Finnish Sauna: Steam, Wood, Stone and How to Build Your Own

According to Finnish tradition, the sauna should be built before the house. Today, people worldwide are rediscovering the sauna as a source of wellbeing, relaxation, and stress relief. By gently raising heart rate and relaxing muscles, the steam that rises from heated stones—called löyly in Finnish—has improved quality of life in the Nordic region for thousands of years. This practical guide by Lassi A. Liikkanen covers how to plan, build, and maintain a sauna. It includes detailed information on insulation, panelling, and bench construction, with examples of both an indoor electric sauna and an outdoor wood-burning sauna cabin. The book explores sauna traditions and science, and presents Liikkanen's history of Finnish sauna organized into four distinct eras. Whether you are planning to build your own sauna or learning about its health benefits for the first time, this book introduces löyly and the Finnish approach to living well through the combination of steam, wood, and stone.