Canadians are embracing sauna culture across the country.

Nordic spas, bathhouses and home saunas are becoming more common in Canada, and the column notes long-term studies that associate regular sauna use with lower risks of some health outcomes.

Steam now rises from backyard chimneys and from a growing number of Nordic spas, bathhouses and home saunas across Canada. The column describes what was once a niche wellness trend as developing into a broader cultural movement. The writer draws on Finnish upbringing and traditional practices such as the vihta and the concept of löyly to explain the experience of heat. The piece also cites scientific studies and historical notes that connect sauna use to health and social traditions. What is known: - Nordic spas, bathhouses and private home saunas are reported to be increasing in Canada, with examples named in the column such as Vetta Nordic Spa near Barrie and the Scandinave Spa in Blue Mountain. - Sauna is described as integral to Finnish life, with about 3.3 million saunas for a population of 5.5 million in Finland. - Traditional elements discussed include vihta (a birch whisk used in saunas) and löyly, the steam produced when water is thrown on heated stones. - The article notes that sauna-like heat practices have ancient roots, with pit saunas dating back thousands of years and Indigenous peoples in North America developing sweat lodges independently. - A 20-year study by Dr. Jari Laukkanen of 2,315 Finnish men is cited, reporting lower risks of sudden cardiac arrest with regular sauna use, and other long-term studies are mentioned that link two–four sauna sessions per week with lower overall mortality. - The column summarizes reported physiological and mental effects of sauna use, such as increased heart rate and circulation, reduced inflammation, improved sleep and reduced symptoms of mild depression, and it notes that some people, including pregnant women and those with certain conditions, are reported as needing medical advice before using saunas. Summary: Sauna practices and facilities have gained visibility in Canada, and the column connects that growth to deep cultural roots and to scientific studies cited for health-related associations. Undetermined at this time.