Koti Sauna

Koti is a backyard retreat in Milwaukie, OR, where Finnish tradition meets community wellness. There’s a seat on the bench for everyone. Come as you are.

Enjoy our cedar sauna, cold plunges, and firepit lounge at your own pace.

03/08/2026

Happy International Women’s Day! I woke up today thinking about the strong lineage of Finnish women who came before me.

My Finnish grandma Irja (who we called Mummi, meaning grandma in Finnish) spoke no English and was a spicy lady. She spoke her truth, worked hard, and had very little materially. But I didn’t love her for what she had. I loved her because even though life was not easy for her, she was the most giving and hardworking person I knew.

Mummi made everyone feel so cared for. She fed us constantly, always saying “ota lisää, ota lisää” at the dinner table, meaning “take more, take more.” We spent summers on her rural Finnish farm, and she pushed my brother and me around the property in a rickety wheelbarrow while she worked (2nd picture). She chopped wood, cleaned, tended her garden, cooked and baked endlessly, and started the outdoor wood sauna. She gave birth to my mom, Maritta, on that sauna bench because that was life.

My mom Maritta also had a tough life. She grew up without electricity or running water, skied to school, worked on the farm, and later immigrated to the U.S. away from everything she knew.

She now carries the torch as the strongest and most loving woman I know. The Finnish word “sisu” means unwavering determination to do hard things in the face of adversity, and no one embodies it more than her. She worked nights as a nurse while raising two kids to make sure we had everything we needed. Now she helps me run my business and often picks every last leaf from my yard because she loves working 😂

We are stubborn, opinionated, and bossy. But the love we have for others has no end.

These women taught me to be someone people can always call on. Even on the hardest days of running a business, I know I’m capable of doing this because of the women who came before me. They taught me that hard work, empathy, love, and respect are how we truly connect.

I am in awe of women. Friends, family on both Finnish and Swedish side, mother in law, sisters in law, my customers, neighbors, women in the community. All of you nurture, love, build, create, grieve, and make life. For that, women are everything. Happy International Women’s Day.

02/19/2026

Last night was lit 🔥 10 humans coming together to take care of themselves and each other. This is what we need more of in this world right now.

Soundbath by

Next one is on Wednesday, April 8th from 6-9pm!

01/30/2026

We take a stand. 100% of our operating profit from tomorrow’s sessions will go to

With love,
Kristina

01/24/2026

People have been asking about the West Coast Sauna Summit I attended last weekend, so here is a quick-ish recap. It’s hard to be concise because it was unique and there is so much I want to share.

1) The .saunasummit was in Loon Lake, Canada (although up until 2 days before the event I had not checked the actual address and almost drove 5 hours farther north. Not my finest moment). They brought in 12 unique saunas ranging from luxury, to tents, to see through greenhouse style saunas. We spent three days enjoying nature walks, breathwork, yoga, tea tents, whisking sessions, fireside chats, and industry talks that were never dry.

2) This was a life-changing event. Sauna and sacred bathing are not about performative self-care. They are simple yet profound. As operators, our job is to create spaces with intention, use thoughtful language, avoid appropriation, and provide hospitality that honors trust.

3) Stay true to yourself. Sauna culture is coming to North America. Authentic spaces have soul. Shout out to my fellow Portland(ish) sauna businesses that were there .glo . Each of them brings something very unique to the table, and that is what makes this industry special. I encourage everyone to go visit as many sauna places as they can, not just mine, because you’ll find what you like and you’ll like different places depending what you’re in the mood for.

4) Protect your peace. As a woman-run operation, boundaries and life outside work are essential. I went into the weekend exhausted and almost skipped going, but so many people held space for me to grieve, vent, and recharge.

5) Keep it simple. Growing up sauna-ing from six months old, I’ve seen how the US complicates everything, including sauna. Create safe spaces people want to return to. True sauna culture is not here yet. Go to the source: Finland for sauna, Russia for banya, Norway for badstu, modern day Mexico for temazcal.

Thank you to the whole operations team of WCSS who made the weekend so special. Special shoutout to my roommate who kept me up laughing a lot. I miss you all and cannot wait for next year!

01/07/2026

Our first sauna + sound bath was so fun we’re hosting two more!

Join us for a 3-hour experience, starting with a 75-minute sound bath led by Gabi , followed by sauna, cold plunge, and time around the fire with others. This is more than a wellness ritual—it’s a full-circle experience to awaken your senses, reset your energy, and leave feeling grounded, renewed, and connected.

📅 Wednesday, Jan 21st: 6-9pm
📅 Wed, Feb 18th: 6-9pm

Space is small and intimate so spots will fill fast. Book online at www.kotisauna.com/booksauna.

01/01/2026

2025 was the year that shook me.

The first half of the year was spent finishing our building project. The last half of the year we opened Koti. This year tested me in ways I have yet to fully process.

I felt confusion, despair, loneliness, determination, proudness, love, and so much joy. Kind of in that order. Ending the year, I feel clearer than I have in a while. I wouldn’t say I thrived this year personally, but I grew a lot, and am ending the year truly soaking in how important people are above all else.

Thank you to each of you who made this year everything from more bearable, getting us through our build, to making it unbelievably fun, watching you all be in this space. Thank you for showing up, supporting us, and getting very real with us. There is something about being in the sauna in a swimsuit, to cheering others through a painful cold plunge, to vulnerable convos on the sauna bench that help tear down walls we’ve created around ourselves. Each of you helped me be more real, more myself, and more honest in so many ways. I woke up today feeling a little guilty for loving this work and this space so much, and I owe it to each of you.

Remember to love your people hard, because at the end of it all, we aren’t getting out alive without our people around us. Also, don’t take yourself too seriously. I tried and it got me nowhere. Being your authentic weird self is more fun anyways.

Happy end of 2025, and I hope you all have a beautiful start to 2026.

12/13/2025

Simple to give. Meaningful to receive.

Koti gift cards are available. A thoughtful way to treat someone for the holidays, a birthday, or just because.

Choose a preset amount or email hello@kotisauna.com to create a custom gift. Your gift card arrives instantly by email and can be forwarded or printed to tuck into a card.

They can be used toward any Koti session, event, private rental, or add on.

Link in bio or visit kotisauna.com/gift-cards

12/12/2025

We’ve been meaning to say hi! 👋

Address

4128 SE Jefferson Street
Milwaukie, OR
97222

Website

http://www.kotisauna.com/, http://www.kotisauna.com/booksauna

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