blog

What is World Sauna Forum?

World Sauna Forum 2024 is a business-to-business event June 6-7, 2024 in Jyväskylä, in the heart of Finnish Lakeland. It is created and organized by the Sauna from Finland organization.

Its purpose is to spread the message of the authentic Finnish sauna experience, help international sauna businesses thrive, and showcase the diversity of sauna innovations to the world.

The event gathers sauna, spa, and wellness industry experts from all over the world, offering a unique learning opportunity for all participants.

Red more: World Sauna Forum

World Sauna Forum 2024 expands to two-day event to meet growing international demand for more sauna networking activities.

For the first time ever, the World Sauna Forum will be held over two days rather than one day as previously.

“As interest in the Finnish sauna continues to grow around the world, so does interest in more B2B networking opportunities and authentic sauna experiences,” says Carita Harju, founder, and executive director of Sauna from Finland.

World Sauna Forum 2024

New events include the Sauna and Wellness market at the stylish harbourfront Sataman Viilu complex. The market will offer a range of experiences, products, and different pop-up-saunas, while learning more about the true Finnish sauna experience and business through match-making events.

One of the most popular highlights is the authentic Finnish sauna evening held at the picturesque Savutuvan Apaja on Friday, the evening before National Finnish Sauna Day – June 8^th.

The theme of this year’s World Sauna Forum is “The Power of Hot and Cold,” that is pairing a hot steam with an icy dip in a lake or the sea.

The Forum, which takes place June 6-7^th, coincides perfectly with Sauna Region Week, which takes place from June 3-9, 2024, with a range of unique sauna experiences for sauna afficionados to enjoy throughout the region.

A top range of speakers at the seminar will on June 6^th will speak, including this year’s dynamic headliner Jasper Pääkkönen, one of Finland’s leading sauna ambassadors and entrepreneurs, a Hollywood actor and an environmental advocate.

Pääkkönen is the owner and co-founder of one of Löyly, one of Helsinki’s most popular sauna complexes, which takes its name from the Finnish word for the steam that rises when water is ladled over a sauna stove’s rocks.

Stay tuned as we reveal more fabulous and noteworthy speakers in the upcoming weeks!

Read more: World Sauna Forum

The article ” Why sauna is so important for Finns” considers how sauna has become such an essential part of the Finnish identity. Do you know what might be the answer?

The history of the Finnish sauna

Historically, children have been born, the sick have been cared for, and people have been washed in the Finnish sauna. The anointing of the sick was also received in the sauna. The sauna was the only clean place and, therefore, considered sacred. The sauna was often the first building to be built, and people lived in the sauna until the main house was finished.

At first, saunas were earth pits. The stones were heated and covered with branches, twigs and other natural products. Water was thrown on the hot stones, which is how sauna steam was created.

The Reformation ended saunas and spa culture from Central Europe. In Finland and Russia, they fortunately survived. This is because the sauna culture was much older and rooted in our people’s customs.

However, in Sweden, the religious Reformation suppressed sauna culture and saunas were systematically destroyed. Northern Sweden was the only place that was spared from the destruction.

Read more: Swedish sauna culture

Finns do not understand the importance of sauna

Now that I’ve studied saunas for many years, I think we Finns don’t even realize how deeply saunas are part of our culture. The sauna is vital for most of us in ways we do not often consider.

Only in recent years has sauna been studied from a health perspective. And the results have also surprised us Finns. Saunas are often thought to be just for washing, but now there is evidence that saunas have real health benefits.

A sauna reduces stress, improves sleep quality and helps to recover after sports and the challenges of a working day or week.

Health effects of sauna:

Lowers blood pressure
Blood circulation accelerates
Peripheral blood circulation improves
The brain produces endorphins, i.e. pleasure hormones
Sauna can help those suffering from chronic diseases, e.g. rheumatism, asthma, persistent arthritis
Increases life expectancy
Lowers risk of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
The sauna may also strengthen the immune system!

The Finns have also understood what many nations do not: you can take a sauna as long as you want and feel good. You don’t look at the clock; you listen to your body. Each of us works in our way.

I live abroad and am often asked about the health benefits of a sauna. Before, I couldn’t tell you anything more about a sauna than that it is good for the body and mind. Today, I can better explain why a sauna is so essential for all of us: it makes us happy and healthy.

As an old saying tells us, these three belong together: Suomi, Sauna, and Sisu.

Read more: Finnish sauna culture.

Finnish sauna and beliefs

Many different beliefs have been and still are associated with the sauna. For example, the Christmas sauna is full of different traditions. In the olden days, the sauna was heated the night before Christmas so that everyone could enter the sauna during daylight hours. You had to sit quietly in the Christmas sauna so the mosquitoes would stay away the following summer.

After finishing the sauna, it is customary to keep it warm for the deceased or the sauna gnome.

We still believe in the sauna gnome

In the Finnish tradition, the sauna elf or gnome is a tiny creature who cares for the sauna. It’s tradition to keep the sauna warm after you have finished so the sauna gnome can enjoy it, too. After the Christmas sauna, beer and a wash basin full of water were left for him in hopes that he, too, could enjoy the Christmas sauna. As a thank you, the gnome will guard your sauna and house for the coming year.

Read more: Christmas sauna

Miksi saunominen on niin tärkeä suomalaisille

A Finnish sauna relaxes, cleanses, and increases the sense of community and strengthens social bonds. It prevents and manages stress. It improves the quality of sleep and increases the amount of deep sleep.

Taking a sauna raises the heart rate (but does not replace exercise). It is good for the skin and can significantly help those suffering from various skin diseases. Sauna reduces pain and relaxes the muscles.

Pretty neat, right?

Can you better answer why the sauna is so important to Finns?

Love, Sauna-Kati