Used for centuries by rural Estonians to heal their aches and pains, smoke saunas are a soulful experience that clears the mind and cleanses the spirit.
At Europe s sauna marathon, schvitzing is a sport - The Washington Post washingtonpost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from washingtonpost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Saunas, an integral part of Estonian identity, are a space for women to wash away the shame cast over their bodies and commune over shared experiences.
Thomas W. Hodgkinson spends five days in Estonia, with his itinerary filled with bog-shoeing , naked saunas and gazing upon the work of the Estonian Banksy in capital Tallinn.