Russian Saunas For Kids

Terry's best friend, Craig, spent several years in Russia working for the Peace Corps. When he would come back to the States to visit, he would talk about some of his cultural experiences, such as going to the sauna. Sitting in a sauna sounds pretty relaxing, but that's only the beginning. Then he and his colleagues would jump in the snow and after that people would hit them with switches. He told us it was therapeutic, but to me it sounded downright painful (not to mention a bit kinky.)
But maybe the architects that plan the recreational swimming pools have been studying in Russia, because every new swimming pool I take my boys to has a contraption that, in my opinion, similates a Russian sauna experience.
These "water playgrounds" pummel the kids with water. You would think kids wouldn't want water coming at them at fire-hose force, but that doesn't seem to be the case. My sons stand under a pipe that gushes water on them with smiles on their faces.
They can't get enough of the fountains, which is like being thrown under a water fall. And to complete the Russian sauna experience (albeit no switches, thank goodness,) the centers usually have a family hot tub, so my kids can go from cold water, to hot water, to cold again. After going through that cycle, they are as relaxed as noodles for a good part of the day. So maybe the Russians were on to something after all.