Sauna is just the beginning of the Finnish cultural experience that awaits visitors to Vettä Nordic Spa.

Not only can you relax and recharge with Finnish-style thermal therapy, but you can enjoy farm-to-table Finnish fare, take part in a “vihta”-making workshop and even sauna with a Finnish guide.

How did this authentic Finnish sauna oasis — located just one hour outside Toronto — come to be?

In this episode, we’re joined by Vettä owner and founder Eric Harkonen, along with brand ambassador Caroline Leppanen, to discuss all this and more, including:

• The immense value of sauna as a Finnish cultural export
• The Finnish concept of “sisu” and the role it’s played in Eric’s life
• Why sauna isn’t just a place for solace — it’s a great place to socialize and reconnect with others, too

…and so much more!

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Mentioned in this episode:

Vettä Nordic Spa
Sisu expert Dr. Elisabet Lahti
The Finnish Way: Finding Courage, Wellness, and Happiness Through the Power of Sisu, by Katja Pantzar

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Did you enjoy this episode? If so, we’d love it if you could leave us a rating/review, and share it with your sauna-loving friends!

And be sure to subscribe if you haven’t done so already!

Want to stay on top of all things Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna? Sign up for our newsletter at kivia.ca. (Don’t worry, we only send occasional emails and will never spam you.)

Have a question, comment or an idea for a future episode? Email us at alan@kivia.ca.

Today’s episode is smokin’ — literally! That’s because we’re talking about the original Finnish sauna: the smoke sauna, or “savusauna” as it’s known in Finland.

While the modern saunas we’re familiar with today have only been around for the last 100 years, smoke saunas date back to the 9th century — over 1,000 years ago.

So what exactly is a smoke sauna and where can you find one? To answer these questions and more, we’re joined by Saija Silen, a smoke sauna historian and chair of the Finnish Sauna Culture Association.

Saija tells us about the origin of smoke saunas, how they work and the incredibly multi-faceted role they’ve played in Finnish life — and in Finnish spiritual beliefs — for centuries.

She also talks about her important work preserving the 24 historical smoke saunas at Sauna Village in Jämsä, where visitors can enjoy an authentic smoke sauna experience for themselves.

We promise we’re not just blowing smoke — it’s a fascinating episode and you don’t want to miss it!

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Mentioned in this episode:

Sauna Village in Jämsä, Finland

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Did you enjoy this episode? If so, we’d love it if you could leave us a rating/review, and share it with your sauna-loving friends!

And be sure to subscribe if you haven’t done so already!

Want to stay on top of all things Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna? Sign up for our newsletter at kivia.ca. (Don’t worry, we only send occasional emails and will never spam you.)

Have a question, comment or an idea for a future episode? Email us at alan@kivia.ca.

A sweat-bathing renaissance is underway in Ireland and Northern Ireland, with saunas popping up from Dublin and Belfast to Cork and the Causeway Coast.

How did all this happen? During Alan’s Irish sauna travels last year, one name kept coming up: Shirley Fitzpatrick.

As the owner of Bosca Beatha — the first mobile sauna in Ireland back in 2012 — Shirley has been at the forefront of the Irish sauna movement for over a decade, touring the countryside and bringing her passion for sauna directly to the people.

In this episode, we speak with Shirley about how Bosca Beatha came to be, the growing popularity of sauna on the Emerald Isle, and the unique vantage point sauna gives us to connect with nature and each other.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Bosca Beatha

Lithuanian Plants & Sauna Camp (June 3-7, 2024)

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Did you enjoy this episode? If so, we’d love it if you could leave us a rating/review, and share it with your sauna-loving friends!

And be sure to subscribe if you haven’t done so already!

Want to stay on top of all things Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna? Sign up for our newsletter at kivia.ca. (Don’t worry, we only send occasional emails and will never spam you.)

Have a question, comment or an idea for a future episode? Email us at alan@kivia.ca.