We've all been there - you've been asked to go for a sauna and you're standing in trepidation completely surrounded by semi-naked individuals about to enter a small 100 degree room. So what is the etiquette for this unique experience? Imagine investigates...

Take your time.

The main thing about saunas is that they should be relaxing. Even though you might not feel as comfortable as you should - funnily enough heat and nudity can often cause this - make sure you’ve got plenty of time to sweat out all your stress. Feel free to go in and out as many times as you like - this is quite common, especially for those not so comfortable with the heat.

Go with your friends.

Saunas are supposed to be social affairs - Scandinavians have been conducting business meetings in them for years and the last sauna I visited was full of guys playing poker! Friendly faces will also help if you're a little nervous – strength in numbers after all.

Don't take your own towels.

Especially not in a hotel – they're nearly always provided.

Get naked.

Don't be coy - get all your clothes off and if you're shy keep just a towel to protect your modesty. Any items of clothing will not only ruin the effect of the sauna but will get drenched with sweat. If you are going naked then place a towel on the bench before you sit down or you could be in for a bit of a shock.

Shower before and after.

Make sure you get clean both before and after you sauna. There is good reason for this - showering pre-sauna is not only hygienic and considered polite, but also means that your skin will be damp and so the experience will be more comfortable. It's a necessity to shower straight afterwards to close your skin's pores and also cool the body. If you're in a 'roll in the snow' scenario make sure you avoid old icy snow as this tends to have a similar texture to sandpaper.

Work your way up.

Heat rises, so, if you're less comfortable, take a lower seat and move up as you get used to it. Feel free to move around within the sauna - this is quite normal.

Distribute the heat.

Add water frequently (perhaps with essential oils) and make sure you wave a towel to distribute the heat evenly. This tends to be done by whoever sits next to the stove, bear in mind, if you don't, then not only will you incur the wrath of your sauna buddies but you'll be sweltering in the hottest part of the room.

Don't put your clothes back on straight away.

Big mistake. You'll be hot for about 10 minutes after you get out. Make sure your body temperature is returned to normal and then take a refreshing drink to quench thirst and redress the body's fluid balance. Imagine can highly recommend a very cold low-strength beer.