Saunawave

Embracing Finnish heat and Eastern herbal wisdom

Harmony of the Forest – Saunawave Ritual

Wendy and Mika are two of the hottest sauna masters in the Uk we are so honoured to have them joining us at the first ever Cornish Sauna Festival.

Harmony of the Forest is a guided saunawave ritual that weaves together the deep-rooted traditions of Finnish and Chinese herbalism and mycology. Through heat, steam, leaves whisking, breath, tea, guests are invited to reconnect with the forest as a living, breathing presence—both Nordic and Eastern—awakening vitality, grounding the body, and calming the mind.This ritual honors the intelligence of trees, leaves, fungi, and herbs, celebrating their shared role across cultures as healers, protectors, and guides.

The first saunawave introduces rhythmic steam and airflow, guided by towel movement and breath. Heat waves roll through the sauna like wind through trees.
The scent of birch and tea opens the lungs and senses. The heart of the ritual is the leaf whisking ceremony.

Using Finnish vihta, the sauna guides gently whisk the body, brushing and tapping the skin with warm, aromatic leaves.

Effects

Stimulates blood flow and lymphatic movement
Soft exfoliation and skin activation
Birch leaves release cleansing, invigorating oils
Symbolic cleansing—shedding stagnation like old bark

Movements are slow, rhythmic, and intentional, echoing forest rituals and seasonal renewal.

What to Bring:

Come Sauna ready, with a waterbottle, swim wear, towel, open heart.

February 14

5:00 pm

- 6:15 pm

tickets: £50

limited spaces 8

Cinder Sauna

The Union Courtyard
The Union Hotel
59 Chapel Street
Penzance
TR18 4AE

Wendy Liu and Mika Meskanen

Wendy Liu

Co-founder, Council representative of British Sauna Society, Board Member of Sauna Aid
Architect, Yoga Teacher, Wellbeing & Creative Director

Wendy is an architect and multidisciplinary artist exploring the dialogue between spaces and human experience. She led the Arts and Culture programmes while serving as a trustee of the British Sauna Society from 2019-2025. She merges the intersection of architectural design and holistic wellbeing. Her practice creates environments that engage all senses—from tactile materials to acoustic harmony—fostering transformative experiences that nurture both body and mind.

Drawing on her yoga practice and sauna expertise, Wendy’s design philosophy connects architecture, sensory perception, and wellbeing. With her Finnish partner Mika, they lead SaunaWave, which run rituals, residency, retreats and consultancy for wellbeing spaces. Blending Finnish and Chinese traditions with contemporary design. Her work builds community and mindfulness through thoughtful orchestration of space.

Originally from China and London-based, Wendy brings global perspective to creating sustainable environments that promote wellbeing and cultural exchange.

Mika Meskanen

Mika is a London-based expatriate Finn. He’s a sauna believer by night and a tech startup designer by day. In his world, the pursuit of löyly, freediving and breathwork entangle with pixels, AI and quantum computing. In 2014 he initiated the British Sauna Society and helped galvanise the new UK sauna movement around a vision to “put Britain back on the map of great bathing cultures”.
Together with his partner Wendy, they create sauna experiences and wellbeing retreats as SaunaWave.