Sauna Talk

Today on the bench, we are pleased to welcome Jessica Kelso, founder, owner, and proprietor of Löyly in Portland Oregon, which today comprises two public sauna facilities. Growing up in Oregon, Jess first encountered sauna as part of “a bit of the hippy culture of the area” but she, like many sauna enthusiasts, became hooked on sauna from her time spent experiencing the public sauna scene in Europe. We get to hear from her voice, the pivotal moment when she committed herself to opening a public sauna in Portland. And after opening her first sauna facility in 2006, Jess helped grow this business and then opened a second location a few years later. We learn about her companies efforts to reposition their business during this time of Covid-19, when public facilities like restaurants, health clubs and public saunas are on lockdown, and just now looking to reopen safely and within guidelines. How great to hear her heartfelt feelings of the power of sauna, as a space for community and gathering, healing and feeling