Does sauna make people happier? Finland has been named the world’s happiest country for seven straight years. There are also 3.3 million saunas in Finland for a population of 5.5 million people. Coincidence? We think not. In today’s episode — our Season 3 finale — we’re discussing the link between regular sauna use and happiness. We’re also sharing our own personal experiences with sauna and happiness, and looking back at some of our favourite insights on the subject from past guests.Lastly, we’re taking you behind-the-scenes to hear from some of the members of the Kivia team about the impact of sauna in their own lives, and the topics they hope we delve into for Season 4…Thanks for listening — and be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to get your sauna fix until the Kivia podcast returns!**************Mentioned in this episode:The World Happiness ReportThe Finnish Way by Katja PantzarMichelle Russell-Murray of Thermëa Spa Village Eric Harkonen and Caroline Leppanen of Vettä Nordic SpaChristopher and Julie Rice of SaunaDigest.comSaija Silen of Sauna Village in Jämsä**************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.

Sauna has exploded in popularity in the UK over the past five years, with more and more Brits seeking out authentic sauna experiences everywhere from five-star luxury spas to grassroots mobile saunas.Even more unexpected has been the rise of “aufguss” — the art of using rhythmic towel movements to circulate heat, air and essential oils in the sauna — and today’s guest has been leading the charge.Deborah Carr is a certified sauna master and the founder of Anada, which provides sauna master training, along with aufguss and other thermotherapy experiences. She’s also the Aufguss Lead for the British Sauna Society and, last year, was part of the first-ever British team to compete at the International Aufguss Championships.In this episode, Deborah shares her thoughts on the UK sauna surge, what it was like learning aufguss during the pandemic (hint: it involved a lot of Zoom calls and towel waving in her dining room), and where she sees the British sauna movement heading next.**********Mentioned in this episode:Deborah CarrAnada Jake and Max Newport, aka the Sauna TwinsFinnmark SaunaBritish Sauna SocietyAufguss WMLay Pang OngJade Coloumbe**********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.

Part art installation, part sauna village, Public Sweat took over Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre for close to two months last year using an unexpected medium: the sauna.Inspired by sauna and global sweat-bathing traditions, Public Sweat featured five different sweat-bathing spaces — each designed by a different artist — that attracted more than 6,000 people, many of whom had never set foot inside a sauna before.In this episode, we’re joined by Layne Hinton, the co-founder of Art Spin, which curated Public Sweat, and Chris Foster, the lead artist and technical director of the project.Layne and Chris share how they brought their incredible vision from dream to reality — including visiting Mikkel Aaland at his private home sauna in Norway for “research” (yes, we’re jealous), and finding artists who were up for the challenge of creating public art while building a functioning sauna at the same time. They also discuss what makes sauna such a unique medium for this kind of immersive art experience, the importance of the social and community aspects of sauna, and where they see Public Sweat going from here.**********Mentioned in this episode:Layne HintonChris FosterPublic SweatArt Spin**********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.

Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea, Quebec, has long been considered one of North America’s premiere destinations for authentic Nordic sauna. So when Groupe Nordik recently opened a sister location near Toronto, you know Alan was one of the first in line to try it out!With over five acres of thermotherapy — including North America’s largest aufguss event sauna — Thermëa Spa Village is already making a name for itself.Want the inside scoop? Consider this episode your exclusive tour with our guest, Michelle Russell-Murray, Thermëa’s Rituals Manager.In this episode, Michelle shares the incredible range of rituals available at Thermëa, the special emphasis they place on aufguss, and why most newcomers to their unique style of aufguss — which involves snowballs infused with essential oils — “have no idea what they’re in for.”If you’re craving a virtual sauna, this episode is just the thing — download now and be sure to share with your sauna-loving friends!**********Mentioned in this episode:Thermëa Spa VillageGroupe NordikNordik Spa-Nature**********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.

Finland has been named the world's happiest country for seven years in a row. It’s also home to 3 million saunas for a population of 5.5 million people. And roughly one-fifth of Finns take part in something called “cold water” or “winter” swimming.Coincidence? We think not, and our guest, Katja Pantzar, agrees.A Canadian-Finnish journalist based in Helsinki, Pantzar first discovered cold-water swimming a decade ago and now swims in the Baltic Sea almost every day — all year round.She’s also the author of several books on the subject, including the bestselling The Finnish Way — about Nordic well-being, winter swimming, sauna and sisu — which has been translated into 24 languages to date. In this episode, Pantzar shares:What cold-water swimming is all about (spoiler: no laps are involved)The physical and mental health benefits associated with it The dos and don’ts for safe cold-water swimming The connection between winter swimming and “sisu,” a uniquely Finnish brand of perseverance, fortitude and resilienceThe details of her latest book, The Power of Hot and Cold, which she co-wrote with Carita Harju…and so much more!**********Mentioned in this episode:Katja PantzarThe Finnish Way: Finding Courage, Wellness, and Happiness Through the Power of SisuThe Power of Hot & Cold: From Sauna to Sea: The Finnish Way to a Happy, Healthy LifeCarita Harju, Executive Director of Sauna from Finland**********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.

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 exportThe Finnish concept of “sisu” and the role it’s played in Eric’s lifeWhy sauna isn’t just a place for solace — it’s a great place to socialize and reconnect with others, too…and so much more!**********Mentioned in this episode:Vettä Nordic SpaSisu expert Dr. Elisabet LahtiThe Finnish Way: Finding Courage, Wellness, and Happiness Through the Power of Sisu, by Katja Pantzar **********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!**********Mentioned in this episode:Sauna Village in Jämsä, Finland**********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.**********Mentioned in this episode:Bosca BeathaLithuanian Plants & Sauna Camp (June 3-7, 2024)**********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.

Can you imagine being naked in a sauna with strangers? Or maybe you can’t imagine it any other way? Nudity in the sauna is a polarizing topic. For some, the idea of going “au naturel” is unthinkable, while for others, “textile-free” is the only way to go. Why the divide? To get to the, ahem, bottom of the issue, we’re speaking with Dr. Ruth Barcan, a professor in the Gender and Cultural Studies department at the University of Sydney, and the author of Nudity: A Cultural Anatomy.In this episode, Dr. Barcan shares:Where some of our hang-ups with nudity come fromWhy so many people today equate nudity with sexualityHer advice for people who want to try going nude in the sauna for the first timeWhy, when it comes to nudity in the sauna, one approach doesn’t fit all**********Mentioned in this episode:Book: Nudity: A Cultural Anatomy (Bloomsbury)Article: "The Naked Truth on Nudity" (The Conversation)**********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, so you never miss an episode.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.

It’s taken the European sauna world by storm, and it’s starting to make waves in North America, too. Aufguss is the art of using rhythmic towel movements to circulate heat, air and essential oils in the sauna, creating a thermal experience like no other.While aufguss can be calm and meditative, it can have a huge performance aspect as well — with music, lights, costumes, singing, choreography and even smoke machines used for theatrical effect.To find out more, we’re speaking with Jade Coulombe, a Canadian “aufgussier” and past winner of the “Battle of the Gladiators” at the World Aufguss Cup Freestyle Championships.In this episode, Jade shares how she first got involved with aufguss, her aufguss experiences in saunas and competitions across Europe, and her future plans to make aufguss more accessible in Canada and beyond.**********Mentioned in this episode:Jade CoulombeAufguss World Cup FreestyleRob Keijzer**********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, so you never miss an episode.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.

Christopher and Julie Rice were at a low point in their relationship. After 10 years of marriage and four kids, the Minnesota couple had lost their spark, and were increasingly growing apart. Then they discovered sauna — and everything changed.In this episode, we’re speaking to Christopher and Julie about how their shared love of sauna helped reignite their love for each other — and how they went from complete sauna newbies to sauna evangelists, sharing their passion for sweat on Chris’s blog, SaunaDigest.com, and Facebook group, Wood-Burning Sauna, which has attracted over 6,500 members to date. **********Mentioned in this episode:SaunaDigest.comWood-Burning Sauna (Facebook group)**********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, so you never miss an episode.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.

We’re BACK! The Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna podcast returns for Season 3 — with hosts Alan Jalasjaa and Elissa Lansdell bringing you 12 new episodes packed with sauna hot topics, expert guests and so much more.Where in the world have we been, you ask?Well, Alan has been travelling the globe, checking off his sauna bucket list, and on today’s episode, he’s spilling the tea on all his adventures — from Finland and Ireland to Germany, Western Canada and more. Discover:Why the World Sauna Forum in Finland is “the world’s most relaxing business event”Whether a Finnish movie star’s sauna and restaurant complex on the Baltic Sea lived up to the hype (spoiler alert: IT DID)How Ireland is fast-becoming one of Europe’s sauna capitals — think seaside mobile saunas and whiskey barrel cold plungesThe art of “aufguss” — using rhythmic towel movements to circulate heat, air and essential oils in the saunaAlan’s “textile-free” sauna experiences in Germany with our Berlin-based sound engineer, Mike Shannon Why the Lost Faucet Sauna on Vancouver Island is definitely worth finding Why you shouldn’t invite Alan to your sauna unless you mean it — because he WILL show up…and so much more!**********Mentioned in this episode:Carita HarjuSauna from FinlandWorld Sauna ForumJake & Max Newport, aka The Sauna TwinsFinnmark SaunaJasper PääkkönenLöyly in HelsinkiHotBox Sea Sauna in Northern IrelandMike ShannonVabali Spa in BerlinThe Lost Faucet Sauna House on Vancouver IslandKamu Sauna in British Columbia**********Be sure to subscribe, leave us a rating, and share with your sauna friends if you liked this episode!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.

During this episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna, Alan and Elissa get to do more than just talk about sauna... For this, our special season two finale, Alan takes Elissa to one of his favourite local sauna houses: KW Sauna in Kitchener for an afternoon of sweat bathing bliss. KW Sauna describes itself as a place for visitors to "relax, rejuvenate and re-energize," and they deliver! Although unassuming from the outside, just wait until you walk through the doors! You'll find a beautiful, warm, and welcoming facility. Stepping out of the changing rooms is like stepping into a small village nestled in a faraway forest. Wooden doors, features and accent pieces bring a sense of the outdoors into the sauna house, delivering indescribable warmth and calm. In the communal area, just out of the splash range and near the cold barrel are numerous Adirondack chairs ready for bathers to rest & rehydrate post sauna.  Sweat bathers can alternate between the large steam room, dry sauna, Russian Banya and an infrared heat cabinet. The Banya and dry sauna are built with premium, knot-free cedar for even heat distribution. There are eucalyptus stems and stalks in the steam room, gently releasing their relaxing scent into the air. This sauna house is both decadent and down-to-earth at the same time.  It's no wonder why Alan loves this public sauna (and you will too)!  Join us as Alan and Elissa spend time exploring KW Sauna and find out if Elissa can take the literal plunge into the cold barrel. Our hope is that you learn more about what to expect when visiting public saunas like this one.A big thank you to Victoria at KW Sauna for making special arrangements to host Alan and Elissa prior to regularly scheduled opening hours. To learn more about KW Sauna in Kitchener, please visit KWSauna.com, and follow them on Instagram @KW_Sauna.  Feel free to reach out at kwsauna@gmail.com. Special Kivia Alert! We are taking a short break between seasons while Alan travels to Finland to attend the World Sauna Forum organized by Sauna from Finland.  You can bet he is going to be sauna-hopping and checking places off his sauna bucket list while there.  When he returns, he’ll be sharing all the experiences with us! Until then, please go back and listen to the episodes again, and take a moment to rate, review and share episodes with other heat-lovers, sweat-bathers, and those who may be curious to see what this sauna thing is all about. As always, visit Kivia.ca for all of your sauna needs, and follow Alan's sauna adventures on Instagram @kiviasauna. Alan is always happy to answer any sauna related questions, so feel free to reach out directly at Alan@kivia.ca.   Thank you for your ongoing support and please look for us this fall! In the meantime, happy sauna-ing!

During this episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna, your hosts Alan Jalasjaa and Elissa Lansdell are thrilled to take a virtual sauna with co-founders of Hamam: The Magazine of Letting Go, Editor-in-Chief Ekin Balcıoğlu and Steve Weiner. Hamam: The Magazine of Letting Go, is dedicated to the "bathing obsessed," and is all about giving into the essence of what sweat bathing represents. Within its pages are stunning images, breathtaking artwork and beautifully written pieces including prose and poetry all of which offer a window into aligned practices, concepts and experiences sure to intrigue public bathing enthusiasts. At its core is the idea of 'letting go;' letting one's body relax, while the mind drifts away... Each edition is its own work of art. Each one is a stand-alone publication, or you are welcome to collect them all sequentially.  The magazine exists only in physical, tangible form. It is meant to be held by the reader during their soak, sauna or steam. It is substantial in content, as it is meant to be enough. A regular contributor is a photographer, artist, writer and the world's leading authority on sweat bathing cultures, Mikkel Aaland. If you missed Episode 22 of Kivia with Mikkel as our guest, please click here.In this episode of the podcast, we'll learn more about the driving inspiration behind Hamam, and how a Russian banya in San Francisco brought Ekin & Steve together. Please remember to rate and review our podcast and share widely! Visit Kivia.ca for all your sauna needs and reach out to Alan directly with any sauna-related questions at Alan@kivia.ca. You can also follow us on social media @kiviasauna on Instagram and Facebook.To order your copies of Hamam: The Magazine of Letting Go, please visit HamamMag.com, and follow them on Instagram @hamammagazine. #HamamMag#LettingGo#BathingObsessed

"Sauna satisfies the social, spiritual, and physical under one roof.  There aren't a lot of things that do that." - Mikkel Aaland In this episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna, your hosts Alan Jalasjaa and Elissa Lansdell are taking a virtual sauna with a man who has traveled the world researching, experiencing, and learning about sweat bathing and bathing cultures.  He is known worldwide as a leading authority on the subject and is an advocate of public bathing practices. He is also an iconic photographer, artist, and author of numerous best-selling books, including & most notably for sauna and bathing enthusiasts, the 1978 classic: Sweat. Your hosts are beyond excited to share a virtual sauna with the one and only, Mikkel Aaland. Mikkel spent three years investigating and experiencing sweat bathing practices all around the world, which are documented in Sweat: The illustrated history and description of the Finnish Sauna, Russian Bania, Islamic Hammam, Japanese Mushi-bur, Mexican Temescal, and American Indian & Inuit Sweatlodge.  This work in particular has become iconic among sweat bathing enthusiasts, and it continues to inspire to this day!  Forty years later, Mikkel found himself retracing his global sweat bathing journey for an upcoming docu-series inspired by Sweat, entitled Perfect Sweat.  Please check out the trailer and watch for it! Hear Mikkel's fascinating insights on sauna and sweat bathing, and what it means to him, learn why he believes that bathing culture can reveal a lot about a culture and its people.  Mikkel shares how the act of sweat bathing is enjoying a renaissance, and why that is so important.  Find out why Mikkel wants to see the idea of public bathing reframed and embraced. Of course, Alan and Mikkel discuss the search for the perfect heat and what that means. Try to keep up with Mikkel by following him on Instagram @Mikkel.Aaland and visit his website mikkelaaland.com to find out where you can get a digital copy of the iconic cook Sweat and his other publications, and keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming docu-series Perfect Sweat. Follow us on Instagram @kiviaSauna and as always reach out to Alan with any and all of your sauna-related questions. You can DM him on Instagram, or you can reach out via email at Alan@kivia.ca.  Please check out the website Kivia.ca and take a moment to rate, review and share this podcast.   #PerfectSweat #MikkelAaland #Sweat #saunafulness #SweatBathingIsLife

We are thrilled to take a virtual sauna with Lisa Jaster! A self-described Heat Seeker, and the founder of The Lost Faucet Sauna House located in Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada.Join your hosts Alan Jalasjaa and Elissa Lansdell as they learn more about Lisa's passion for sauna and how following this love of heat brought her to more than 80 spas and hot springs in 13 countries. Lisa's need for heat was the inspiration behind The Lost Faucet Sauna House.  The Lost Faucet Sauna House is described as a contemporary bathhouse in an industrial area, offering a fusion of elements from Finnish and Eastern European public saunas.  There is also a complimentary Aufguss service where aroma-infused ice is placed on the rocks, while the Aufgussmeister expertly moves the heat and scents throughout the air. Plus, you can really treat yourself with facial masks, foot soaks, and body scrubs.  If you are looking for the perfect gift for the hard-to-shop-for sauna lover, the shop boasts various products and accessories including luxury flip flops. The Lost Faucet Sauna House is high up on Alan's World Sauna Bucket List Tour, and we are certain hearing Lisa's passion for sauna will fuel your inner heat seeker to find the lost faucet... Visit The Lost Faucet Sauna House website, and make sure you follow them on Instagram @thelostfaucet. Remember to rate, review and share our podcast as we strive to grow a prosperous sauna community. Visit Kivia.ca for all of your sauna needs and feel free to reach out to Alan with sauna-related questions at Alan@kivia.ca. Follow us on social media @Kiviasauna.

We are honoured to have the Sauna Superwoman joining us on this episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna.  Your hosts Alan Jalasjaa and Elissa Lansdell take a virtual sauna with Carita Harju, the founder and Executive Director of Sauna from Finland. She is also the author of three books on the subject,  The Soul of Sauna, Sauna: The Way of Finnish Life, and most recently Saunafulness. Join us as Carita shares some of her many efforts to promote the authentic Finish sauna experience around the globe. Learn more about the Finnish Sauna Experience Quality Handbook, and how saunas can become certified. Spoiler alert, an authentic sauna experience starts well before you step inside! As you'll hear, the best sauna experiences uphold the core values outlined in the guide to create a complete and perfect sauna... or what Carita has coined, "saunafulness."Sauna from Finland is also behind the World Sauna Forum, an annual international networking event for companies and innovators to come together and talk sauna-shop.  Click here for more on why the World Sauna Forum calls itself "the most relaxing business event in the world," and to book your tickets.  If you're wondering, yes, Alan will be there. Please take a moment to rate, review and share our podcast as we strive to create a robust sauna community. Please check out our website at Kivia.ca for all of your sauna needs, and reach out to Alan at Alan@kivia.ca with any questions. Follow Sauna from Finland on Instagram @saunafromfinland, or find them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Linkedin.  You can also follow Carita Harju on Instagram @saunafulness.#saunafulness#saunafromfinland#kiviasauna #thespiritofsauna

Dave Inglis and Tim Muza began Secret Sauna as a way to bring the authentic sauna experience to people in southwestern Ontario. Secret Sauna was available for rent and delivery and was a great way for many to have their first sauna experience in the safety and privacy of their own backyard.  At times, the beautiful barrel sauna would be ordered by couples who wanted a relaxing retreat delivered to them for an evening. Other times it would be ordered by housemates or bubbles of close friends celebrating a special occasion. In a time when the pandemic closed public saunas, this safe alternative was especially popular.  It couldn't replace the community aspect of a public sauna, but it did bring the heat. Of course, something this special doesn't remain secret for long.  Join us for this episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna as your hosts, Alan Jalasjaa and Elissa Lansdell talk Secret Sauna with Dave Inglis and Tim Muza. Hear about how a secret sauna could have such a profound impact on those who experienced it and find out what Dave and Tim have in store for the sauna-loving community. Please take a moment to rate, review and share our podcast. Follow us on our social media platforms @kiviasauna, check out Kivia.ca and reach out for all your sauna needs at Alan@kivia.ca. Follow Secret Sauna @thesecretsauna.

Welcome to the second half of the two-part 'everything you need to know' when building, buying, or installing a residential sauna episode! Previously, we focused on the outdoor sauna, and now we turn our sights indoors.In this episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna, our expert Alan Jalasjaa is at your service.  With an abundance of experience, he knows what to consider, what to avoid, and what to do when it comes to the addition of a residential sauna or infrared cabinet. Before you take a hammer to that nook under the stairs, or you run out and buy a unit, spend this time with Alan and Elissa and arm yourself with some invaluable intel. Elissa is going to lob a slew of questions at Alan, and we are certain that by the end of this episode, you'll feel confident about adding an indoor sauna to your home. You'll learn how to choose between infrared units and electric, what options there are when it comes to DIY kits, pre-fabricated units, custom design, and so much more! If you choose to DIY, Alan is at the ready with the insight you'll need! For example, which construction materials require some sourcing, and which you can pick up at your local hardware store. Alan has been in this business long enough to know that there is a lot of truth in the old adage: measure twice, cut once.  Of course, if you still have questions or want to run something by the expert, email Alan at Alan@kivia.ca.  Please take a minute to rate and review the podcast, and if you know an enthusiast or someone who is sauna curious, please share our podcast and help us grow this community of heat-lovers!  Take some time and explore Kivia.ca, and follow us on Instagram @kiviasauna.Happy Sauna-ing.

Is your garden shed begging to be turned into a backyard sauna?Maybe you're interested in an adorable pre-fab barrel sauna? Or building one with your own two hands...  In any case, if you are considering the addition of a sauna to your outside space, do not miss this episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna.  This is the first part, of a special two-part episode. This first episode is dedicated to everything you need to know or consider when buying, installing, or building your very own residential OUTDOOR sauna.  On the next episode, we'll be looking inward and focusing on everything you need to know or consider when buying, installing or building your very own residential INDOOR sauna!  Your host Alan Jalasjaa is excited to walk you through the process with the help of your co-host Elissa Lansdell.  Together they will cover everything you need to know before you begin.  For example, what are the heating options for outdoor saunas? How involved is it to convert an existing structure, like part of your garage or a shed into your own personal backyard oasis?  How much work is involved in putting together a kit-sauna? What will a sauna heater set me back?   What the heck are heat-resistant lights, and where do I find them?  The addition of an outdoor sauna shouldn't be stressful.  So, as the saying goes, measure twice and cut once. Alan wants you to have the best experience possible when it comes to all-things sauna, so let him help you start this venture on the right foot.  Nothing would make him happier than having a hand in you adding a piece of paradise to your own backyard.  As always if you have any questions that are not answered, just reach out at Alan@kivia.ca.  Please take a minute to share the love and rate, review, and share this podcast. Follow us on social media @KiviaSauna and help us create a community of sauna enthusiasts! Check out the website at Kivia.ca for all your sauna needs.