A Banbridge couple have recently opened the hottest new place in Gowleygate, County Armagh for people to relax, rejuvenate and recharge – The Hot Rocks, a hand-built sauna.
Andrea from County Armagh and Jacek Ramus from Poland have used their love of the traditional Finnish sauna and its countless benefits to create an authentic ritual sauna space in Northern Ireland.
Andrea explained the concept in an interview with Arma One: “Basically, when we were in Poland, we went to saunas together many times. We tried different types of saunas, both more commercial and more rustic, so we wanted to bring a similar experience to our country, so that everyone could experience it.”
Together they have created a “completely different experience” compared to the typical leisure centre sauna that will impress even the most seasoned sauna enthusiasts.
Situated near the shores of Lough Neagh, the sauna was built by Jacek himself and is a fully mobile Finnish-style wood-fired sauna designed to bring users back to their roots and nature, embodying the spirit of ‘disconnecting to reconnect’.
Traditional Finnish sauna use is an ancient custom; Saunas were originally places of purification and cleansing and were seen as a way of physical and spiritual healing.
Inspired by tradition, the ‘country’ hot stone sauna encourages users to try several popular Scandinavian and Central European sauna rituals that are less common in Northern Ireland, such as ‘stirring’, using oils, wearing a hat and bathing ‘no textiles’ using only a towel.
“It’s a slow approach to sauna,” says Andrea. It’s a long, slow process, as most traditional sauna rituals last for hours. Our sauna sessions are an hour long, during which you enter the sauna (wearing a sauna cap if you want) and massage yourself with sauna whisks, then cool off with a cold shower.
Traditionally, some people take a forest bath after the sauna, lying in the forest for 10-15 minutes before repeating the procedure. It is recommended that you spend no more time in the sauna than you would outside, so we encourage everyone to relax in cool fresh water, use our fresh water showers or simply relax in one of our chairs.
The “whisks” Andrea mentioned were made from the leaves of trees such as birch, oak and hazel. The leaves are collected at certain times of the year, then dried, glued and made into whisks. Before entering the sauna, wet the whisk and use it to self-massage your entire body, releasing intoxicating natural aromatherapy, stimulating circulation and infusing your skin with essential vitamins and oils.
Andrea and Jacek understand that many of the treatments are new to visitors and can even be scary. So when you arrive at the hot stone sauna, we will warmly and friendly explain how to use essential oils, sauna caps, how to stir, and how to perform hot and cold water therapy cycles – all of which can be tried out on the spot.
While they prefer to use “light” oils such as orange, pomegranate, and cottonseed in their saunas, they are happy to allow visitors to bring their own oils.
After a brief tour of the facilities, guests will enjoy a one-hour session that includes 10-15 minutes in the sauna, followed by a fresh water shower, 10-15 minutes of cold water immersion or outdoor relaxation, before repeating the entire process.
However, Andrea advises: “The temperature in the sauna can reach 100 degrees, but most of the time it is around 90 degrees. For us (Andrea and Jacek), since we use the sauna so often, anything below 80 degrees is too cold. The recommended time for a sauna session is 15 minutes, but it is different for each person. You need to listen to your body. We wear sauna caps that insulate your head from the heat, so you can stay in there longer.”
“We also have a 15-minute timer in the sauna, but listen to your body and if it’s telling you you can only last five or six minutes, then get out, cool down, relax, drink a bottle of water, take a cold shower and then come back. It’s your session, so do it in a way that feels right to you.”
Andrea claims that regular sauna use is not only relaxing, but also has an impressive list of benefits, including “immediate mood improvement, improved sleep, improved cardiovascular and respiratory health, help with chronic pain and fatigue, and relief from skin conditions such as mild eczema.”
When preparing for your appointment, Andrea offers some helpful tips: “Take at least two towels with you: one to sit on when you go into the sauna to protect yourself from the sauna and the sauna from you, and one to dry yourself off.
“We also recommend that people wear special shoes or flip-flops when leaving and moving around the sauna, and remove all jewelry as it can get hot and burn you.
Also, don’t forget to bring water to stay hydrated. We provide bottled water, flip flops, towels and hats for free, but quantities are limited.
Hot Rocks Sauna accepts individual and group bookings, as well as bookings for parties of up to 10 people at a time. Since the sauna is mobile, its staff also invites you to private events.
Both public and private sessions (for those who prefer to go textile-free) are available and can be booked on The Hot Rocks Sauna website here.
Once you book, you will receive a confirmation email with a reminder on what to bring and how to prepare for your session.
Meetings are currently held every Friday evening and all day on Saturday and Sunday every other weekend.
The project is part-funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the European Union under Priority 6 (Leaders) of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Plan 2014–2020.