03/08/2026
Just another day of random sauna prep as we enter the final phase of preparing to open our doors! 🍃
Last week received a box of pretty tightly packed Canadian Oak vihta that i needed to assess for quality. Today i soaked two of them to check them out and the look and smell absolutely wonderful. I can’t wait to try these out in the sauna.
For those folks unfamiliar with vihta as it’s known in Finland, or venik in Russia, it’s also known as just a “sauna whisk”.
Usually made of young birch or oak branches, it can also be made of herbs or other trees as well. They are dried and soaked to revive them and can be used a few times if they are properly cared for.
When you’re in the sauna, they are used to gently pat or brush across the skin. This motion stimulates blood circulation, opens pores and exfoliates the skin. Depending on the type and age of the vihta, it may also deposit sap (known as tar in Finland) and natural oils on to the skin. Different trees will offer different benefits to the user, with some like eucalyptus known for anti inflammatory properties.
As well, the experience produces a wonderful forest-like aroma in the sauna, especially when combined with löyly.
At the recent West Coast Sauna Summit, we were both fortunate enough to have a private 30 minute whisking session with Kaisu who had the knowledge passed down through her family from generations of healers. Pardon the glare on the video, it’s hard to film from through a sauna window, but it gives you a little insight into what the sessions include.
But this is not the only way to use vihta in your sauna practice. You can absolutely utilize it on your own, or with a friend or partner and just follow your intuition and do what feels good.
What do you think? Would you try, or have you tried a sauna whisk?
