Harvia in Antarctica
How Harvia Heat Helped Scientists Thrive in Antarctica
Antarctica is one of the harshest places on Earth - vast, remote, and brutally cold. Even in mid-summer, coastal areas and research stations experience temperatures in the range of -28°C to -37°C (-18°F to -35°F). Wind, ice, and physical exertion make conditions demanding, even for experienced teams. For scientists navigating glaciers and research sites, recovery is essential. A sauna provides a practical way to restore energy, relax muscles, maintain focus, and support team cohesion after long days in the field. Tommi Juusela, Chair of the John Nurminen Foundation, experienced this firsthand on his first Antarctic expedition. After hiking to research sites and completing field observations, Tommi and his team relied on a sauna, powered by the Harvia Vega electric heater, to recover and regroup.
Sauna as Recovery in Extreme Cold
Exposure to cold can stiffen muscles, slow circulation, and reduce mental sharpness. Sauna sessions help counteract these effects by:
Warming the body and improving circulation, reducing fatigue from long field days.
Providing a quiet space for mental focus, reflection, and planning.
Supporting team dynamics, offering shared moments to recharge together.
A View Like No Other
The sauna offered a warm place from which to admire the stunning glacier on the horizon, made of ice formed over thousands of years.
Afterwards, team members plunged into a cold plunge pool filled with water from the nearby glacial lake, perhaps thousands of years old.
More Than Heat: Focus and Team Well-Being
Few places on Earth are as transformative as Antarctica. Yet, in its own way, a truly great sauna offers something similar: a space for connection, reflection, and renewal
In Antarctica, sauna sessions served as a mental and physical reset for Tommi’s research team, helping them process the day, recharge, and maintain readiness for the work ahead. These routines are an important part of sustaining performance and well-being wherever you find yourself.
Sauna for Better Performance – Anywhere
Returning to Helsinki, Tommi brought back clear lessons about recovery, focus, and teamwork. The environment may change, but the role of the sauna does not. Whether used after long days in extreme cold or demanding work closer to home, the sauna provides a reliable way to support physical recovery and mental reset.
Regular sauna sessions help high performers slow down, warm up, and recover with intention. The heat relaxes the body, creates space for reflection, and encourages connection - benefits that matter just as much in everyday life as they do on an Antarctic expedition.
