「かが浴場」これが「整う」ということか！！
今日、サウナ初心者の自分が初めて「整った」訪れたのは「かが浴場」。「整う」「整う」言われていたので、一応サウナがあれば、入ってはいたものの、まったく「整った」ことがなかった自分。
そんな自分に圧倒的な衝撃を与えてくれた、たまたま近所の図書館帰りに発見した「かが浴場」。昼からお風呂も良いかと、軽い気持ちで入ってみるとと、受付で「サウナ」はどうされます？せっかくだしとサウナもプラスで入館し、さっそくサウナに入ってみるとな、な、なんと！！！まさに別世界！！
熱、熱、熱、やけるような熱の世界！息苦しさを感じつつ、サウナを出て、水風呂に入ると、まるで自分の肉体を引き裂くような爽快感。これが「整う」ということか！！ 頭の先から全身、一気に脱皮した感覚！！なお、自分はサウナはまったくの素人。水風呂の温度は15度ほど。これがまた良い！！
なお、サウナからまったく話がかわるのだけれど、自分は、ドーバーなどの海峡横断を目指している。15度というと、ちょうどその温度。死ぬほど冷たく感じたけれど、体温調節と耐寒能力の適切なトレーニングを行なった泳者にとっては、挑戦可能な温度。海峡横断は、ウェットスーツを着用は不可のため、この15度で10時間ぐらい泳いでなくてはいけないわけだ。そう考えると、この15度の水風呂に入れるのも、なんとも素晴らしい！！
なお、サウナの効用は多岐にわたるようだ。血行が促進、体の代謝が上がり、デトックス効果も。さらに、心身のリラックス効果も抜群で、ストレス解消や睡眠の質向上にも良いという。自分の場合、最近、常に頭が、もやもやしていたのだけれど、今日にかぎっては、それが一気に晴れた！！「かが浴場」間違いなく、今後通おう！
なお「かが浴場」さらに良いのが、隣にあるコーヒー兼立ち飲み屋「うろちょろ」。
サウナ後に立ち寄ったのだけれど、ここもまた素晴らしい！！とっても小ぶりのお店なのだけれど、香り高いコーヒーとともに、一杯のビールを楽しむ贅沢な時間。サウナでリフレッシュした後の体には、この一杯が本当に最高。常連のお客様方もとても親切だし、カウンター越しにマスターと話しながら、お昼からリラックスしたひとときを過ごせるのは最高だ！
「かが浴場」と「うろちょろ」このセットは、海外含めても、ここ1年で最高の組み合わせかもしれない。サウナで心身を整え、その後においしいコーヒーやお酒でさらにリラックス。都会の喧騒から離れ、心地よい時間を過ごすために、どこか良い場所はないか、海、山、ずっと探していたのだけれど、本当にこんな身近なところにあったとは！！
サウナ初心者の自分も、心からリフレッシュできたこの体験。正直、流行りすぎて混んでしまうと嫌だけれど、あまりにも良すぎて書かずにはいられなかったこの体験。お近くでしたら皆さまも、是非！！！
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Today, as a sauna novice, I was ‘impressed’ by a sauna for the first time. I went to ‘Kaga yokujyo’. I had heard that saunas ‘get you in shape’ and ‘keep you in shape’, so if there was a sauna, I had been in it before, but I had never been ‘in shape’.
On my way home from the local library, I happened to come across ‘Kaga yokujyo’.I thought it would be nice to have a bath after lunch, so I went in and the receptionist asked me what I wanted to do in the sauna. I was asked. I went in, added the sauna to my bill, and when I entered the sauna, I was surprised to find that it was a completely different world! A different world! A world of heat, heat, heat and searing heat! When I left the sauna breathless and went into the water bath, I felt exhilarated, as if my body was being torn apart. This is what it means to ‘fit in’! I felt like my whole body, from head to toe, was being ripped off at once!
I am a complete amateur when it comes to saunas. The water bath is about 15 degrees Celsius. That is also good!
I’m hoping to swim across the Straits of Dover in a few years’ time, so 15 degrees is freezing for an amateur, but no problem for a swimmer who’s been properly trained in thermoregulation and cold resistance. Wetsuits are not allowed for the Channel crossing, so I will be swimming for about 10 hours at 15 degrees. So to be able to experience this 15°C water bath in preparation for the Strait of Dover is significant!
The benefits of the sauna also seem to be many and varied. It stimulates circulation, boosts metabolism and detoxifies the body. It also relaxes the body and mind, reduces stress and improves sleep quality. In my case, my head has always been a bit fuzzy lately, but today I felt refreshed all at once! I will definitely be visiting ‘Kaga yokujyo’ regularly from now on!
What makes ‘Kaga yokujyo’ even better is the coffee shop next door, ‘Urochoro’. We stopped by after the sauna and this place is also excellent! It’s a very small place, but it’s a luxurious place to enjoy a beer with a cup of aromatic coffee. The regulars are very friendly and it’s nice to spend a leisurely lunchtime chatting with the master over the counter!
The combination of ‘Kaga yokujyo’and ‘Urochoro’ is probably the best combination I’ve had in the past year, overseas included. Shape up in the sauna, then relax with a good coffee or drink. I was looking for a good place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and I had no idea that the ideal location was so close by!
Even though I am a sauna novice, it was really refreshing. To be honest, I don’t want it to become too popular and crowded, but the experience was so good that I had to write about it. If you’re in the area, give it a try!
