Jasper Pääkkönen enjoys a cold drink in the sauna.
American cinephiles might recognize Jasper Pääkkönen as Halfdan the Black from the hit TV series Vikings. Back in his native Finland, however, the actor is a veritable superstar known not only for his appearances on screen, but for being one of the most influential figures in Nordic hospitality and wellness culture.
A decade ago he co-founded Löyly, a stunningly modern sauna and restaurant-complex set beside the Baltic Sea in the heart of Helsinki. Today it enjoys status as a top tourist destination within the Finnish capital city.
The Finns, for their part, have integrated sauna traditions into daily life for millennia. There you’ll find 3.3 million hotboxes in a nation filled with just 5.5 million total residents. And research shows regular users enjoy myriad health benefits, including 24% lower risk of mortality. It’s a big reason why the country consistently ranks as the happiest on earth.
Though it’s not just about the hot air itself. As Pääkkönen is quick to point out, the sociable nature of the endeavor has a lot to do with the ritual. As does the value of the beverage you hold in your hand while engaging in it.
