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 ..read more

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 from Why so many people today eq ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 saun ..read more

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 villag ..read more

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 ..read more

"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 nota ..read more

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 Fi ..read more

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 bec ..read more