Podcasts about sauna society

Today on Sauna Talk, we welcome Ragna Marie Fjeld, General Secretary, Oslo Badstuforening. What does Badstuforening translate to in English? Sauna Association. So, let me tell you a bit about the Oslo Sauna Association. Founded in 2016, the same year as the 612 Sauna Society in Minneapolis, Minnesota. But the difference start here. Where 612 has one sauna, and granted it is the original sauna with the same work horse original sauna stove, benches, walls, and spiritual patina abound, Oslo Badstuforening's inaugural first sauna seeds were planted in much more fertile soil. The soil along the harbor of Oslo's fjord was ripe for sauna expansion. Yes, their original first sauna is still operational, and with a spiritual patina rating of 9.4, but surrounding this flagship sauna is a fleet of 18 additional saunas: 14 other floating saunas, and 4 mobile saunas. And as you listen to this, chances are that these numbers will be outdated and higher. The Osla Sauna Association train is not slowing down. As you will hear in this episode, the constraints to growth and expansion are, well, just not there. Revenue? No. They are most often fully booked (and by the way, very reasonably priced for all economies of economic income scales). Steam master hosts? No. As you will hear, their HR department is busy with applicants. Including doctors and politicians. Builders? No. Matter of fact, every architect in Norway wants to design a sauna. Their corporate offices are unassuming and yet buzzing with activity. People dig working here, and their Secretary General, Ragna Marie Fjeld runs a collaboratively effective ship. Let's listen in.

Send us a Text Message.Conversation with John Pederson about the physical, spiritual, and psychological benefits of sauna and thermic bathing. Topics of Discussion:-Emerging research and popularity in sauna-Cultural significance and key principles for thermic bathing-Science behind the body's response to contrast therapyJohn Pederson is a wellness operations consultant and programming director based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He began his work helping communities create and sustain innovative public health initiatives as a Fulbright Scholar in Indonesia, where he co-founded the country's first student-run radio station. Post fellowship John joined Seed Savers Exchange where he managed communications for the company's multimillion dollar seed bank and food security operation. In 2011, he accepted a role as Community Manager for CoCo co-working space in Minneapolis, MN where he launched the 612 Sauna Society—a community-owned sauna start-up featured in Forbes and CNN for inspiring a revival of thermic bathing culture in North America.He co-founded Stokeyard Outfitters in 2017 where he popularized his unique Thermaculture™ experiences at Hewing Hotel,  the Great Northern Sauna Village, and now The Yard, the first year-round Thermaculture venue in the country, which he launched in the fall of 2023 in partnership with Superior Sauna & Steam where John now serves as the Director of Customer Engagement.Find @thermaculture on Instagram!For events and experiences:www.thermaculture.eventsFor products:www.superiorsaunas.com Thank you to our sponsors Human Powered Health, The Minnesota Institute of Ayurveda and Harvest Health & Wellbeing that make this episode possible.Well Connected Twin Cities is connecting you with local health and wellness professionals in your community. Discover what's possible by surfing the directory, taking a class, or attending the next event. http://wellconnectedtwincities.com/Follow us on instagram https://instagram.com/wellconnectedtwincities

Join us for episode 11 of the Sauna Twins Podcast! We are joined by our good friend Glenn Auerbach from SaunaTimes in the US. Glenn is “a lifelong student of authentic sauna” and dedicated to helping people discover and create good sauna experiences. He is the founder of SaunaTimes and the writer of “Sauna Build, From Start to Finnish,” which is a book on how to build your own sauna. His sauna journey began in 1985 on his hitch hike around Europe and the first surprising sauna experience in Scandinavia, which lead to found inspiration of spreading the joy of heat. Glenn is a founding board member of the Sauna Research Institute, Vice president of the 612 Sauna Society, member of the North America Sauna Society and the list goes on. You can also listen to Glenn's Sauna Talk Podcast, where he talks to aficionados within the world of sauna. Glenn talks about his sauna journey, starting from his initial experience of taking sauna every evening whilst on vacation in the Finnish/Swedish archipelago as a young man, through the process of starting Sauna Times as a vehicle to document how to build a sauna. During our conversation with Glenn, we also talked about the recently held UK Sauna Summit, how he originally got into the world of sweatbathing, sharing cultural insights from across the pond, chatting about community saunas and the "holy trinity" within the sauna world. You can visit SaunaTimes at https://www.saunatimes.com/ and follow Glenn on Instagram @saunatimes.com Brought to you by Finnmark Sauna Authentic Sauna Experiences https://www.finnmarksauna.com#authenticsauna #sauna #finnishsauna #loyly #löyly #aufguss #saunatimes #saunaus#goodheat #uksaunaculture #uksauna #saunatime #ussaunaculture#goodheatallover #saunaculture #spreadthegoodsteam #finnmarksauna #coldplunge #saunaconstruction #uksaunasummit #holytrinity #saunatrinity#saunahealthbenefits --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/finnmarksauna/message

Today on the Sauna Talk bench, we welcome three guests who are aligned to helping veterans through sauna as a means of healing our heroes. Their stories are heartfelt, their passions are clear. And for those of us who know sauna, we know that their purpose is meaningful and their success rate undeniable. (ie sauna is good for us!)! Who is Healing Heroes Saunas? The co-founders, Mike and Josh: as introduction: Mike Lotzer On the right side of the bench we have, Mike Lotzer. Mike is the Lead Pastor of Mercy Road Church in Burnsville, MN and served in the Army Chaplain Corps. from 2004-2012. Stateside, Mike served as a Casualty Notification Chaplain, Special Troops Battalion Chaplain, and Marriage Strong Bonds Instructor.  Also, he deployed in the Iraq War.   Mike has walked with soldiers, families, and loved ones through extreme pain both stateside and in combat zones. His experiences caring for dying soldiers have birthed a lifelong commitment to serve and empower Warriors and their families. Mike has been married to his wonderful wife Erica for 18 years. The couple have three children and live in Lakeville, MN. Mike has a B.A. in Comparative World Religion and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin, a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Certification in Combat Medical Ministry and Suicide Prevention from the U.S. Army Medical Department. Kirk Center bench, we welcome back Kirk Jensen to Sauna Talk. Kirk is longtime host and fellow board member of the 612 Sauna Society. You can learn more about Kirk as he was a recent guest to the Sauna Talk podcast. Kirk spent 34 years in the Air Force. He retired as Lieutenant Colonel with +7,000 hours as a C-130 Navigator. Kirk participated in every conflict during that time. Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Somalia. Kirk's “day job” is flight simulator trainer for the Air Force. Today, you can find Kirk either near the Minneapolis St Paul airport, where he runs Air Force flight training or alongside the 612 Sauna Society Sauna, where he serves as longstanding sauna host. Josh On the left side of the bench, we have Josh Meisberger (42). Josh has been married for 19 years and has 2 wonderful teenage boys. Currently living outside of Minneapolis in Apple Valley, Josh and family saunas frequently (3-5 times per week) enjoying their permanent wood fire sauna in the back yard of their home. Josh and family are active members at Mercy Road Church in Burnsville. Josh spent 22 years in the military with 2 combat tours to Iraq before being medically retired for various military related injuries. Currently, Josh owns a construction company (Rare Homes Inc) where he and team do everything from small bathroom remodels all the way up to custom builds and commercial space work. Mike and he more recently started Healing Heroes Saunas as a way to give back to the men and women who serve our communities in Hero rolls including Veterans, Police, Firefighters, and all first responder, along with their families. Mike and Josh are currently working on their 501c3 filing, as well as fundraising so that they can expand our reach providing hot and cold therapy.  Josh and Mike are very close to finishing their second unit, which will immediately be deployed around the state of Minnesota. They have a long term goals of 5-10 units in the state of Minnesota, as well as being able to build more permanent saunas at their residence for Heroes on an application basis.   Currently you can find them on Instagram @healingheroessaunas.

Sauna Talk: Kirk Jensen is a host of a thousand saunas (and more). Kirk is one of the lead hosts at the 612 Sauna Society sauna, Minneapolis Minnesota USA. This episode may be especially interesting for those considering starting a sauna business. Or for those who have attended a “butts on the bench public sauna” and want to know more about how sauna host manages the comings and goings of sauna guests.

Glenn Auerbach has been a sauna evangelist for over 30 years.  In 2008 he started www.saunatimes.com, as a source for sauna building and sauna culture.  In 2016, he created Sauna Talk, the podcast about sauna and most often recorded on the sauna bench.  Glenn wrote “Sauna Build, From Start to Finnish” which includes step by step instructions for building a sauna.  He has built many saunas and has helped many hundreds build their own saunas. He is a founding member of the Sauna Research Institute (Saunastudies.com)  He is also an advisor at Lamppa Manufacturing, Vice President, 612 Sauna Society, and has been the Upper Midwest Territory Manager for a division of a global food company for the past 20 years2:00 Is it sauna or sow-na?*2:55 What is a sauna? Infra-red is not a sauna7:00 NHL Finns & Sauna Culture7:30 Health Benefits to Hanging Out in the Sauna8:20 Downsides to sauna8:35 The truth barrel & intangibles of the sauna9:25 Nature and sauna analogy, 3 climate zones*11:30 Go by feel vs rigid structure of sauna routines13:00 What's going on in America is funny to the Finns14:45 Every body is different at different times. No rule aspect.“What better way to know yourself? This contemplative space is medicine in its own right”17:30 Average sauna in finland better than our best sauna, heat, steam, ventilation18:20 Ventilation, bench height, feet at the rocks are American chatterBrian break down ventilation22:10 How important is the steam? No steam, no sauna.23:05 Steam changes the sauna climate26:40 “When you feel great heat, its all over. Your search is over” “Wood burning, hits different”29:30 Electric sauna trick, latent heat in the rock31:00 3 types of heat transfer: Radiant, conductive, convective, up to the dynamic of the sauna, jazz trio of heat transfer33:30 Misnomer of steam34:40 2 fists rule and wisking broom36:15 Whens the best time to get out of the sauna?40:00 Sauna and cold, sauna and cold shower, sauna and cold like peanut butter and jelly41:10 Brian: Heats better than no heat, performance vs experience, RICE, when to use heat and cold solo46:30 Every sauna is different, let go of some of the control48:23 Diet, Hydration, & Fatigue, you treat sauna like an aggressive sport, it's a stress50:20 Quality of Hydration, Reverse Osmosis, Mineral Water (magnesium, iron, potassium, sodium)51:30-55:30 Water, Blood, Breath, Sleep Brian rant55:50 Grass analogy1:01:30 Cold tub gauge of exhaustion, immune system, resilience, temperature rant1:08:15 History of Sauna & sweat therapy, Book Reference “Sweat” by Mikkel Aaland1:12:38 Guided experiences around the world.1:17:00 DIY Sauna advice Glenn's book “Sauna Build, From start to Finnish”

Let’s welcome Eero Kipi to Sauna Talk! President of North American Sauna Society. The time we are living is very exciting. More and more people are becoming interested in and aware of the authentic sauna practice. In this episode, we get an understanding from Eero about his upbringing with sauna. And this experience is most likely not much different from most all Finns. A country of “more saunas than cars” and a country where many start taking saunas before they are old enough to start walking. Eero understands good sauna. The North America Sauna Society was founded in 2004. Sauna bathing is a very well regulated process with no regulation.

There is a very well-known drama when two women meet at the party wearing the same dress… what worse could have happened? How come, that it's so much different with men? That's one of the wonders of diversity I've touched upon in my last episode. Today it's going to be different. Longer episode than usual, but I'm sure you'll enjoy it. When I've recently googled the name of my Sauna Talks podcast I've, by an accident, mistyped it forgetting the final ‘s'. That's how I've found Glen from Minnesota, US. Sauna lover, builder and as it later happened also an entrepreneur that sees the world in such amazingly similar way, even though we're on two different parts of the globe. And his podcast is called Sauna Talk… just the ‘s' shorter than Sauna Talks from SaunaGrow.com Listen to this episode where we're discussing sauna culture in various countries, our preferences and habits, but also how much the spirit of loyly and relax in a sauna is important before you talk business in a sauna. Do enjoy this as much as I did! Glenn Auerbach has been a sauna evangelist for over 30 years. In 2008 he started www.saunatimes.com, as a source for sauna building and sauna culture. In 2016, he created Sauna Talk, the podcast about sauna and most often recorded on the sauna bench. Glenn wrote “Sauna Build, From Start to Finnish” which includes step by step instructions for building a sauna. He has built many saunas and has helped many hundreds build their own saunas. He is an advisor at Lamppa Manufacturing, Vice President, 612 Sauna Society, and has been the Upper Midwest Territory Manager for a division of a global food company for the past 20 years --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/saunatalks/message

There seems to be a lot of confusion about the different types of saunas and the health claims. Eero from the Sauna Society is here to set the record straight. The Sauna Society demonstrates and promotes the traditional nordic sauna experience.   Tune in to learn the 3 steps of a authentic sauna experience, how to pronounce sauna, wet vs. dry saunas, if you have to be naked in a sauna, how hot a sauna needs to be, and much more!   To learn more visit https://www.saunasociety.org     Connect with Curiosityness... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiositynesspodcast/ Website: https://www.curiosityness.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/curiosityness Twitter: https://twitter.com/Curiositynesstv   Claim your FREE Curiosityness sticker at https://www.curiosityness.com/freesticker/   Find me, the host of Curiosityness on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travderose/ Or send me an email to travis@curiosityness.com

Today we learn about the International Sauna Association. Risto has been taking sauna since one month old. He has always been interested in taking good saunas. His wife tells him that he is “married to sauna.” He built two saunas in Zambia. Jijijjimjilbang was very popular in Korea, but they are disappearing as a public bathing place. The definition of sauna: “Sauna is a room, wood paneled, where you have a stove and stones, temperature measured at shoulder level, 80-100 degrees (175 – 212 degrees f). Relatively low humidity, which is controlled by introducing water onto the sauna rocks.” Risto has visiting many saunas in the United States. We are trying to get standards for sauna to avoid misleading information about what sauna is and what sauna is not. The biggest player in the sauna space are from Germany. If you try to sell “infrared sauna” in Germany, you will get fined. At a recent spa exhibition in Germany, the Intabad Exhibition Organization authorities forced a Chinese exhibitor to take down their signs saying “infrared sauna” and rename them “infrared cabin.” It is much cheaper to build an infrared thing. Less electricity. You are creating the heat in your body in an entirely different way. Harvia is a public company based in Finland. 25% of their business is in the space of steam rooms and infrared cabins. They are in a better place to define the meaning of sauna vs. Risto: “I am getting old, so it’s important for me to choose good saunas.” Our mutual friend, Mikkel Aaland: “In America, 90% of the saunas are bad, and the other 10% are worse.” Before World War II, there were 350 public saunas in Helsinki. Today there are a few. The urban sauna revival in Finland is . The Cultural Sauna in Helsinki is built on the tradition of older public saunas. Uusi sauna is new. Operated by Kimmo. Aarla. The original Helsinki public sauna 1927. Why is wood fired sauna preferred? You can have a good electrical sauna, but you need many stones. Electric saunas produce positive ions. When you put water on the hot iron, there is coming lots of positive ions, which are making you tired. Professer Graeffe wrote a study in 1974 about positive ions. When water is hitting hot iron. The best stove is a smoke sauna. No iron at all. Electrical toasters. Swedish company Tylo was destroying this market. Very quick heating. You are heating air, not mass. Slowly they were using more stones. Beauty companies are selling masks that create negative ions through water. The masks are “making you 20 years younger.” Do you get tired when you sauna? Bad ventilation! The first law of Loyly: your feet are above the stones. And the height of your ceiling is such that you can use vihta (whisks). Saunas are built too low. There must be enough air to help with circulation. A big crack along the bottom of the door. 10cm or 5″ Architects are not following the rules and standards for good sauna building standards. The Finnish Sauna Society Founded in 1937, from people looking to build sauna for friends. Financing was obtained by the government as two weeks out of the year the saunas are available for use by other people. 4,500 members. One of the largest societies in the World. All private people. Membership can be applied for. No rules for membership, except you must know two members who have been members for at least 5 years. 40,000 visitors per year. Members can bring up to two guests per session, except Fridays are visitors only. George Bush Senior was there. The previous US Ambassador, Bruce Oreck 6 years the ambassador of Finland, is a real sauna lover. He hates the US sauna. He especially loves the smoke sauna. Everywhere he goes he talks about sauna. Though both have ear rings, it is best not to mix up the body guard and the ambassador. 4 smoke saunas. Each one different from the other. 2 wood fired saunas. Single heat. 1 electrical sauna. The idea is that this is for handicapped people. People are coming to Finnish Sauna Society for the smoke saunas. The allure of the smoke sauna The stones are heated directly by fire underneath, until the stones are red hot. The fire is then allowed to burn out from the fire chamber below, and all ash and coals are removed. The sauna hot room is then washed, cleaning the benches from 75-90 degrees c. #3 is the cherished savusauna, getting hotter than 120 degrees c. 6:30 am., the stoves are lit. At around 11:30 am the fires end. 1 pm saunas open. Until 9pm or 10pm. 1,000 kilos of stones. Thermally insulated. The sauna stoves are below. There is a lot of heat capacity in these saunas. The stones have to be hot enough in order to burn off all the hydrocarbons. The heating is stopped when the rocks are hot enough, 650 degrees c. To heat a smoke sauna is something you have to learn. In terms of construction and operation. A smoke sauna can burn down. If there is a lot of carbon on the walls, and air can pass, it can easily become reddish. If air passes, hydrogen and oxygen mix, creates a chemical reaction: an explosion. A sauna wall can ignite a fair distance away from the stove. No reddish carbon on the wood walls. Are there any smoke saunas in the United States? UL standardization is making it quite difficult to build smoke saunas. Saunas around the world Japan – sauna is very popular. Germany: there are over 10,000 public saunas. Mongolia, Japan, China has a very old type of smoke sauna, in a cave. “Mongolian hot flame sauna.” A very good sauna. They are burning stones inside this cave. Wet sand on the floor. The walls are very thick. Plenty of heat capacity. You are getting very good loyly. Russia is the biggest country for sauna. 7-10 million saunas. Comparable to the Finnish sauna. The original Russian Banya is very near to the Finnish sauna. There are many very nice public saunas in St. Petersburg. Many Russian Banyas in Russia are controlled by the Russian mafia. In Japan, sauna has been related to prostitution. Same in China. Australia: Sauna is very popular. There are many Finnish immigrants in Australia. Sydney and Melbourne, where there were 350,000 Finnish immigrants, moving. Canada has a reasonable sauna culture. There is a different culture than in the United States. The first Loyly is always important Risto’s favorite part of a sauna session: It is common in Finland to have a nap after sauna. Less common now, but still very traditional. Dating back to when Risto was a small child, he would take a 20 minute nap after sauna. I have not seen any good mobile sauna. Most are bad. They are too low. Your feet are freezing. The Finnish Sauna Society has commissioned a mobile sauna. It his a high structure. We want to make a very good sauna. Almost Heaven barrel sauna is not good. (sorry!). Sit in Nature after sauna. It has to be quite quiet. The loyly is good and you have good company. I am having sauna quite a bit with my wife. Luckily she likes sauna. Research work regarding sauna health benefits Dr. Jari Laukkanen’s work: “If you go to sauna often enough, and taking sauna hot enough, you are decreasing risk of Alzheimers. Most plausible reason: our veins are more flexible. They think that Alzheimer is coming because your veins in your head are getting stiffer and stiffer. Sauna keeps your veins in flexible position. Results are showing clearly that sauna is helping men. 2,300 men. You cannot find a control group in Finland to test sauna benefits vs. a control group. Residual benefits of sauna: you are joking more, relaxing more. This clearly has a benefit. 2010 Sauna Congress in Japan: a Japanese researcher has been showing images of the human heart and his work. 1-3 months in his hospital, patients who have had heart attacks are having sauna 90 minutes per day. After this treatment, they are showing normal hearts. There are several other people who are doing similar things (sauna studies). A guy in Austria. A Russian lady has been doing much of the same research. All these results are in the same direction. This sauna going is healthy. If you are going too often or too hot, that’s not good either. Logic and reasoning as it relates to “sauna health benefits.” Different from Infrared cabins. Yes, softer veins is a physical benefit. Cold water: the temperature variation. Is this contributing to sauna health benefits. Sitting outside, ensuring you are completely cooled down, this is also a health benefit. Financing for sauna studies: it is difficult to secure funding. Sauna congress in US. Finnish Embassy and North America Sauna Association. New York or Washington, DC. Finnish Embassy. The traditional sauna culture is important. People don’t have enough time. 2 1/2 hours is the minimum. Young people have to be online all the time. We are looking to have Finnish sauna added to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Many important people within ISA. We are sauna lovers. We are doing this kind of work all over the World.

Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting on the bench with Omar Ansari, founder of Surly Brewing. You can listen to our Sauna Talk Episode here. Today on the bench, I have the pleasure of visiting with another enterprising icon in the Twin Cities. Today we welcome John Munger, Executive Director, Loppet Foundation. John and Omar have a few similarities Both John and Omar know each other from way back. Surly was an early sponsor of the Loppet Foundation. That relationship is still strong today. Their beginnings: John with the Loppet and Omar with Surly, each started as a kernel seed of an idea. And each have each grown into something long lasting and remarkable. Both have have swam upstream against established rules and structure, both political and policy, with fierce dedication to their clear visions and missions. As you’ll hear in this episode, John notes that “real change in the world is stuff that lasts.” In the case of Surly Brewing, we have Surlyville, a substantially cool and beautiful brewery destination complex. In the case of Loppet Foundation, we have the Trailhead, a substantially cool and beautiful recreation destination complex. Each of these beautiful buildings, and the smiles created within, are “instagram worthy” Both buildings appearing in tourist brochures and social media feeds for people visiting the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Neither of these Twin City iconic structures and organizations would exist without Omar and John. What is the Loppet Foundation? Founded in 2002, The Loppet Foundation It is a non profit, which is dedicated towards doing something good for the community. The foundation undertakes a variety of things including trails & facilities management, large-scale public events, youth and adult recreational programming, and competitive training clubs. At the center of all of these ‘tentacles’ is their mission, which is to create a shared passion for year-round outdoor adventure in the Minneapolis area, with a focus on underserved youth and families. The Loppet Foundation offers year-round programs for kids adults and everyone in between. From Loppet Run Club to our in-school Minne-Loppet program. The foundation works to get folks from all walks of life outside and active no matter the weather. Luminary Loppet, Lake of the Isles, Minneapolis, Minnesota The Luminary has grown tremendously. As you will hear in the interview, the first luminary had about 150 people in 2006 and this past Luminary we had over 10,000 people in attendance. The Trailhead project (includes building and surround trail improvements) is about a $10 million project in total. The building is completed and has quickly become a signature, statement piece for Minneapolis. 612 Sauna Society’s wood fired mobile sauna has been parked in the shadows o the trailhead all winter long, and now into Spring. The sauna residency has complemented the offerings of the Trailhead. Guests have been able to enjoy sauna after a ski, surrounding old growth trees and well groomed trails, in a “this is so awesome, it’s got to be against some kind of rule” kind of way.

Welcome to this episode of Sauna Talk. Today on the bench we are joined by Omar Ansari, founder and owner of Surly Brewing Company. For those not in Minnesota, Surly Brewing, as of 2018, is reported to be the third largest brewery in Minnesota. Producing 93,000 barrels per year. Surly brewing made the list of top 50 brewers in the United States, and will be knocking their way down on that list, I'm sure. The Surly beer hall and garden, located between downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul is a, well, a very large facility that packs them in and has quickly become a destination point for locals and visitors to the Twin Cities. For those of us in Minnesota, Surly needs no introduction. For example, anyone attending the recent Neil Young concert at the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis, looking around before the lights went down, we could easily identify and loose count of the number of fans sipping from the iconic red and black Surly Furious 16 oz. can. Surly has become part of the fabric of Minnesota. But little known about Surly is its founder Omar's love and support of the authentic sauna experience. Omar has been a huge supporter of the 612 Sauna Society. The connection and credit goes to Margie Weaver who at the time was Omar's yoga instructor. Margie arranged for Omar to meet up with 612 Sauna Society Founder JP. Once Omar felt the heat, the intention, and the idea of the 612 Sauna Society, he extended himself graciously to help expand authentic sauna in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/ St. Paul. 612 Sauna Society has had residencies within the Surly Brewing Courtyard. This gesture, at the time, was uncharted grounds. Today, the idea of meeting friends on the sauna bench, partaking in a few sauna rounds, then a libation and a bite to eat at Surly Brewing may seem like a logical and natural thing to do, as this is done in Scandinavia all the time. Yet despite Minnesota's long heritage of Finns and Northern Europeans familiar to sauna, as well as a cabin sauna culture that dates back generations along the shoreline of many of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes, the urban sauna concept (in the public domain) was very abstract and foreign in Minneapolis/St. Paul. as recently as just a couple years ago. In this episode of Sauna Talk, you'll hear about the origins of Surly Brewing: Omar jumping on the pent up demand of craft beer in the Upper Midwest. How Omar Surlyman was able to plow through the challenging task of getting an archaic, restrictive law changed to allow craft brewers to sell beer and food on sight, forever now known as the Surly Bill. Omar Ansari put craft beer in cans at a time when it was all 12 oz. glass. Omar Ansari embraced authentic sauna in the public domain. Omar Ansari is like us, he enjoys the heat up and the cool down. This evening we joined Omar on the sauna bench with a couple of Surly employees and their spouses, who were graciously quiet while I conducted this interview. Yet we "pass the microphone" and you will be introduced to them as well. Omar Ansari is not unlike European business owners who work hard, no doubt, but who have a beer with their staff, and hang out socially as well as on the sauna bench and between sauna rounds, presenting themselves as just another person. Sauna is the great equalizer and Omar Ansari displays this and shares this in his own backyard sauna on this cold Minnesota winter's night. The Friday Happy Hour is alive and well. And tonight we are joined on the sauna bench with a Minnesota Craft Brewing legend: Omar Ansari, founder and owner of Surly Brewing Company.

We first heard John on Sauna Talk from the bench at my cabin sauna, as we were in Northern Minnesota to celebrate Sauna Day 2016.  Then, we heard from John along with fellow 612 Sauna Society Steering Committee members through a separate Sauna Talk episode here.   At that time, we were gathered at JP's apartment to talk through what a member operated sauna co op in Minneapolis can look like and means to each of us. I am happy to welcome John back to Sauna Talk for part 1 of this two part series. Sauna Talk on the bench inside the 612 Sauna Society Sauna This entire episode of Sauna Talk was recorded on the sauna bench inside the 612 Sauna Society Mobile Sauna, which has an extended residency outside The Trailhead, Theodore Wirth Park, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Whether you live in Minneapolis or are visiting, imagine lacing up the cross country skis and trekking through groomed heavily wooded old growth trails, a vibe more akin to 218 (Northern Minnesota area code) vs. 612 (Minneapolis area code).  Yet as you make your way around a turn and look up, BAM you are faced with a breathtaking view of the Minneapolis skyline. I've been left breathless by this.  Probably because i'm not in the best ski shape, but I like to think more breathless because I know of nowhere in the United States that offers such natural beauty and such urban ness all in one vista.  So, back at the Trailhead, I lean my skis against the 612 Mobile Sauna, strip down to my Troxers, then dump a bucket of cold water over my head, and meet up with John in the sauna changing room. No formal hello is needed.  I've known John for many years.  A kindred spirit on so many levels, we talk through our first meeting, how I helped him build his first mobile sauna.  We talk through the origins of the 612 Sauna Society and his deep passion for brining the benefits of sauna to more people (note: same passion as me!). JP has taken sauna dreaming to sauna doing. So, anyone interested in learning more about how the sauna experience is gaining steam here in North America need look no further than JP. Let's welcome JP to Sauna Talk.  JP, a guy who has realized a dream.  I'm proud to share his dream.  

“When you go out of the heat an into the extreme cool, and back from the extreme cool and into the hot, there is something that happens inside your body that is just so satisfying” – Vladimir von Tsurikov. Sauna Talk is pleased to welcome Vladimir von Tsurikov. Director of The Museum of Russian Art (TMORA) in Minneapolis, MN. Vladimir has brought with him a passion for the advancement of Russian Art and Culture, and a strong record of international collaboration.  Over the last ten years he co-organized and co-curated several exhibitions with Russian institutions in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.  Vladimir has published numerous articles and presented dozens of lectures both in the U.S. and Russia. In addition to releasing two research volumes, he has edited five volumes of a scholarly series Readings in Russian Religious Culture and continues to serve on a number of editorial boards. Vladimir also serves on the boards of the Russian Historical Society in the U.S. and the Russian Nobility Association in America. Vladimir received his Ph.D. in Russian History from the Moscow Theological Academy in 2011, and an M.A. in Russian language and literature in 2000 from Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT. Our interview took place in the sauna at the Hewing Hotel, downtown, Minneapolis, MN.  The Hewing Hotel’s top floor set up features a brand new rooftop sauna.  A very generously sized hot room space with transom windows overlooking the downtown skyline.  We have easy access steps outside the hot room to the outdoor rooftop patio, where there is also a hot tub and fresh air chill out zone.  The Hewing Hotel rooftop also offers separate Men’s and Women’s facilities, each equipped with showers, bathrooms, lockers.  We also have a Nordic vibe spacious bar and patio area, offering signature drinks from local vendors including Tattersall Distilling, a micro distillery based down the elevator and a short bike ride away. John Pederson made this event happen.  You may know of John as founder of the 612 Sauna Society, the first cooperatively owned sauna organization in the United States.  John is also partner of Sauna Society Builders, which is the organization hired by the Hewing Hotel to host community and cultural gatherings. And this is what we did on a recent Friday night in Minneapolis.  As others were swilling down their beer and cocktails at the neighboring bars and restaurants in Minneapolis, we were a group of folks enjoying a healthy sauna experience while learning more from Vladimir about the parallels of sauna, Finnish sauna, and Russian banya. In this episode of sauna talk, you will get an understanding of Vladimir von Tsurikov’s deep love and appreciation of the banya experience.  How banya is a social and community gathering place as much as it is a wonderful wellness practice enjoyed by many ethnic communities in Russia and neighboring areas. This episode will be especially interesting for those of us who enjoy learning about the authentic sauna experience as it relates to its offshoots and parallels with other cultures, in this case, specifically, the Russian banya.

Jeremy Quinby and 612 Sauna Society founder, John Pederson have a conversation about how sauna can improve your health and well-being. JP talks about the Finnish tradition of sauna, the regional history of sauna in Minnesota, and 612's plans for mobile sauna residencies for this upcoming year, and how easy it could be to have a sauna available where ever you live. http://612saunasociety.comSupport the show (http://patreon.com/highwaytohealth)

In this episode of Sauna Talk, we get to hear why six of the 612 Sauna Society Steering Committee members believe in the sauna experience so deeply. In Minneapolis, MN, there is a 2,000 member strong sauna community, called the 612 Sauna Society.  For the past couple years, folks have signed up and gathered for sauna sessions in a mobile sauna.  The mobile sauna was hauled around to "residencies."  While the sauna was parked in public places like brew pub parking lots, frozen urban lakeside shorelines, and along the sidewalk of a downtown city street, our king Sauna Meister JP would organize time slots for 612 Sauna Society participants to partake in their own sauna experiences.  Often this involved taking a sauna with folks they didn't know. People were very receptive to this concept, especially during the frosty cold months December through March. Now, something more magical and substantial is underway.  The 612 Sauna Society Cooperative. The 612 Sauna Society is looking for folks to pledge as founding members, volunteer their time to help promote the fundraising campaign, and evangelize with Twittering, shouting and sharing the good vibrations.     In this episode of Sauna Talk, we meet six people who dig sauna.  In this episode we learn about how the rising sauna tide is lifting many boats in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN.

What's your favorite sweat bath?  "The one I just took, and the one i'm going to take next."  Into sweat bathing and all the variations underneath. Defining what a sweat bath is:  Some kind of a chamber where the air is heated, purpose to induce sweat for bathing. A Finnish style sauna as part of the neighborhood swimming complex at a public space in San Francisco.  North Beach Pool.  It helps create neighborhood and community.  Interacting in a positive, life affirming way. Getting the (neighborhood) block into the sauna instead of the best sauna on the block. Lived and travelled extensively.  Prague, Washington DC, Norway, San Francisco. Sweat in the '70s.  An exciting time for counter cultural views of the world.  Renewed interest in bathing.  Hot Tubs, sweat lodges, saunas.  Wet Magazine.  The tragic tale:  AIDS epidemic.  Shut down public bathing almost overnight.  Mini dark ages of public bathing culture. Today: we are back into the renaissance.  Mikkel had started receiving calls from all over.  A whole gamut of people wanting to create their own sweat facilities.  People are doing what they're talking about.  Today is the most exciting time in bathing and sweat bathing he can ever imagine. Temascal and Sauna: centuries old traditions, developed separately, thousands of years ago. The epiphany for the book Sweat:  At the Finnish Sauna Society in Helsinki.  A worldwide phenomena.  Initially they were dots wanting to be connected.  Sweat bathing is as natural to humans as the baking of bread and the fermenting of grape. Cultures create their own type of sweat bath.  But no sweat bathing culture around the equator.  You just go outside and you can sweat. Sweat creates an altered consciousness state:  You go someplace else outside of your normal everyday life.  You are altering yourself.  A basic human need. The Dolphin Club:  Sauna and swim in the San Francisco Bay.  Sauna Talk. Different saunas have different rhythms and rituals. Spending time in the hot room:  He stays until he gets a good sweat.  He's learned to listen to his body.  It's not tied to a timer.  It's really important to get tuned into your body. The Sweat Summit.  Greg Moga made it happen.  Gathering folks to San Francisco to Mikhail Brodsky, founder and visionary for Archimedes Banya Put the BTUs into the banya.  Turkish bath, Finnish sauna, and a great restaurant/cafe with Russian style foods and beers. Brings people together that normally don't get together, in that very healthy way. Minneapolis:  Credit to the Sweat Summit, but Minneapolis has an emerging group of folks who are bringing forth the concept of sauna in the public realm.  612 Sauna Society. North American culture was missing this.  What is it about North American culture that misses.  We're getting closer to flipping the switch towards a time when there can be a public sauna in every block everywhere. Urban sauna revival.  Yoga, brew pubs.  A plan that makes sense economically, that can be applied in a wide scale. Mobile sauna akin to food trucks. Silicon Valley mobile sauna society.  A bunch of Finns.  Mikkel is the mascot. Infrared light bulb closets.  "I just don't get it." There are so many bad saunas in America.  We need to make it known that these are not good saunas and we need to change that. $50,000 to sponsor Sweat Summit 2.0.  Who'se in? The best part of a sauna session?  A collection of small moments that all add up to something wonderful. Water on the rocks is something that is so important, yet so many people are scared of doing that. No lecturing in the sauna.  Try to be diplomatic afterwards, but sauna is your own experience.  No ringing out your swimsuit onto the sauna rocks!  Not being preachy, yet understanding good sauna ethic. Read more about Mikkel Aaland here.

Four of us spent a rainy early June afternoon enjoying a sauna session at my cabin.  We road tripped together to experience National Sauna Day in Embarrass, MN.  What better way to get right into nature, and all get on the same page than a great sauna session? We start on the bench with Garrett Conover. 1,200 miles from Maine to Northern Minnesota. Cotton grass and tamarack sets my heart aflutter. Sauna and nature. Joined by John Pederson and Lee Sarkela. Us 4 characters as long tail sauna enthusiasts. Tracing the steps back to Pine Island as the island or origin for us being together. 612 Sauna Society parables behind the scenes.  Gas fire going out, trailer jack breaking. 2,100 visits to Little Box Sauna, 612 sauna society 2015/2016 this winter.  600 return visitors. A lake plunge, then Round 2: Sauna a Tick Removal Strategy after a hike. The universal feel of water being tossed on sauna rocks. Elements of sauna are basic:  a throwback to simplicity.  Stove, rocks, benches. Wood burning sauna stoves:  loading from the outside, changing room, inside the hot room. 612 Sauna Society: "a bunch of really cool people from different walks of life." Building a community of people drawn to the steam. Magnus Nillson Swedish celebrity chef joins JP in his backyard sauna. Negotiating the deal:  The goat comes with. Sauna is a great equalizer.  Egos get checked at the sauna door. A nice community sauna in Minneapolis:  why doesn't it exist? The exchange of giving and receiving.  A health club vs. backyard vs. public spaces.  The cooperative idea: changing the relationship between the people who are giving and the people who are receiving.  Making a resource available to other people in a sustainable way. Chicago Sweatlodge.  Bill Trotter, top 10 sauna meister in North America.  High sensitivity to people. JP's latest project the Mobile Sauna Cooperative.  Stokeyard Sauna.  Looking to have many owners to share the sauna experience. Vermilion lakeshore and US Steel.  Payroll deduction to pay for the Sarkela Island cabin. Sharing a family cabin with siblings, nieces and nephews.   All family are welcome. Island life:  picking up folks from mainland.  It's a psychological and physical removal.  Separation from the busy life, to leave behind. Getting through big water is about tacking.  Big ocean wave crossing with Garrett Conover in a lobster boat.  An offshore island in Maine.  Mile long and half mile wide. Tasteful megga wealth. Canoeing: tipping in a canoe in Quebec:  it's hypothermia season all year long. Canoe paddling: better partnering with an amateur vs. fighting with someone who thinks they know what they're doing. Rapids and waves.  Quartering waves. Weather cocking:  Spin on the crest.  Not fighting for every element of control. Round 3: Jarmo Lehtola, Finnish Sauna Society.  A gift of Hukka Sauna stone.  "Tahvo is a sauna elf, that smiles happily, no matter how high the temperature gets" I think of Jarmo and his gift every time I toss water on the sauna rocks. That's the type of steam you can only get from a real sauna stove.  Not one burst, but a delay.  Sustained steam. Most of the heat in a stick of firewood is contained within the smoke.  Gas emitted from burning wood.  An efficient burning stove will burn the smoke as energy. Rapid fire questions with Lee.  A close family connection. A backyard sauna makes the frown upside down. The rain stopped.

It was a cold Minnesota winter's evening when we gathered in my backyard sauna.  We get started talking about the cold, sort out our beers for the night, talk about making nICE mugs, and Minnesota Wild apparel. Please stay with us as we settle onto the sauna bench. Though he grew up with sauna, Scott landed in Finland on his 20th birthday, and gets seasoned to sauna in the 'ole country. As commercial Sales Manager Tylo/Helo, Cokato MN.Scott has seen his fair share of sauna:  "If you don't have a good sauna heater, you don't have a good sauna." "I've walked away from sales because it wasn't done correctly." A kick ass sauna:  It's the price of a car.  What's the big deal? Rule of thumb:  At the lake, never lock your sauna building.  It's good karma to have a sauna ready in case someone runs into problems on the lake. The 2' wide sauna door. 612 Sauna Society - bringing sauna to unexpected places. The ultimate mobile sauna:  built on a trailer where the wheels can tuck up underneath, allowing the sauna to sit on grade.  Lightweight, pick it up and go. Could sauna become as popular as Coldplay?  We tread down the infrared line of thinking. Cleaning a sauna - The Sauna Clean from Finland.  Great product to add a dab to a bucket of warm water and clean your benches with a brush.  An old dry towel to wipe it clean. The Bodhi Spa – Newport, RI Links to Scott's company: Finnleo Sauna. Helo Sauna. TyloHelo World Group. Music Credit: Trampled by Turtles, Midnight on the Interstate