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“What is a sauna guestbook?” article tells you everything you need to know about sauna guestbooks and presents the best sauna guestbook on the market. It is available in Finnish, German, and English. Read the article to find out more!

What is a sauna guestbook?

It is a tradition in Finland to bring a guestbook or a cottage book to a new cottage as a cottage warming gift. The owners and guests can write down their thoughts, notes about the weather, little stories, and memories about the cottage. Or simply draw a little picture if they do not feel like writing.

And now you can have a guestbook for your sauna! Your sauna guests can write down their thoughts and feelings, experiences and maybe even share a tip for heating the sauna. Or share any other sauna related wisdom.

This is also a great little help for when you are taking a sauna with children, and they need some extra activity to do. Children are often a bit restless in the sauna, they like to move around and go in and out of the steam room. Writing or drawing in the sauna guest book keeps them occupied at least for a moment!

How I came up with the idea for the sauna guest book

When I started designing and writing this World of Sauna blog, I had a few ideas for sauna products I would like to put on the market. For a long time, those plans stayed in the back of my mind and I didn’t dare implement them. Last autumn, however, I took the next step and contacted a company called Veico in Finland. Whilst talking to them, it became clear that they would be able to produce the sauna guest book of my dreams.

Veico seemed also excited about the project and we started planning the idea even more. Thankfully, I have a graphic designer and an advertisement expert in my circle of friends, both of whom helped with this project. Without their help and support, the book would hardly look as great as it does now!

The sauna guest book, designed by me, is now finally out and for sale. I am so excited about this! I have worked on this for over a year, and it is such an amazing feeling to see the result.

In this post, I will tell you more about my sauna guestbook. Moreover, I will tell you what makes it better than any other sauna guestbook on the market!

What is a good sauna guestbook like?

My sauna guest book reminds me of my grandmother’s cottage and sauna by the lake. I have already received a few comments saying how beautiful the sauna guest book is. The sauna guestbook also reminds me of the old cottage/sauna guestbooks, the ones that were popular in my childhood. One of my customers also said that their cottage had a similar cottage guestbook.

Wooden covers

From the very beginning, it was clear that the sauna guest book must have wooden covers. This was not up for discussion. The graphic artist suggested hard cardboard covers, but I said no. I knew what I wanted.

The wooden covers are of course made of birch and are glulam. The wooden covers are manufactured in Finland at Veico’s premises in Keuruu.

Linen cords

I had a clear vision of using linen thread for binding the sauna book. I absolutely had to have them; this was not up for discussion either. The company suggested using metal rings or something, but I was adamant.

Luckily, Veico had already produced another guestbook in the same style so they had the knowhow. In the end, I got my linen cords.

Front page

There is a questionnaire on the front page where you can fill in the most important information about your sauna. When was the sauna built? Who built the sauna? What is unique about your sauna? You can give tips on how to light the sauna more easily which is especially useful if you rent out your sauna. It is not always easy to light a fire in a new sauna and sometimes some extra guidance is needed.

I have had my fair share of problematic saunas. I have always managed to get them warm in the end, but I would have appreciated the help. Once we rented a sauna with a very temperamental chimney for example. So, especially owners and guests of rental saunas could benefit from my sauna guestbook a lot.

The front page also has questions that invite you to philosophize about the sauna. What is a good sauna experience like? Does the Sauna Elf live in the sauna? Do you have any must-do sauna rituals?

The front page alone makes this sauna guest book unique and (in my humble opinion) the best one on the market!

It is possible to order the sauna guestbook questionnaire in Finnish, German, or English. It makes a great gift for any sauna enthusiast!

Millainen on hyvä saunavieraskirja — What is a sauna guestbook

Pages

This sauna guest book doesn’t just have boring white pages. Each page is decorated at the bottom with a sauna-themed thought or a slogan. If you follow me on Instagram, then you know I post a sauna-themed saying every week.

I have selected the best of these for the book. They are all in English so people from all around the world can understand them.

Pictures

One of the best aspects of a guestbook is its pictures. Every sixth page has an atmospheric picture of Finnish nature and/or a sauna. This way you can enjoy the Finnish sauna feeling even if you are not in Finland.

I think all these things together make this sauna guestbook so great. And best of all, no one has a sauna guest book like this yet! You can give it as a gift to a friend or a family member if they have a cottage or a sauna.

Ecological

The sauna guest book is also ecological. When the book is full, you can add more pages to it. I will make sure that you can order additional pages for the sauna guest book whenever you need more space.

The wooden covers will certainly last for many, many years. And if you someday want to get rid of the book, you can use it to light your sauna, easy!

A good sauna guestbook:

Has wooden covers
Has linen cords
Has a questionnaire on the front page
Has a sauna-themed saying on each page
Has an atmospheric picture of Finland and/or a sauna
Is ecological

I hope this “What is a guestbook?” article was interesting and inspired you to get your own sauna guestbook. It truly is a beautiful book and makes a lovely present.

Order the Sauna Guestbook now and you will get the extra pages for free!

You can order the World of Sauna’s own sauna guestbooks directly from the Sauna-Shop here.

With Sauna Greetings,

Kati

What is Saunayoga?- article tells you everything you need to know about Saunayoga.

What exactly is Saunayoga?

Where can you do Saunayoga?

What are the benefits?

Why should you give Saunayog a try?

Saunayoga or sauna yoga is a form of well-being developed in Finland. It combines the warmth of a sauna with the movements of yoga. The Saunayoga was developed by the Finnish Tiina Vainio. At Saunayoga International, you can to study to become a Saunayoga instructor.

Read more: Saunayoga international

You can enjoy the gentle power of Saunayoga and its benefits also in Germany. I interviewed Minttu Koivunen from Finland. She is a yoga teacher, Saunayoga instructor and music teacher.

Minttu Koivunen explained to me what sauna yoga is and what you should know before you try it. For example, are there any health restrictions?

Who are you, where do you live and what do you do for a living?

I am Minttu Koivunen, 32 years old and I live in the city of Weißenfels in eastern Germany. I have been living in Germany for over a year now. I am a yoga teacher, sauna yoga instructor and music educator.

I did yoga for a couple of years part-time in addition to my main job. In October 2020, I switched to full-time entrepreneurship. In addition to yoga (weekly classes in studios, private lessons for groups and companies, pregnancy yoga and sauna yoga), I do gigs with my guitar as a troubadour.

Due to the current situation, yoga classes are running online via Zoom – although the sauna yoga classes have been on a break for about a year now. It is difficult to organize them online!

I give yoga classes in German, Finnish, and English. Me and my spouse and two cats enjoy living in Germany. We hope to get to know Central Europe even more when the situation allows.

Read more: Sauna health benefits

What made you excited about sauna yoga? What made you choose it as your profession?

While working as an early childhood music teacher in Finland, I suffered from severe muscle stiffness in my body. It also negatively affected my most important tool, my voice. One of my friends is a sauna yoga instructor and I visited her classes every now and then around five years ago. I’ve never been that keen on saunas, but I fell in love with sauna yoga right away.

The idea started growing in my head slowly. I knew I wanted to help other people feel good and take care of my own body at the same time. I decided to attend Saunayoga instructor training in the summer of 2018, and RYT200 yoga teacher training the following summer.

Sauna yoga instructor trainings are organized by Saunayoga International (most of the trainings are in Helsinki). Saunayoga can only be instructed by a trained and licensed instructor.

Who invented or developed sauna yoga?

Sauna yoga is – a surprise surprise – developed in Finland. Tiina Vainio can be called the “mother” of Saunayoga. She has also published two books Saunajooga – rauhoitu ja rentoudu (Sauna Yoga – Calm and Relax Yourself) and Saunapilates – hyvinvointia selälle (Sauna Pilates – Wellness for the Back).

What is Saunayoga like?

Saunayoga is wonderfully gentle and improves concentration. At the same time, it is strengthening and stretching, energizing and relaxing. Saunayoga exercises in the morning give energy for the day. Exercises in the evening calm the body and mind. Saunayoga has been said to be the “sleep school for adults” because it often helps you to fall asleep more easily!

How is sauna yoga different from regular yoga?

The most important difference is that sauna yoga takes place in a mildly heated sauna. The movements are done while sitting on the sauna benches which limits the number of possible movements. Typical yoga asanas like downward-looking dog cannot be done in the sauna -there is not enough space! The sauna yoga movements have been developed on the basis of several different traditional yoga styles. Each class is accompanied by movements that strengthen and stretch the muscles, increase mobility, and eliminate muscle tension.

One wonderful feature of Saunayoga is that the sauna is free of external stimuli – no background music, no smartphones, or other devices. No checking the clock on your phone or grabbing a quick yoga selfie between the asanas. You focus on the exercise and not on the nice song playing in the background.

Being present with your own body, your own feelings and thoughts is important. You get to enjoy the silence, as well as the feeling of well-being brought by the heat of the movements and the sauna. Listening to the silence and stopping to spend time with your own thoughts can sometimes feel challenging. The more challenging it feels, the more your body and mind are likely to need it.

Is sauna yoga better than regular yoga?

Both are great! I do not like to compare the two, but rather I would say that they support each other. Of course, it depends on what kind of exercise your body and mind need. Sometimes you crave intense power yoga, and sometimes saunayoga, which gently opens your body. It all depends what exercise is right for that particular moment. Everyone has their own preferences, and it’s worth exploring different yoga styles to find your favorites!

What is great about sauna yoga is that the mild heat of the sauna helps the muscles to stretch better and gives the metabolism a little extra boost.

Can anyone do Saunayoga, are there any age or other restrictions?

Sauna yoga is suitable for anyone, regardless of age, who can safely stay in the sauna in a mild heat. No previous yoga experience is required to participate. You should not do sauna yoga if you are ill or if you have an infectious skin condition. If you are pregnant, check with your doctor for individual instructions for training during pregnancy. There are also Saunayoga options available for the physically challenged and disabled.

What do you need to know before your first class?

The first thing people often ask is if you have to be naked. The answer is no, you do not do sauna yoga naked. Lightweight training clothes, such as elastic shorts and a sports top, or even a swimsuit are work well for sauna yoga. Take off your make up and jewelry before entering the sauna. The most important equipment is a large bottle of water made of heat resistant material. You will sweat so it is important to drink enough water during the class. You should bring two small towels, a towel for your seat and a sweat towel.

What are the benefits of sauna yoga?

Saunayoga has numerous health benefits. You can benefit from them even after a single session. Here are a few examples.

Saunayoga:

Strengthens and stretches muscles
Increases body mobility
Enhances metabolism and blood circulation
Improves sleep quality
Supports the spine and joints
Promotes recovery
Relieves stress
Improves concentration
Relaxes and soothes the mind

What is the temperature in the sauna?

The optimal temperature for a sauna yoga session is about 40-50 degrees. The class takes 30 or 45 minutes, depending on the exercises. Sauna yoga can also be practiced in the infrared sauna.

Do you get sweaty doing sauna yoga?

The heat is low compared to a normal sauna temperature, and the movements are calm and relatively slow. Still even a moderate heat boosts the metabolism, and you will probably need a towel to wipe off the sweat! No water is poured on the sauna stove, so the heat stays constant throughout the workout.

What to consider before or after sauna yoga?

It is a good idea to avoid food for a couple of hours before taking a sauna yoga class. A light snack before training is ok but you should do not feel too full. Drink water before, and (especially) during and after the class. Stop if you start to feel unwell.

Before the class, you should calm your mind well in advance. Arrive on time, switch your phone to silent, and bring your thoughts to this moment.

What is the duration of a typical sauna yoga class?

There are two different Saunayoga classes, 30- and 45-minute classes. I usually like to give only 45 minutes, because 30 minutes always feels awfully short. But I am not too strict with time, there is no clock in the sauna.

How much does a Saunayoga class cost?

The price depends on the situation. Weekly classes have different prices than a private classes or group classes.

Other things to consider:

The size of the sauna must be taken into account, i.e. how many yoga practitioners can fit in the sauna without touching each other. Also, everyone needs space for their feet so no one should sit directly in front of each other.

Thank you for the interview Minttu Koivunen. You can follow Minttu on social media on Facebook and Instagram.

Website: momentwellnessandmusic.com

Hopefully this “What is Saunayoga?”-article was helpful to you when you are looking for information on sauna yoga and the different aspects of well-being. I hope to get to experience Saunayoga soon, preferably in Minttu’s yoga class.