Learn to Heat a Smoke Sauna at Saunakylä
Are you curious about the craft of smoke sauna heating? At Saunakylä in Jämsä (Central Finland), you can not only bathe in historic smoke saunas but also receive a baptism by fire (quite literally) in the art of traditional smoke sauna heating. Spend a relaxed Saturday with other volunteers, learn the basics of heating a smoke sauna safely, and enjoy the steam in the evening! This article provides practical instructions to get you going and includes a video about the action.
What’s it all about?
At the time of writing, there are fourteen operational, traditional smoke saunas at Saunakylä in Jämsä, Finland for the summer of 2025. During the season, these saunas are heated on Saturdays with the help of volunteers. The only exception is Midsummer Day, when the saunas are typically heated on Friday instead of Saturday.
Anyone – not just members of the Finnish Sauna Culture Association – can show up on a Saturday morning and, with guidance, take the lead in heating a sauna.
The presence of experienced co-heaters ensures a safe learning experience, after which you’ll feel confident to practice it on your own. According to Jyrki Kokko, who currently coordinates the heating days, the best principle is: all methods are good as long as the sauna doesn’t catch fire. There’s enough to learn for years, but heating a sauna to bathing condition can be done in a single day. A ”day” in this case means a work shift from around 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, simple lunch offered around noon.
What to Bring with You
All necessary tools are available on-site, but spending the day outdoors is much more enjoyable with the right (and ideally personal) gear. Recommended:
- Long-sleeved cotton shirt or other non-flammable top
- Contact lenses or older, less valuable eyeglasses
- Thick leather work gloves (e.g., for grilling or welding)
- Weather-appropriate shoes and clothing (rubber boots and a rain poncho might come in handy)
- Bathing gear (see separate instructions)
- Sunscreen*
- Face mask*
* Protective gear is up to your discretion; using a face mask is not usual but may be useful for people concerned of their breathing hygiene
Optional to bring:
- Fire-starting tools
- Infrared thermometer
- Snacks and a water bottle
How It Works
Let organizers know in advance by email if you plan to come – and if you can’t make it after all, please inform about that as well:
suomen.saunakulttuuri@gmail.com
Then arrive at Saunakylä by 9:00 AM on Saturday morning and find someone on-site who will guide you through the beginning.
Read an earlier Saunologia to understand how Saunakylä works: How to visit Sauna Village in Juokslahti
It’s not difficult!
Saunologia team made a video in English about heating a sauna at Saunakylä. It shows what the process is like and how the saunologist managed the task for the first time!
Watch it here: (link to the video on YouTube)
The video is dedicated to the memory of Risto Vuolle-Apiala, the architect and historian who back in the 1980’s initiated the project that has led to the establishing Saunakylä.
