Carita Harju is an ambassador of the Finnish sauna, an author, and the founder of the Sauna from Finland organisation. She discovered her calling in the world of sauna by chance.
“I studied and worked abroad when I was younger, and when you’re away from home for a while you notice the things you miss. It was hard to find a good sauna experience anywhere else. I began to explore why the authentic Finnish sauna experience hadn’t been packaged as an export product abroad—and that’s how it all began fifteen years ago.”
For Carita, sauna is now not only her job, but also a way of life—part of both the every day life and celebratory moments.
“I go to the sauna almost every day; it’s my time to relax and reset. I also have a unique habit at the end of my sauna sessions: after taking a shower, I return to the warmth of the sauna for just a moment. This opens the pores and helps restore the skin’s natural pH balance. I especially recommend this for Finns after our long, dry winter.”
An essential part of the sauna experience for Carita is linen textiles. She has used Lapuan Kankurit products for years.
“For me, comfort is central for the sauna experience. While other people change curtains with the seasons, I change sauna textiles. I love lying in my home sauna with a sauna cover and sauna pillow. If I had to find a fault in these products, it would be that they don’t wear out—sometimes I’d like to buy new colours, but the old ones are still perfectly good! Linen is such a durable material, and it only gets better and softer over time.”
Sauna from Finland is organising the World Sauna Forum in Jyväskylä on June 4–6, 2025. Lapuan Kankurit’s Marketing Director Jaana Hjelt will be speaking at the event on Wednesday on the topic “Weaving the Good Life with Nordic Design & Sustainability.”