What does happiness feel like?
In Finland, the answer is often surprisingly simple.
A moment to pause. A deep breath. The warmth of a sauna.
For Finns, sauna is much more than a place to get warm. It is a way of life, a space for recovery, presence and connection, both with ourselves and with others.
The theme of World Sauna Forum 2026 is Happiness. For Tulikivi, happiness is found in these moments, the small but meaningful experiences that help us feel well and live well.
Tulikivi’s story begins in the heart of Finnish nature.
For centuries, soapstone has been valued for its unique ability to absorb heat, store it and release it slowly and evenly. The result is soft heat and gentle löyly, a Finnish word for the wave of steam and warmth created when water meets hot stone, that many describe as calming, restorative and deeply relaxing.
Unlike steel, soapstone stays safe to touch even at 100°C. It creates a softer, more even heat that surrounds the body gently rather than aggressively. That is not a coincidence. It is what stone has always done.
As Finland’s largest stone processor and the world’s largest manufacturer of heat-retaining fireplaces, Tulikivi has spent decades refining the relationship between stone, warmth and wellbeing. That same philosophy now lives in every sauna heater, or kiuas, as we call it in Finland.
For us, sauna is not about performance. It is about slowing down, breathing deeply and being fully present.
In today’s fast-moving world, recovery, presence and balance have become more important than ever.
At World Sauna Forum 2026, wellbeing coach Karita Tykkä explores the connection between happiness, recovery, daily rituals and sauna. Karita, founder of the Rise with Karita wellness concept, has inspired thousands of people to build their wellbeing through small but meaningful everyday acts.
“Wellbeing is often built from much simpler things than we think. Sauna is a place where the body and mind get a chance to recover, breathe and find balance again. I believe there is a growing need for exactly these kinds of moments in today’s world,” says Karita Tykkä.
These same themes form the foundation of Tulikivi’s collaboration with Karita and Rise with Karita. We share a common belief: that the warmth of a sauna does more than heat the body. It invites you to stay in the moment.
Sauna offers a space where body and mind can settle. The warmth of stone. The sound of water on hot stones. A quiet conversation with friends. The feeling that, in this moment, everything is exactly as it should be.
World Sauna Forum brings together sauna professionals, wellness experts, tourism leaders and sauna enthusiasts from around the world.
For Tulikivi, the event is an opportunity to share Finnish sauna culture and the philosophy of soft heat with an international audience.
Together, we share a common goal: to help authentic Finnish sauna culture continue to grow, evolve and inspire people globally.
Visitors to World Sauna Forum 2026 can experience Tulikivi’s soft heat in selected event saunas.
The unique properties of soapstone create gentle, even warmth and balanced löyly that invite visitors to pause, recover and enjoy the moment.
Soft heat. Gentle steam. A moment to breathe.
Because sometimes happiness is found in the simplest things.
