Ceremonial bathing has existed for thousands of years and has many forms, one of which is the sauna. The Finns have perfected the steam bath，or sauna, which may be taken, usually in an enclosed room, by pouring water over hot rocks or as a dry heat bath. The Japanese, Greeks, Turks and Russians as well as Native Americans have forms of the sweat bath in their bathing rituals. Dry heat and steam baths had advocates in ancient Rome and’ pre-Columbian Americans used sweat lodges.
The earliest saunas were probably underground caves heated by a fire that naturally filled with smoke as chimney making was unknown at that time. A fire kept in a fire-pit would heat the rock walls of the cave. After reaching full heat, the smoke was let out of the cave and the stones would retain heat for several hours. A few people today say that the smoke sauna, “ savusauna”，is the only true sauna experience and that all saunas should have at least a background odor or smoke. Today most saunas use electric stoves, although gas and wood-burning stoves are available.
Saunas are relaxing and stress relieving, Those with muscle aches or arthritis may find that the heat relaxes muscles and relieves pain and inflammation. Asthma patients find that the heat enlarges air passageways of the lung and facilitates breathing. Saunas do not cure the common cold but they may help to alleviate congestion arid speed recovery time. The body’s core temperature usually rises a 1-2 degrees while in the sauna, thus imitating a slight fever. The sauna could be considered to follow the old saying “feed a cold，starve a fever’ The regular use of a sauna may decrease the likelihood of getting a cold in the first place.
Sauna is good for your skin as the blood flow to the skin increases and sweating occurs. Adults sweat about 2 lbs8 of water per hour on average in a sauna. A good sweat removes dirt and grime from pores and gives the skin a healthy glow. The loss in water weight is temporary as the body’s physiological mechanisms will quickly restore proper volumes. The cardiovascular system9 gets a work out10 as the heart must pump harder and faster to move blood to the surface for heat exchange. Heart rate may increase from 72 beats per minute on average to 100-150 beats per minute.
A normal heart can handle these stresses but those with heart trouble wishing to begin to use a sauna should seek a doctor’s advice. The elderly and those with diabetes should check with their doctor prior to beginning to take saunas. Pregnant women should not take saunas, particularly in the first three months. Indeed, everyone just starting out should take short sessions11 at first to become accustomed to this type of bath.
词汇：
sauna n.(芬兰式）蒸汽浴，桑拿浴
congestion n.阻塞;拥塞
odor n.气味，味道
arthritis 关节炎
inflammation n.炎(症）
grime n.污垢；尘垢
cardiovascular adj.心、血 管的
diabetes n.糖尿病
注释：
1. ceremonial bathing:仪式性的沐浴。许多宗教都有这种以沐浴作为仪式的习俗。
2. pre-Columbian Americans:哥伦布前的美洲人。Columbian是Columbus的形容词形式，意思是“哥伦布的”;pre-是前缀,意思是:在……前。pre-Columbian Americans，其完整的意思是: 哥伦布发现美洲大陆前的美洲人。
3. fire-pit:火槽
4. relaxing and stress relieving:能使人放松并消除压力。
5. alleviate congestion and speed recovery time:减轻胸闷感，加快康复的速度。
6. imitate: to appear like; resemble:像;类似
7. feed a cold, starve a fever:[谤]伤风时宜吃，发热时宜饿;伤风不怕吃，热病不怕饿。
8. lb: pound(磅)的缩写形式。
9. cardiovascular system:心血管系统
10. a work out:做名词用，意为“运动，锻炼”。
11. sessions:(做某事或进行某活动的)一段时间
练习：
1. Ceremonial bathing _________.
A) is called the sauna by Finns
B) is equivalent to the steam bath
C) has various forms
D) is held in an enclosed room
2. What is understood by some people to be the true sauna experience?
A) Saunas in underground caves.
B) Saunas with smoke.
C) Saunas using wood burning stoves.
D) Saunas using electric stoves.
3. According to the third paragraph, saunas can do all of the following EXCEPT .
A) reducing the chance of getting cold
B) speeding recovery
C) relieving stress
D) curing asthma
4. According to the fourth paragraph, sauna gives the skin a healthy glow because_________.
A) pores are cleaned by sweat
B) water is lost by sweating
C) blood moves to the surface for heat exchange
D) the heart pumps harder and faster
5. Who are advised not to take a sauna?
A) Elderly people.
B) Pregnant women.
C) People with heart trouble.
D) All of the above.
答案与题解：
1. C第一段的第一句告诉我们，ceremonial bathing有多种形式，其中一种是sauna。所以只有C是正确的选项。
2. B根据文章第二段的第四句，smoke sauna被有些人认为是真正的sauna。句中a background odor也是指烟熏的气味。
3. D 该段最后一句说 The regular use of a sauna may decrease the likelihood of getting a cold; 第四句说 they may help to ... speed recovery time; 第一句说 Saunas are ... stress relieving。 所 以，A、B、C 都是桑拿可以做的。第三句说 Asthma patients find that the heat enlarges air passageways of the lung and facilitates breathing,这不足以说明桑拿有治愈哮喘的作用。因此，应选择D项。
4. A该段第三句提供了答案。
5. D文章最后一段告诫几种人不能蒸桑拿浴，包括心脏病患者、老人、糖尿病患者、孕妇等。所以D是正确的选项。
考生可收藏 ©无忧考网职称日语频道 ,查看更多关于职称英语考试相关的信息！！！
