Dear reader,

I’ve been in Finland for three weeks now, and my appreciation for our sauna culture has only deepened. Today, I had the joy of dipping into the sea and sitting in a real Finnish wood-heated sauna.

There’s something profoundly grounding about the contrast. First the calming, cleansing embrace of heat, then the sharp, exhilarating rush of cold.

In the last year, I’ve been building my own relationship with cold plunging. My very first time was an ice plunge into a lake at –15°C (talk about an intense initiation!) Since then, my tolerance has grown little by little.

Sauna, though? Sauna is in my blood. It’s deep in Finnish culture, and for us, sauna and cold plunge belong together.

Did you know that…

• Saunas were once birthplaces and healing places? They were considered the cleanest room in the house, so women gave birth in saunas—the warmth and steam creating a safe, hygienic space.

• Saunas were seen as sacred. Spirits called saunatonttu (sauna elves) were believed to live there, and people entered with respect—no swearing, no fighting, only stillness.

• They were essential for survival. In harsh winters, families not only bathed in saunas but also used them to cure meats, dry clothes, and treat illnesses.

• And today? Sauna is so central to Finnish identity that UNESCO recognized Finnish sauna bathing as part of the world’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

And of course, there’s the cold plunge.

In Finland, it’s called avanto swimming, cutting a hole in the ice and dipping in, even in the deepest winter. It might look wild, but for many Finns it’s a joyful ritual done together with friends and family. For centuries, it’s been seen as cleansing, strengthening, and spirit-lifting.

Together, sauna and cold plunge form what’s now known as contrast therapy, alternating between heat and cold. The heat expands your blood vessels, the cold contracts them, creating a natural pumping effect for your circulation and nervous system.

Some of the benefits include:
🌿 Boosted circulation & reduced inflammation
🌿 Deeper sleep & stress relief
🌿 Faster recovery & pain relief
🌿 Better mood, resilience, and clarity

But beyond the science, it’s a ritual that reconnects you to your body and to the present moment. It’s a way of cleansing not just the skin, but the mind.

Today, as my friend and I went from wooden sauna to the sea and back again, time disappeared. We were fully there, in the heat, in the cold, in the laughter, in the silence.

For me, this ritual is also a practice of “sisu”— tapping into that “embodied fortitude and calm strength against adversity” Finland is known for.

Being able to get into ice cold water, stay calm, and surrender?
Trust me: your ability to stay calm through other challenges in life, too, increases.

I’d love to invite you, dear reader, if you haven’t tried it yet, to give it a go. Consult your doctor first though, if you have any health conditions!

Even if it’s just alternating between hot and cold showers, you might be surprised by how your body and mind respond.

And when you do, ask yourself:
💧 What changes do you feel after heat, after cold, or after both?
💧 How would you describe the energy shift in your body and mind?

This is a game-changer ritual for long-term health! Give it a go, or let me know about your experiences. I love to hear from you. x

Heartfully,
Essi