Sauna is just the beginning of the Finnish cultural experience that awaits visitors to Vettä Nordic Spa. Not only can you relax and recharge with Finnish-style thermal therapy, but you can enjoy farm-to-table Finnish fare, take part in a “vihta”-making workshop and even sauna with a Finnish guide. How did this authentic Finnish sauna oasis — located just one hour outside Toronto — come to be? In this episode, we’re joined by Vettä owner and founder Eric Harkonen, along with brand ambassador Caroline Leppanen, to discuss all this and more, including:The immense value of sauna as a Finnish cultural exportThe Finnish concept of “sisu” and the role it’s played in Eric’s lifeWhy sauna isn’t just a place for solace — it’s a great place to socialize and reconnect with others, too…and so much more!**********Mentioned in this episode:Vettä Nordic SpaSisu expert Dr. Elisabet LahtiThe Finnish Way: Finding Courage, Wellness, and Happiness Through the Power of Sisu, by Katja Pantzar **********Did you enjoy this episode? If so, we’d love it if you could leave us a rating/review, and share it with your sauna-loving friends!And be sure to subscribe if you haven’t done so already!Want to stay on top of all things Kivia: The Spirit of Sauna? Sign up for our newsletter at kivia.ca. (Don’t worry, we only send occasional emails and will never spam you.)Have a question, comment or an idea for a future episode? Email us at alan@kivia.ca.