“Hardening” is probably the most widely accepted medical effect of regular sauna use. In this article, the most important physiological effects and pathways of action are presented. At the same time, an attempt is made to answer the question of how reliable hardening effects are in epidemiological terms. Despite extensive publications in recent years, there is still a clear need for research in this field.

In the paper, studies of sauna research between 1969 and 2018 are analyzed qualitatively. The importance of standardized study designs is highlighted for better evaluation and comparability.

Temperature detection is an important sensory modality serving multiple functions. Not only is it necessary to perceive the outside world, but our internal homeostasis requires requires precise internal body temperature detection and regulation. Last year’s Nobel prize for Physiology or Medicine was awarded for the identification and characterization of the molecular underpinnings that allow us to perceive hot and cold. In this presentation I will first introduce peripheral temperature sensors of the TRP ion channel family and in the 2nd part I will describe very recent findings that can explain how long-term heat exposure triggers heat tolerance.

The paper reports on a multi-arm randomized trial investigating cardiovascular adaptations by regular sauna bathing combined with exercise in the Finnish general population. The results show that regular sauna use after exercise, enhances the adaptation seen with regular exercise alone.

The talk deals with the effect of sauna bathing on emotional state. The basic assumption is that different cultures use sauna bathing as an effective means of pscychic support and against emotional crises. Special focus will be given to different factors in sauna bathing.

Since the turn of the millennium, sauna bathing in public baths has undergone a significant change in meaning. The health and relaxation motives for the sauna have been supplemented or even overlaid by experience and entertainment. The focus here is on aufguss applications.

In this talk, Don Genders, CEO of Design for Leisure, and the Chair of the GWI’s Hydrothermal Initiative, will explore the current sauna landscape in North America and beyond, outlining opportunities and global trends, while acknowledging the challenges and misconceptions faced in a region where sauna bathing is not a cultural norm.

Als zentrales Element des touristischen Angebots und als Must-Have sind Saunen nicht mehr wegzudenken. Regionalität und Authenzität sind heute mehr denn je von zentraler Bedeutung für den Erfolg. Begleiten Sie Frau Hermann auf einer Reise vom dunklen Untergeschoß hoch hinauf, in die Welt der Sauna von morgen.

The quality system, the fifteen years of experience and thus possible developments in the coming years are the focus of the unit.

The presentation addresses the coming global trend to revitalize inner-city bathhouses. This could be a challenge for investors and municipalities. Health care could be brought closer to the people with bathhouses in inner city locations and be part of the transformation of inner cities.