How do Saunas work?

[fungayboy]

Ive been wanting to go to a sauna for ages but have never worked up the courage.

How has it worked for people? Like how does someone come on to you (sorry really showing how naive I am here!)? If say you were sitting in the spa?

I really wish places showed thier floorplan as well, at least I'd know where everything is, removing one more unknown lol

[Birichy]

Standard procedure is to strip off and put your clothes in a locker then take a wander round.

Communication is usually by touching and eye contact. If your'e a bottom try getting in the sling or lie 

down on your front in one of the cabins and wait for some action. Have fun!

[BootmanLA]

It's probably helpful to clarify a few terms. Properly speaking, a sauna is a room (not an entire facility) which is heated well above standard room temps. In many places the term is limited to "dry" heat - ones where there's no extra humidity pumped in, and "wet" heat - that is, rooms where there's lots of moisture in the heat - spaces are called "steam rooms". The latter are more common, in part because the clouds of steam can obscure some "activity" in the room and provide plausible deniability if someone complains about behavior there. Saunas and steam rooms are not infrequently facilities in "legitimate" health clubs/gyms, but that doesn't mean some fondling/masturbation/sex never occurs there. It may, if the gym is heavily gay, for instance.

In a more generic sense, "sauna" is often used to mean "bathhouse," wherein "bathhouse" has zero to do with bathing and everything to do with public or semi-public sex. There may or may not be a steam room or dry sauna as part of the "sauna" facility.

That distinction is important because what you can do in the latter - a public sex facility labeled "sauna" may be very different from a sauna in a health club. 

[fungayboy]

It is called a "mens health spa" and describe themselves as:

Pipeworks was established 14 years ago and has completed a much needed £400,000 refurbishment programme, upgrading facilities, and adding a new floor, including Private Cabins, Bukakee Room, Private Sling Room and a Cinema Cruise area.

They also make mention of condoms and lube being available 

[Spunkinmyarse]

I see you are based in the UK. Which sauna are you considering visiting? In the UK, all ‘gay saunas’ will have actual saunas, and most will also have steam rooms as well as large jacuzzis and sometimes small swimming pools. In addition, they will have lots of private cubicles (some with gloryholes), and usually cinema rooms playing porn. There will be a bar/cafe area too with a lounge, where is usually frowned upon to engage in sexual activity- you will be quite safe!

Half the fun of visiting a sauna (bathhouse) is exploring its facilities. A floor plan isn’t necessary.

[Spunkinmyarse]

Ah- I’ve just seen your latest post: I don’t know Pipeworks in Glasgow, but I’m sure it’s pretty similar to all the rest.

[fungayboy]

Just now, Spunkinmyarse said:

I see you are based in the UK. Which sauna are you considering visiting? 

Half the fun of visiting a sauna (bathhouse) is exploring its facilities. A floor plan isn’t necessary.

The Pipeworks in Glasgow

I know ☺️, it's just my brain wanting some known variable to have control over LOL

[DeliciousHallway]

If it's your first time it might be a good idea to go there just to have a look. Some people visit these venues because they just want to use the sauna facilities and be among other men. As mentioned by others, the worst you have to expect is people gently touching you or making eye contact in the cruising area (usually a dimly lit labyrinth with different rooms for different activities). If you go there with the expectation to use the private cabins, then use the bukkake room, followed by sling and cinema, it would be totally understandable if you chicken out. Most places also have a bar, so you can have a beer or two to loosen up.

[fungayboy]

9 minutes ago, DeliciousHallway said:

 Most places also have a bar, so you can have a beer or two to loosen up.

It does. In general I assume the bar area is the same "dress code" as the rest of the place?

[DeliciousHallway]

2 minutes ago, fungayboy said:

It does. In general I assume the bar area is the same "dress code" as the rest of the place?

Yeah, you'll get a towel that you can wrap around yourself after you undress in the locker room. Never recalled people sitting there naked.

[fungayboy]

Out of interest do people still wear something under towels? Like Speedos or something? Not planning to but just curious if that is okay or a fopar lol

Edited January 7 by fungayboy
Typo

[Spunkinmyarse]

2 minutes ago, fungayboy said:

Out of interest do people still wear soothing under towels? Like Speedos or something? Not planning to but just curious if that is okay or a fopar lol

Generally not. Saunas sometimes have rules prohibiting the wearing of any clothing, except on designated days. I recently went to Northwich sauna on “Jock Day”, when unsurprisingly some guys were wearing jock straps (most were not). Speedos would definitely be a no-no: one of the defining features of a gay sauna is the atmosphere of everyone being pretty comfortable with being naked around each other. Some saunas even have ‘no towel’ days, when being naked is compulsory: make sure you check Pipeworks’ daily schedule before you go.

[fungayboy]

They have a naked day, unfortunately the day I'm not there 😂

[Brumjon]

I’ve been to the Greenhouse in Darlaston and it was really liberating to be naked amongst other guys. 
 

You don’t have to do anything and ‘no’ was respected, but the stuff about eye contact and touching is about right. 
 

Everybody is there for the same reason and you can just enjoy yourself. Do check if there is a special event on - I specifically chose a Bear’s Day so I’d be amongst men who looked like me and/or were into guys who looked like me. I loved it. 

[fungayboy]

I've got a few weeks yet but will go and see 😁