Great quote from Seth Godin:

Not only do I notice more fabulous, but it sure seems as though the creators of it are more engaged, dedicated and yes, joyful, than I can remember. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do work that matters, this is it. You can’t say, “but I need to make a fortune instead,” because that’s not happening right now. So you might as well join the people who can say, “I love doing this.”

Fabulous.   my mission statement.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/11/fabulous.html

I always thought mission statements were complete BS.

Then I read this article about mission statements, and thought, what the heck.  So I wrote my mission statement for saunatimes.com and got some nice clarity.  I think every website or business or lawn ornament should have their own mission statement.   Here’s mine:

To expand the appreciation of the authentic Finnish sauna experience by helping 50 people get their own sauna.

What’s your mission statement?

CAVEAT: I can’t speak to what this new age video is about, but it’s the only one I could find of this great song (30 seconds worth) by Ladysmith Black Mambazo:

There’s something beautiful about sitting outside in the rain, rainwater tingling the skin, steam billowing off one’s body after a nice sauna round.  Climates with rain, rain, beautiful rain are blessed with lush greenery, lakes, and fresh oxygen from the surrounding greenery.

Infrared closets and health club saunas just don’t hold a candle to your own authentic outdoor sauna where between rounds you can sing “rain, rain, beautiful rain!”

With your own authentic Finnish sauna:

• Sit outside in the rain like a crazy man with a smile on your face.
• Turn a rainy day at the cabin into a party.
• Turn a 3 day cold front into a beautiful day.

Someone asked me to summarize what the big deal is with Saunas, and I simply replied:

“No guru, no method, no teacher.  Just you and I in nature.”

I’ve heard folks say that their sauna is their church.  Sauna is a spiritual experience in Finland. Van Morrison surely wasn’t speaking directly about the sauna experience when he wrote this masterpiece, In The Garden, yet with any masterpiece, lyrics can be applied in multiple context:

I wish I had a live link for you to experience the richness of this song, especially between rounds:

but a nice outdoor sauna is surely a Sweet Thing:

The fields are always wet with rain
After a summer shower
When I saw you standin’
Standin’ in the garden
In the garden

No Guru, no method, no teacher
Just you and I and nature and the father In the garden

There are so many “threes” relating to saunas:

Three major attributes of saunas.

1. Health and Wellness
2. Escape
3. Green

Three sauna rounds make for a complete sauna.

1. Round 1: heat up and cold rinse
2. Round 2: induce loyly (steam), sweat heavy, and cold rinse
3. Round 3: sweat heavy, muscle stretch, skin cleanse and clean rinse

When you build your own sauna,  consider the three zones for optimal sauna enjoyment

1. sauna room: 7′ high ceiling max.  optimize your cubic footage, consider bench height.
2. changing room: lots of hooks, music and small fridge for cold water and beverages, good flow.
3. outdoor patio: outdoor shower, nice sitting area to chill out and look at the stars, privacy, buffer.

Three beers make for a good sauna party.

Three guests make for a fun sauna party.

Three hours is about how long a good sauna party lasts.

Ever heard the one about fish and guests both start to stink after three days?   3 saunas a week can minimize this.

Here’s my story…

Not every day am I productive.  And I don’t claim to be the most productive guy on the block.  Having said this, there are days when I feel like everything is unraveled: loose ends with my job, errands to run, projects with the kids, etc.

When I get this feeling of the screws coming off, I take a sauna.  In the sauna I bring only one thing.  Wait, no 4 things:

1. a big jug of water
2. an ice cold beer
3. a pencil
4. a used envelope

I don’t try to solve all the world’s problems, but the first round, I just try to chill, and get in a relaxed mood.  This allows my brain to start to relax, and if a thought hits me, “oh, I have to get new bindings for my cross country skis” I write that down  then just clear that thought out of my brain.  Often, first round, I may not write anything down.  After 10-15 minutes like this, you’ll be amazed at how much more clear you can begin to think, and prioritize all the crap in your life!  As the first round is almost complete, I’ll toss some water on the rocks to get the sweat flowing, and invariably, my mind starts flowing with it.  Not a bad time to start writing.. just a couple words for each “to do” task, then move on.  Then, i’ll grab some ice cold water from the water bucket, step outside and douse it over me, simulating the jump in the lake experience.  Now that beer will come in handy.  Stay out there longer than you think!  the yin and yang of the sauna experience is such that your heat up time, should approximate your cool down time.  Don’t go into a sauna for your second round while your body is still hot from the first round.  Spread out, stretch out!

Next round in the sauna, ill start with some water on the rocks (loli) and revisit my envelope and pencil.

Wash, rinse, repeat.  Those guys who write on the back of shampoo bottles really have the system down!  try it!! this free sauna information will help you enjoy the health benefits of saunas.