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...

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...

"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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

To fear the unknown is normal, but if it is preventing you from enjoying the sauna, then Alan has a big problem with that. This episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna is dedicated to squashing those fears by answering all of your frequently asked questions! Join your hosts, Alan Jalaasja and Elissa Lansdell as they take on all of your burning sauna queries.  Alan is more than happy to provide the knowledge you need to step into the sauna with confidence. His goal is to ensure nothing stands...

 To sauna is to sweat, and to sweat, as we'll learn, is fundamentally human... and yet, most of us know very little about it.    What is sweat,  why do our bodies do it, and why do we spend a collective fortune on products to hide or prevent it, but gravitate toward activities like sauna, where we openly sweat together?    In this episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna,  your hosts Alan Jalasjaa and Elissa Lansdell take a virtual sauna with the author of The Joy of Sweat: The Strange Science...

Welcome to Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna! Joining our hosts, Alan Jalasjaa and Elissa Lansdell, from Finnmark Sauna, the UK's sole official distributor of the world's leading Finnish sauna brands, are two instrumental brothers in the promotion of authentic sauna experience, Jake and Max Newport! To say these guys are sauna enthusiasts is an understatement. Together, Jake and Max have worked tirelessly to share the good news about sauna, through education and quality products.  They promote...

We are back with our second season of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna, and things are really heating up!  Helping to kick off season two, all the way from Helsinki Finland is our very special guest, award-winning, internationally acclaimed actor, conservationist, environmentalist, entrepreneur, fly fisherman, and sauna enthusiast, Jasper Pääkkönen. You can catch Jasper playing the role of Halfdan the Black in the historical drama Vikings, or starring in Spike Lee's Academy Award Winning film,...

Is Elissa all talk or, can she take the heat!? Alan Jalasjaa and Elissa Lansdell are taking their hosting duties offline, and into the sauna for this very special episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna.  And not just any old sauna either! Elissa will be travelling to Alan's home, where she'll be treated to the full Alan sauna experience - with one exception: there will be swimsuits worn! What's the plan?  With the sauna ready and waiting, all Elissa needs to do is follow Alan's lead and...

If you thought Alan was a sauna enthusiast, wait until you meet our next guest... Roman Moiseenko is a member of the Sauna and Steam Bath Association of Canada and the owner/operator of Steamul Sauna in Mississauga.  From Russia originally, Roman knows first hand the importance of Russian Bathhouses and their role in bringing people together. For Roman and for so many others, the Russian Bathhouse is a place for relaxation while enjoying time with friends and family. That is why in 2010...

Has anyone ever told you to apply heat to a pulled or sore muscle? Have you noticed that quite a few gyms are equipped with saunas? Well, it is no coincidence! Physical fitness and heat have a long history together. Today's special guest is going to elaborate on just some of the reasons sauna lifestyle and physical fitness are a winning combination.   In this episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna, our hosts Alan Jalasjaa and Elissa Lansdell, are joined by fitness coach and co-owner of The...

Sauna and relaxation go hand-in-hand. Heat can relax the body, loosen tense muscles and as Alan will attest, the sauna can help quiet the mind. If overall wellness is your cup of green tea, the practice of mindfulness could be a great addition to a lifestyle promoting mental wellbeing.  Mindfulness is about living in the moment, being present, acknowledging and accepting emotions and thoughts without judgment and so much more... are you feeling better just reading about it?  In this episode...

Could sauna play a role in health and wellness?  Finnish people have long believed in the healing and health benefits of the sauna. Centuries-old Finnish proverbs like "the sauna is a poor man’s pharmacy,"  and “if a sick person is not cured by tar, spirits, or sauna, then they will die,"  echo this belief.   In this episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna, your hosts Alan and Elissa look into some of the immediate and lasting benefits that could come from a sauna lifestyle.  Regular sauna...

We hope you're hungry! In this episode, we talk about food and drink as they relate to sauna. As Alan is quick to share, food and drink play a big role in sauna culture...    There is a long tradition of food being smoked, cooked, baked, and heated in the sauna.  You'd be hard-pressed to find a sauna in Finland that hasn't been used to roast a Makkara or two! According to Alan, the tradition of smoking the Christmas ham in the sauna is also quite popular. Those heated stones have been pulling...