Sauna w. Mikkel Aaland, Global Sweat Bathing Authority, Author & Artist

“Sauna satisfies the social, spiritual, and physical under one roof.  There aren’t a lot of things that do that.” – Mikkel Aaland

In this episode of Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna, your hosts Alan Jalasjaa and Elissa Lansdell are taking a virtual sauna with a man who has traveled the world researching, experiencing, and learning about sweat bathing and bathing cultures.  He is known worldwide as a leading authority on the subject and is an advocate of public bathing practices. He is also an iconic photographer, artist, and author of numerous best-selling books, including & most notably for sauna and bathing enthusiasts, the 1978 classic: Sweat.

Your hosts are beyond excited to share a virtual sauna with the one and only, Mikkel Aaland.

Mikkel spent three years investigating and experiencing sweat bathing practices all around the world, which are documented in Sweat: The illustrated history and description of the Finnish Sauna, Russian Bania, Islamic Hammam, Japanese Mushi-bur, Mexican Temescal, and American Indian & Inuit Sweatlodge.  This work in particular has become iconic among sweat bathing enthusiasts, and it continues to inspire to this day!

Forty years later, Mikkel found himself retracing his global sweat bathing journey for an upcoming docu-series inspired by Sweat, entitled Perfect Sweat.  Please check out the trailer and watch for it!

Hear Mikkel’s fascinating insights on sauna and sweat bathing, and what it means to him, learn why he believes that bathing culture can reveal a lot about a culture and its people.  Mikkel shares how the act of sweat bathing is enjoying a renaissance, and why that is so important.  Find out why Mikkel wants to see the idea of public bathing reframed and embraced.

Of course, Alan and Mikkel discuss the search for the perfect heat and what that means.

Try to keep up with Mikkel by following him on Instagram @Mikkel.Aaland and visit his website mikkelaaland.com to find out where you can get a digital copy of the iconic cook Sweat and his other publications, and keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming docu-series Perfect Sweat.