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Interview with two founders of RUNE-Sauna!
It’s a misty autumn afternoon when I park in a semi-deserted car park near the Kiellinie. As I make my way down to the water, I can’t bring myself to open my umbrella. So by the time I arrive at the little wooden cabin, I’m pretty cold. RUNE SAUNA is written in nine big letters on its side. Since moving to Kiel, I’ve been to the Kiellinie a dozen times, but somehow, I’ve never noticed it before. I only recently heard about it from some fellow students, who said it’s an amazing place. Benjamin Lappan and Jakob Schupp, two of the three founders, have agreed to meet me here. As we sip hot tea, they tell me what makes their sauna so special, what things you should know before your first visit and why their sauna is like a „healthy pub“.
What does the term „sauna“ mean to you?
Benjamin Lappan: Community, warmth, relaxation. Definitely unwinding and being very close to nature. In relation to our sauna in Kiel, it makes the Baltic Sea in the city center accessible year-round.
Jakob Schupp: I’d say a break, friends, and community. And of course, the health aspect also plays a role.
Have you personally noticed any effects? For example, that you get sick less often because of regular sauna sessions?
Jakob: Yes, definitely. Above all, though, this is a community. I think I’ve never met so many people in my life as I did last year. I’m usually more reserved, but here, you can easily strike up a conversation with people because it’s so casual.
What’s the most important thing in the RUNE SAUNA: sweating, relaxation, or meeting people?
Jakob: I’d say all of it together.
What advice would you give to someone visiting for the very first time?
Benjamin: Just come by and give it a try; let yourself be surprised.
And what if someone has never been to a sauna before?
Benjamin: Listen to your own body. It’ll tell you what feels right. Many ask how long they’re allowed to stay inside. That’s really very individual. One of the special features of our sauna is that it’s a textile sauna. That means you bring your swim trunks or bikini. Nobody is naked.
Jakob: That’s really it. And yes, it’s not a competition; you just have to sauna for yourself. There are no rules, except that wearing swimwear is mandatory!
How many sauna sessions should one do?
Jakob: Two to three per hour are fine.
And do you have to jump into the cold water afterward?
Jakob: Absolutely not. But it’s highly recommended.
Benjamin: Often, your body craves it. Especially after a sauna infusion, you’re happy to jump into the Baltic Sea.
Jakob: Some even go into the cold water before the sauna to cool down and then enter here.
Where does the name RUNE come from?
Jakob: Rune is a friend of ours from Oslo. We got our inspiration in Norway. We reached out to him on Instagram, and he was in the process of building a sauna himself. He invited us to join him in his workshop. Long story short, we had a really nice weekend with him. He actually wanted to work all day, but then he ended up showing us all around Oslo. When we needed a name, he was just on our minds. That’s why it’s called “Rune Sauna.”
You offer more than just traditional sauna sessions, like beer tastings or sound meditations. Where do all these ideas come from?
Benjamin: The three of us founders have a lot of ideas related to the sauna that we want to implement. Lorenz and I come up with tons of possibilities, and Jakob often has to rein us in.
Jakob: We’re really eager to bring life to this place. It’s not just a sauna or a wellness temple, but rather a place of community and togetherness. You have to think beyond the usual. And yes, we have a thousand ideas. What you mentioned is just a fraction of them.
Which of your specials is your personal favorite?
Benjamin: I really like the sound meditation.
Jakob: I don’t have a personal favorite. But one of the nicest events we’ve organized was the poetry evening.
What specials are coming up next?
Benjamin: The Banja Sauna Ritual is the next highlight. It’ll take place on Saturday, November 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. There are still a few spots available.
What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened in the sauna?
Benjamin: Recently, we had the „Krabbeletten”. Someone wore these funky sandals. But often, it’s situational moments. It’s like in a bar, where one thing leads to another, especially with that dry northern german humor.
Your website mentions a „floating sauna“ on the sea. Is that your big dream?
Benjamin: That would be amazing because something like that is completely missing in Kiel. So yes, it has to happen. I think a floating sauna is just a matter of time.
Jakob: But I also wouldn’t want to dismantle this place. There are so many beautiful possibilities here on land.
Benjamin: It’s also a bit more sheltered, which is practical.
Jakob: I think the land sauna is probably open more often than one on the water. Here, you can sauna even during a storm, which would be harder on the sea.
What makes the RUNE SAUNA so special?
Jakob: We believe many people are put off by the idea of public sauna sessions. The mandatory swimwear helps with that. And we wanted to make everything a bit simpler, so it’s accessible to everyone. Not like a wellness temple, where you have to spend the whole day, but with hourly sessions.
Benjamin: It’s not so rigid. In Germany, saunas are often very quiet. Ours feels a bit more natural. Here, I can chat with my girlfriend. You come in, you’re dressed, and you can easily start a casual conversation with other guests. You really meet a lot of new people here. In the morning sessions, we have many visitors who go to work afterward. Or those who come in the evening after work, like others go to a bar. For them, visiting us is like a little “quickie”—so to speak—where you step out of everyday life for a bit.
Can you also come alone?
Jakob: Like Benny said: It’s like a healthy pub. Better even because you can come with friends. But if you come alone, you won’t feel awkward either.
Benjamin: That was one of my main motivations for Rune Sauna. I lived elsewhere for a few years before coming to Kiel, and I wanted to create a place filled with love and life. Often, people have their local pub—a place to be where you know you’ll have a good time.
Jakob: You can always come here, and you know you’ll definitely meet one or two lovely people you might already know and have a good conversation with them.
Good to know:
You find the RUNE SAUNA at the Kiellinie. The Adress is: Düsternbrooker Weg 46, 24105 Kiel.
It’s recommended to come with a bike or bus line 51. But if you come by car, you can park at Parkplatz Reventloubrücke.
Before you visit it’s recommended to book your spot at their website.
Costs for a one hour drop-in-session are 12€.
Everything to pack for a visit:
- Large Towel
- Swimwear (preferably put on beforehand)
- Bathing slippers
- Lock (if you need a locker)
More cool things to do in Kiel:
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