the finnish sauna, slowly explained.
A sauna is not a spa. It is not an amenity. It is a small home ritual, the oldest one in Finland, and most of the good it does happens slowly. Here is what it actually is, what to expect in ours, and how to do it well.
what is a finnish sauna?
A Finnish sauna is a small wood panelled room, heated by a stove called the kiuas, topped with stones. Almost every Finnish home has one, and in Lapland it is as ordinary as a kitchen.
You sit in the heat. When it needs lifting, water is poured over the stones and steam rises. This is the löyly, a brief wave of heat and humidity that fills the room, then settles back into stillness.
In Finnish sauna culture, nothing is rushed. There is no fixed routine, no noise, no performance. The sauna is about sitting quietly and letting the heat work.
how does a sauna session work, step by step?
The process is simple and unhurried. It is rarely written down, but for those new to sauna, this is how a typical session flows. A full session takes around an hour to an hour and a half.
- Start with a brief shower. Warm, not hot. Enter the sauna clean and dry.
- First round, around 8 to 12 minutes. Sit on a lower bench if you are new, as heat rises and the upper levels are hotter. When the air feels lighter, add water to the stones to create löyly. Breathe slowly.
- Cool down outside. Step into the fresh Arctic air, wrap in a robe, or take a cold rinse. In winter, some choose snow or simply standing still in the cold. A few minutes is enough.
- Second and third rounds, around 10 to 15 minutes each. The heat feels deeper, the body more relaxed. This is where most people settle into the rhythm of sauna.
- Finish with rest. Drink water, not alcohol. Sit quietly. Afterwards, sleep tends to come easily and deeply.
what is löyly?
Löyly, pronounced low loo, is the word used in Finland for the steam that rises when water is poured over hot stones in a sauna. It also describes the feeling that follows: the atmosphere, the softness of the heat.
A good löyly feels full and rounded. A poor one feels sharp and thin. The difference comes down to two things: the stones must be hot enough to turn water into steam immediately, and the water should be poured in a slow, steady motion rather than a quick splash.
The quality of löyly shapes the entire experience.
what is the forest sauna at sixty eight north like?
The sauna at Sixty Eight North is handcrafted and set privately in our forest near Levi, Finnish Lapland. It is held for one group at a time and reserved in two-hour sessions.
Each session allows time for multiple sauna rounds, with space to rest between them. The sauna comfortably fits four people. Outside, there is a covered terrace, a cold rinse, and a small changing area.
The sauna is brought to temperature before your arrival, so the stones are ready from the moment you enter.
You do not need to bring anything. Towels and robes along with water for the sauna are provided.
Full details, including pricing, what is prepared ahead of your session, and how to book during your stay or separately, are available on our sauna page. Sessions can also be reserved through our sauna calendar.
The sauna warms you, the cold resets you, the silence does the rest.
what does sauna do for you?
A Finnish sauna is not about extremes. It is about heat, time, and a steady rhythm.
The warmth helps muscles release after time outdoors in the cold, especially after snowshoeing, skiing, or long walks in the cold. Circulation increases, and the body begins to relax.
Breathing slows. The dry Arctic air outside and the humid heat inside the sauna create a contrast that many find calming for both body and mind.
The shift between sauna heat and cold air, or a cold rinse or hot tub, can help reduce tension and improve sleep. Afterwards, rest often comes more easily and more deeply.
Skin warms and softens, and the simple act of sitting without distraction gives space to slow down.
The benefit is not just physical. It is the pause. The quiet. The time taken without urgency.
what to wear, and other sauna etiquette
Customs vary with the setting. In private saunas, such as family homes or cabin saunas, Finns often sauna without clothing. In shared or public saunas, a towel or simple wrap is more common.
At Sixty Eight North the forest sauna is booked privately for your group, so you can choose what feels most comfortable; swimwear is welcome, and the hot tub outside calls for it anyway.
We ask that the sauna is treated with care, as part of the retreat, and that no smoking takes place in or around the sauna area.
A few simple things to keep in mind:
- Enter clean, after a quick shower.
- Sit on a towel, for comfort and hygiene.
- Add water to the stones gently, not all at once.
- Keep the space quiet and shared with respect.
And one we care about most. Leave your phone outside.
A Finnish sauna is a space for quiet. No distractions, no interruptions. Just heat, stillness, and time to switch off.
