Olya Sauna

09/06/2024

I chose the name Olya Sauna because “Olya” is the friendly Russian nickname for “Olga,” and it holds special meaning for me, tracing back to my time in Kazakhstan during the Peace Corps.

Fittingly, our sauna will be located in the tiny hamlet of Olga on Orcas Island, close to some of our favorite local spots like the , , , , and .


We’re grateful to be part of this amazing community!

It feels like everything has come full circle, connecting my past experiences with the future we’re building here.





09/05/2024

We’re excited to be partnering with Jarmo Hiltunen,, a master builder from Finland with over 20 years of experience in traditional log-building methods and smoke sauna construction. 

Jarmo has authored five books on these ancient techniques, including Building a Traditional Finnish Smoke Sauna. His passion for preserving and sharing these time-honored traditions is truly inspiring.

Upon a successful fundraising campaign, Jarmo will be traveling from Finland to Orcas Island in December for log preparation and a second time to lead the build of Olya Sauna.

He’ll also host workshops, where participants can learn directly from one of the best in the field. 

We’re honored to have Jarmo on board and can’t wait to see his craftsmanship come to life here on Orcas Island. 

Head to the link in bio to support the Kickstarter campaign!



09/02/2024

Hey Everyone,

I’m excited (and slightly nervous) to announce that I’ve launched a Kickstarter to build a traditional Finnish smoke sauna (savusauna) on my farm on Orcas Island.

This project is meaningful for so many reasons, and watching our video on the kickstarter page will give you a peek into this amazing adventure.

I’d love your support—whether that’s backing the project, sharing it with your network, or just cheering us on from afar.

Every little bit helps, and we promise to save you a spot on the sauna bench!

Check out our Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shyotkin/orcas-island-smoke-sauna

Thank you in advance!

This project will launch the first public Finnish smoke sauna in America in nearly 100 years.