The 17th International Sauna Congress took place earlier this month in the twin cities of Haparanda and Tornio, on the border between Sweden and Finland.
Organized by the International Sauna Association (ISA), the event is held every four years in different parts of the world. It is a mixture of scientific presentations, workshops, sauna bathing, food, music, excursions, and activities. Presentations and workshops cover three areas: health science, history and culture, and technology and design.
More than 200 people from 24 countries attended the event, including delegates from new sauna countries such as Pakistan and Kenya, as well as a group of 20 delegates from Japan.
Presentations covered the globe, from Sydney to Seattle. Seminar topics focused on research into saunas and health, including the effects of saunas on cardiovascular health and gene expression; cultural presentations on shinrin yoku (forest bathing) and sauna; the vanishing practice of Estonian smoke saunas; and modern Lithuanian baths.
Technology, design, and architecture were explored in presentations on sauna stoves, contemporary sauna architecture, design vs function, and the new sauna movement in the UK.
Twelve workshops delved into topics including Finnish sauna design, building a mobile smoke sauna, sauna as a part of radical inclusion and a place to connect, Russian banya and youth culture, and sauna culture in Japan.
An opening barbeque at Kukkolaforsen celebrated the International Sauna Association’s 60th anniversary and was followed by a chance to explore the 18 area saunas in a Midnight Sun Sauna.
“An important part of the event is the practical side, meaning sauna visits in interesting historical places, whisking, making whisks according to old habits, etc.,” said Risto Elomaa, ISA president. “We hope that the visitors can bring some of that sauna culture and experiences with them when going back home.”
International Sauna Association
International Sauna Association (ISA) is an association of national and other sauna societies, organizations, and private people. It was founded in 1958 with an office in Germany. After 20 years of quite slow activities, it was reborn in 1977 in Helsinki, Finland, and the office was agreed to be in Helsinki.
The founding members were Austria, Germany, Finland, and Japan, and they are continuous members. Besides those, there are 20 other members, including all the important sauna countries. The President has been all these years from Finland.
The current President of the ISA is Mr. Risto Elomaa from Finland, and his present term is until the end of 2018. The Board consists of a President and seven members who are from different countries. The Board is elected for a four-year term in a general meeting, which is normally held together with the Sauna Congress.
ISA and its members shall pursue the goal of publicizing the sauna and promoting its use on a global scale by rallying supporters of sauna activities in different countries.
ISA and its members shall pursue the goal of publicizing the sauna and promoting its use on a global scale by rallying supporters of sauna activities in different countries. This goal is served, e.g., by acceptance of the Definition of Sauna recorded in Aachen, Germany, in 1999, as well as promoting the scientific studies of the sauna from, e.g., such viewpoints as social history, folklore, medicine, and technology. Particular emphasis is given to the collection and compilation in archives of the results of such scientific studies as well as other written material on saunas.