Issue #4

This open-access study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology examined whether three weeks of intermittent post-exercise sauna bathing improves exercise heat tolerance and performance markers in trained middle-distance runners. Researchers found that the sauna group showed meaningful improvements in markers of exercise capacity in both hot and temperate conditions compared to endurance training alone.

This wellness guide synthesizes findings from major sauna longevity studies to outline the dose parameters — frequency, duration, and temperature — associated with the strongest health outcomes. Key takeaways include that four to seven sessions per week at 80°C or above for 19 or more minutes correlates with significantly reduced cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality risk.

This recovery guide breaks down the distinct physiological mechanisms of sauna and cold water immersion, explaining how each modality affects muscle adaptation, cardiovascular health, and soreness differently. It provides strategic guidance on when to use each intervention — and when combining or sequencing them may optimize results.

This guide outlines the science behind combining sauna heat exposure with cold water immersion, covering sequencing, timing, and protocol structures rooted in Scandinavian research traditions. It draws on studies examining hormonal, cardiovascular, and metabolic responses to contrast therapy to explain why the combined protocol may outperform either modality alone.

Physical therapist Burke Selbst surveys the history and science of sauna as a recovery tool, tracing its use from ancient traditions to its current growth as an accessible wellness modality across the United States. The piece examines the evidence base for sauna's benefits and offers practical perspective for individuals considering incorporating it into a recovery routine.

Canada's federal government has launched a four-pillar Forest Sector Action Plan backed by nearly C$130 million in project funding, aimed at stabilizing an industry battered by U.S. tariffs and ongoing mill closures. The plan commits to securing competitive wood fibre supply, supporting industry modernization, expanding export markets, and protecting the roughly 200,000 workers employed in the sector.

Canada's Minister of Natural Resources Tim Hodgson has described the forestry sector as the trade "canary in the coal mine," warning that structural problems including unstable fibre access and weak domestic demand compound the damage from U.S. tariffs. The federal government announced close to $130 million in new funding for 56 forestry projects alongside a task force report flagging an "existential crisis" for the industry.

The U.S. Lumber Coalition has endorsed a new White House Executive Order that strengthens customs enforcement mechanisms, including increased bonding requirements for importers of record. The order is specifically aimed at ensuring Canadian-owned lumber companies fully pay applicable duties and tariffs when importing into the United States.

Lumber futures climbed to $617 per thousand board feet — an eight-month high — as constrained domestic production failed to offset reduced Canadian imports following ongoing tariff pressures. Supply tightness has been further compounded by wildfire damage and production disruptions in British Columbia, while a proposed U.S. Commerce Department reduction in combined duties on Canadian lumber has not yet translated into meaningful supply relief.

North American lumber futures fell below $600 per thousand board feet in May, settling around $560–$580 amid weak consumer sentiment and below-expected single-family construction activity. High tariffs on Canadian softwood continue to constrain supply and raise costs, with overall North American sawmill utilization running at approximately 64 percent.

Madison's Lumber Prices Index registered US$524 per thousand board feet for the week ending June 12, 2026, up 1% from the prior week's reading of US$521. The index has held in a narrow range over the past month, reflecting a market that is firm but not dramatically escalating.

North American softwood lumber markets closed May with mixed results as benchmark products held steady while individual grades moved in opposite directions. Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2x4 held at US$495 per thousand board feet while Eastern SPF Standard and Better remained at US$596, with Douglas Fir Green posting a weekly decline and plywood prices also easing.

Several North American wood products companies have announced mill expansions and restarts, contrasting with the curtailments that have dominated recent industry news. The largest project involves Irving Forest Products receiving approximately US$42 million in financing for a sawmill expansion in Maine that will nearly double the facility's size.

President Trump issued a June 1, 2026, Proclamation amending the Section 232 tariff regimes for aluminum, steel, and copper, temporarily reducing rates on certain downstream products including agricultural and industrial equipment. The modifications aim to ease cost pressures on equipment manufacturers while maintaining broader protections for domestic metals production.

A detailed legal analysis of Proclamation 11032 explains that importers of agricultural, industrial, and mobile equipment may now qualify for temporarily reduced Section 232 rates of 10–15% through December 31, 2027, while certain furniture parts and steel racks face new duties for the first time. The piece advises importers to audit their HTS classifications promptly to avoid miscalculating duty obligations under the revised framework.

Uber Freight forecasts truckload spot rates will run 20–25% above prior-year levels through the remainder of 2026, driven by early seasonal demand, higher fuel costs, and tightening carrier capacity. Reduced excess capacity and increasing routing guide failures are pushing more freight into the spot market, sustaining elevated shipping costs for shippers across the supply chain.

The truckload market tightened ahead of its typical seasonal pattern in April 2026, with van spot rates rising 24.8% year-over-year and spot volumes surging 44% year-over-year according to Uber Freight's Q2 Market Update. Diesel prices, which reached $5.64 per gallon nationally in mid-May, are adding further cost pressure on top of capacity-driven rate increases.

This guide covers the foundations of Nordic sauna culture, including the löyly steam ritual, cold plunge etiquette, and the range of sauna types found across Finland and Norway. It explains how the sauna functions as a deeply social institution in Scandinavian life rather than simply a wellness amenity.

Hancock, Michigan will host Juhannus Suurjuhlat from June 17–21, 2026, a five-day midsummer festival marking the city's designation as the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture. The event includes sauna gatherings alongside lectures, workshops, live music, a Tori Market, and traditional Finnish midsummer ceremonies rooted in the Keweenaw Peninsula's Finnish American heritage.

The Lithuanian Bath Academy, a nonprofit with two decades of experience training professional bath masters in the Baltic pirtis tradition, is running a four-day off-grid sauna camp in the forests near Vilnius this August. Participants will build temporary bathing spaces from stones and locally sourced wood as part of a hands-on immersion in traditional sauna construction and practice.

The Be+Well Beauty and Wellness Show Florida — formerly IECSC Florida — is relocating to the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale for its August 30–31, 2026 edition, bringing over 80 education sessions and expanded programming to the Southeast's largest spa and wellness trade event. Registration is now open for the rebranded show, which aims to serve skincare, spa, and wellness professionals across the region.