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, … [Read more...]
Hiki Hut mobile sauna brings the warmth to Duluth, Minnesota, alongside the largest freshwater lake in the World
Guest post series continues. Duluth, Minnesota is to North American Sauna as North Shore Hawaii is to surfing. And for good reason, Duluth, and Thunder Bay Ontario to the North, is home to many Finnish immigrants, attracted to the familiar chilly climate and mighty Lake Superior much like moths to nighttime camp fires. Lake Superior is briskly chilly year round, so the ice cold lake is perhaps the most intensely awesome cold plunge lake in the continental US. Yes, a bold statement, but once you stand on a rock ledge along Superior's shore, steam billowing after a sauna round, looking into the crystal clear water below, then plunging faithfully into the crisp, clear, clean water, taking it right to your bones, then working your way … [Read more...]
Mobile Anglerfish sauna bends the rules of conventional sauna building
We warmly welcome back Travis Skinner to Saunatimes. We first learned about his unique sauna building projects with is Snail Shell Sauna, detailed here. Since then, Travis has been involved with multiple projects, and we are happy to revisit Travis' sauna building work with you: Hi Travis, so when and where did you first get attracted to Sauna? I started participating in sweats with my friends Joseph Becker and Tibor Breur. There was a regularly scheduled men's sweat once a month in Olympia, Washington. We would get together and have a ceremony, lead by Tibor at his house. Where are you are living and building saunas now? I spent time building at SunRay Kelley's homestead a few years ago and got connected with … [Read more...]
Custom Mobile Saunas wants you to have your own authentic sauna
When I first met Eric Bongard five or so years ago, he was elbow deep in building ice houses. What struck me about Eric is the quality of his craftsmanship as well as his entire command of the building process, from the chassis on up. Fast forward to a few months ago, and Eric and I began collaborating on his business shift to building quality mobile saunas. Working hard to make great mobile saunas Eric and I have had countless exchanges back and forth, discussing the many nuances of sauna building and design. We have had countless phone conversations, where we have hatched out such things as hot room size, stove location, sauna bench layout, proper drainage, lighting, window and door placements. Eric wants to make excellent AUTHENTIC … [Read more...]
Who will be the first band to trailer a mobile sauna on tour for optimal post concert R&R?
It's not far fetched. Bands on tour finish their encore sweaty and spent. The loud crowd, lights, action make for overstimulation and craziness in the head. Artists find their own way to "chill out" after a performance and we can think of no better way than a sauna session. How cool would it be to exit the green room after a gig, walk a few steps outside and into an awaiting AUTHENTIC sauna idling at 180f? And on off nights, the sauna can be deployed in a strategically located garden on the road, perhaps all misty wet with rain. A traveling sauna on tour isn't just a good idea. A sauna with a band on tour will expand the horizon of wellness, bursting through the monotony and stale hotel room air. If I were a band on tour I … [Read more...]
Shipping container pop up sauna brings a community spirit to Wellington, New Zealand.
From the mailbag, Enter Sam: I was just listening to your most recent podcast, good stuff! Your call for listings of saunas all over the world reminded me to email again, feel free to throw our sauna up. We are in Wellington, New Zealand (although I'm originally from Idaho). From a building perspective, biggest challenges: Framing inside the container due non-flat walls. Corrugations, reinforcements, etc. Sufficient ventilation and draining. The big metal box doesn't breath well, and as it sits next to the ocean people swim a lot, bringing lots of moisture in with them on top of sweat and water for the stove. Every time we ship the container things shift a little, door closes differently, etc. A few other things unrelated to … [Read more...]
Sauna Talk: Six 612 Sauna Society Steering Committee members Sauna Talk from the heart
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 … [Read more...]
Sauna Talk: Justin Evidon. If you could bring a kick ass mobile sauna anywhere, where would you choose?
Maob, Utah. The mobile sauna has received official dispensation, and has been trailered up to the summit shelf. The Canyonlands National Park District Director is sitting on the sauna bench to our left. His hat and uniform hang on a hook in the changing room, where a candle glows softly on the window sill. The candlelight sheds enough glow for us to see a big smile on his face. "I'm so glad you guys convinced me to do this!." You are sitting with us for a pre sunrise sauna and the director is telling us stories about the majestic park. We hit a generous splash of water on the sauna rocks. We take it all in. Then we exit the hot room to this: The air is crisp, below freezing, but your body is radiantly … [Read more...]
Sauna Talk: Four Sauna enthusiasts are “drawn to the steam” for National Sauna Day in Northern Minnesota
It was a perfectly rainy early June afternoon for this Sauna Talk 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 with a massively awesome sauna session complete with cold plunges into the cool lake? 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 … [Read more...]
Sauna Talk with Scott Raisanen, Commercial Sales Manager Tylo/Helo
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. I hope you stay with us, as we settle into our sauna session. Though Scott grew up surrounded by sauna in Minnesota, he landed in Finland on his 20th birthday for a year abroad. There, Scott got seasoned with sauna in the 'ole country tradition, solidifying a profession in the sauna business. Today, 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 … [Read more...]