With Thanksgiving and Covid clampdown upon us, many of us are finding ourselves heading out to our saunas with even greater appreciation and reverence.
Many of us are taking saunas alone. Many love to sauna in silence, illuminated with just a candle and our thoughts. And many of us are finding greater appreciation of music, before, during or after sauna.
Next month we’ll be sharing Sauna Music in the time of corona. We’ll hear from Wim Hof about what he’s listening to on the sauna bench, and we’d love to hear from you too! Preview here.
Sauna Talk podcast episodes
As we celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the sauna book “The Opposite of Cold”, we are pleased to visit with author Mike Nordskog. Mike’s favorite moment during his sauna sessions? “I am completely, perfectly in the moment during the equilibrium moment after cold plunge.” Link to Mike’s Sauna Talk episode here.
And how about Max from Belarus? We learn the difference between sauna and banya (spoiler alert: not much at all!). A somber story of a country in a mess right now, but we keep it light and positive… and optimistic! Sharing the power of banya as galvanizing oneness. Link to Max’s Sauna Talk episode here.
Why do you sauna?
612 Sauna Society released their latest poll of members, and low and behold, stress relief & relaxation are the top two reasons why members of the 612 Sauna Society come to sauna. As we know, sauna allows us to live in the present moment.
Sauna building insomnia
I’m losing count of the number of people who contact me who, in the midst of their sauna builds, are waking up in the middle of the night. It’s not a nightmare wake up, but a wake up triggered by passion and captivation. Some thoughts and tips about sauna building wake up calls here. (hint: you are not alone.).
World Sauna Forum
The virtual event happens December 3-4, 2020. You can register free here. Brought to you by Sauna from Finland. You can listen to my interview with the founders here. I am looking forward to hearing many of the presenters, including Jasper Pääkkönen, Finnish actor, and founder & owner of Löyly Spa, Helsinki, Finland. Anyone who wants to get a better understanding of what sauna means to Finland, you can check out my Sauna Talk episode with Jasper here.
From the archive
in 2013, a time when at least everyone in my neighborhood thought I was nuts, we shared about how to turn a neglected corner of your backyard into an authentic sauna retreat. From that article:
“More often than not, the worst spot on your property can become the best spot for an authentic Finnish sauna. The neglected corner filled with brush and scrap wood, the dead space behind the garage, or anywhere out of the way where you can stake out an 8’x12′ run of carpenter string. One of the key attributes of sauna is the retreat: an escape from everyday busy-ness and routine. The physical location of your authentic sauna should mirror this retreat.”
Sound familiar?
If' you’ve achieved this for yourself: fabulous!
If you’ve yet to make it happen and want to pull the trigger: saunatimes is here to help!
Oh, and speaking of helping… with radiant enthusiasm, I support and sell the Kuuma stove from Tower, MN. My 2016 Sauna Talk interview with Daryl Lamppa has been nominated for best podcast for getting a reserved person to talk award. In celebration, we are giving away a Kuuma stove. We are still taking submissions via the Lamppa Kuuma Facebook page here.
Hoping you are enjoying really good heat, and wishing you a warm and happy Thanksgiving.
Michael’s “German style” sauna. Muskoka, Ontario, Canada, about 150km North of Toronto, Canada.