany.com/how-to-confidently-visit-a-n...

Tried to bring a US buddy of mine (non-mixed) into a Spa/hot bath/Sauna in Beijing. He got terribly scared of having to be naked and rejected. But it is a good place. And they have a good all you can eat buffet. Sweat. Eat a little. Rest. Repeat. You basically spent there the whole day.

But also American culture has this oddity that nudity somehow equates to sex.

I think it's called Christianity

Isn't German a Christian county?

Is it though? Europe is broadly Christian (though likely less so than the US). The puritan strain seems to be a key thing.

For someone who doesn't know spa culture, why is it disgusting to have clothes on? Like a bikini or swimming shorts.

Because it's not the same thing like the beach, sweating on plastic fabric can cause injuries to the skin and it's disgusting (even at the beach imo).

The reason is hygiene. You sweat into your sheet leaving very little behind on benches. Then you shower and bath and do it again.

With swimming clothes you soak everything then bring it back to the chilling pool and back to sauna.

Also imho nudity in sauna seems wierd first time but you quickly realize you can be covered all the time (with sheet) and that its not sexual at all because you are focusing on your body as does everybody else (heat stress).

Imho after few saunas everybody seems to shed this fear and even gain confidence and casuality about the nakedness part.

I think nudist pools are a lot wierder.

Because the sauna police will look down on you and give you some nonsense about how textiles are gathering sweat or something, all while they sit their sweaty asses on cotton towels which they carry around with them all the time.

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