Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna

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 Bathhous...

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 S...

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 with...

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 Eli...

We hope you're hungry! In this episode, of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna , 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...

Using heat to promote health, hygiene and relaxation is not just a Finnish thing! (Sorry Alan!) Many countries and cultures around the globe have a long history of sauna, steam rooms, baths, and sweat lodges. Whatever they are called, most are fundamentally the same, they provide a source of heat and a place for physical and/or spiritual bathing. However, it is important to recognize these saunas...

What is it about sauna that allows people to drop their guard, to reveal their true selves, to become vulnerable?  In this episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna , your hosts Alan Jalasjaa and Elissa Lansdell explore how sauna can enhance personal relationships and help to build community. When we can no longer hide behind gadgets, or brand-name clothes, or the latest tech, Alan will tell you from...

In this episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Saun a, we will discuss the do's, the don'ts and the never-evers of sauna etiquette. Your hosts, Alan Jalasjaa and Elissa Lansdell get right into the little sauna faux-pas, right up to the worst of the worst!  Elissa asks the hard questions, and Alan provides the guidance all in an effort to take the worry out of sauna use for newbies. After this e...

In this episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna , your hosts Alan Jalasjaa and Elissa Lansdell explore some of the rituals that enhance the sauna experience. Joined by Darren, a special guest and friend of Alan’s, we get to hear how ritual helped him embrace sauna. Rituals could be anything from how you mentally prepare for sauna, to the act of cutting the wood and the starting of the fire... maybe...

What makes a sauna? Spoiler alert... it's more than just a heated structure! In this episode, of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna we will explore the idea that a sauna is both a noun and a verb.  It is something you can do, and beyond that, it is something to experience .   Join in as your hosts, Alan Jalasjaa and Elissa Lansdell aim to answer “what makes a sauna” in both a physical and spiritual s...

Welcome to the very first episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna .  You’ll get to know the hosts...  Expert and sauna enthusiast Alan Jalasjaa is joined by the ever-curious Elissa Lansdell. Together, they’ll reveal the origins of Alan's passion for sauna culture that fuels this podcast. Discover why you should get on board with sauna as a way of life, learn the fundamentals and be part of a gr...