Hi. My name is Bruce, and I love saunas. Coming from a strong Finnish and Swedish heritage and as a 3^rd generation Finnish-American, it hurts me to see saunas which “miss the mark” and fall short of what a true sauna experience should entail. I’m living in a strong Finnish community in southern New Hampshire, much of which traces its routes back to the Upper Midwest. 

Let me share a few of my favorite sauna experiences (I think there are too many to mention, but I’ll start with a couple). Imagine visiting a hand-crafted log cabin on a sunny afternoon in the northern woods. The sun is filtering through the maple trees, and there is a light breeze – making the environment just perfect. Inside the cabin is a simple, but artfully crafted traditional sauna with subtle, under-bench lighting (my favorite). The wood-fired sauna stove is crackling and giving the most pleasant, soft, engulfing heat. Your entire body is warmed evenly and thoroughly as the pleasant, negative ionization soaks your body and you enjoy the myriad of health benefits of the traditional sauna (scientifically proven by the way). Outside the window, hermit thrushes squeak out their long calls which seem to echo through the woods, just adding to the complete connection with nature you’re experiencing out here. Time stops – no electronics, no clocks, no rush – only you and your body becoming fully relaxed and enjoying the relaxation that only a traditional sauna can provide. 

It’s so hard to choose, but I’ll have to pick another experience which includes other people (since sauna bathing is largely a social activity as well). For the last few years, I’ve had the privilege to spend New Year’s weekend at a lake house with some friends. Thankfully, this home is owned by people with Finnish heritage, so of course, there is a sauna on the lower level. Every night is blessed with the experience of enjoying the heat of the indoor electric sauna and the contrast with cold jumps in the nearly-frozen lake. Many of the best health benefits of sauna are reaped through the use of contrast therapy. But maybe I’ve focused too heavily on the health benefits – I don’t think about that when I’m using the sauna.

I take saunas because it simply feels great! There’s no other feeling like it. The more extreme the heat and the contrast to the cold, the more transformative the experience. My bucket list includes joining the 300 club (experiencing a 300F change in temperature between the sauna and the outdoors). Ideally, this is done in Antarctica where you can enjoy a 200F sauna and run around the south pole in -100F weather, but since the travel there can be difficult, I might just have to visit northern Minnesota and throw a few extra logs in the sauna woodstove!

Lest you think I’m a nomadic deadbeat who soaks in saunas all day (although that sounds pretty nice right now), I am educated in business and taking full advantage of technological tools. When you call or email, I will typically be the one responding, so while I try to keep on top of everything, sometimes work just simply gets out of control and it can take while to get back. Feel free to give me a poke once in a while if you’re waiting on a response!