"I was thrown out of life at an undesirably early stage," says Siw, who became seriously ill six years ago. From her sickbed, she designed her own dream sauna.
We're sitting in the sun at Aker Brygge. This is not a given for Siw, who experienced her life being turned upside down. From being healthy and working as a Nordic Communications Manager in Copenhagen, she was completely knocked down by a mysterious illness.
A shock
“The doctors didn't understand what was wrong. They sent me home with a rollator and an ME diagnosis, without offering any help. I had to move in with my parents, where I lay in a dark room with the blinds taped to the wall. It was a shock to experience that complete turnaround from being at the top of my life to not being able to take care of myself. The pain, exhaustion, and all the other symptoms were unbearable.”
Siw had no doubt that something was wrong with her body and began searching for answers. It took several years before she found the cause of her ailments: Lyme disease and co-infections.
“I started medical treatment with internal medicine specialists in the USA and Germany. This has been absolutely crucial for me to reach the level I am at now, where I am self-sufficient and can work 20 percent. Infrared sauna has been an indispensable aid along the way.”
The entrepreneur awakened in the darkness
It was an acquaintance who recommended using a sauna for pain relief and detoxification during treatment. Siw visited a spa in Oslo, where she tried out an infrared sauna. As she sweated, she noticed immediate improvement.
“For the first time since I got sick, I experienced a health boost. It was fantastic. I had more energy and less pain.”
She started looking online for a sauna for personal use but couldn't find one that met her needs. Either they were too big, or she didn't feel confident about their quality. In the darkness, the entrepreneur within her awakened.
“I started designing my dream sauna, and through the family business, which my mother started over 40 years ago, I had the opportunity to build a brand at my own pace. Everything was in place under that umbrella. Warehouse, logistics, and administration were already established,” she says.
“The mind doesn't stop working even if the body is mobility-impaired. If there's one thing you have when you're confined to bed year after year, it's time to think.”
Creativity bubbled and new ideas took shape
"I've always enjoyed working, and I had the opportunity to develop a product I could fully endorse. It wasn't profit that motivated me, but the desire to help others, as well as gaining a gateway back to life."
Completely hooked
Radiant Health grew from the sickbed, and today they sell unique portable saunas for home use.
“Instead of going to the south, you can get southern heat in your own living room. I set myself up three to five times a week. I sit in the living room and watch Netflix while I sweat for half an hour. It might not look so sexy, but I feel like a new person every time I step out of it. The sauna has significantly improved my quality of life. I am completely hooked!”
Sales have exceeded all expectations, largely driven by word-of-mouth following individual positive experiences.
"The most meaningful thing for me is the positive feedback. Whether people are struggling with illness or are healthy, they benefit from it, depending on their needs. Rheumatics report a better and pain-free daily life. My doctor lost five kilos in a month without changing his lifestyle, other than regular sauna use. People report finer and softer skin. The most important things for me are the detox effect and pain relief. The sauna has been one of my best health investments."
Doesn't look sick
People rush by after a busy workday while Siw takes the last sip of her HeartBeat smoothie. Despite having returned her walker to the hospital, she still has ailments and needs a lot of rest.
“I often hear that I don't look sick, and that's a good thing,” she smiles, before concluding with a laugh:
"It's probably the sauna's fault."
Read more in Dagbladet's print edition or on Pain and Pain Relief
Text: Trine Dahlman
