LONDON (AP) — It may be winter and there’s a biting chill in the air, but this small sauna in east London is filled with a dozen men and women in bathing suits, happily sweating away.
Temperatures here are already above 90 degrees Celsius (194 degrees Fahrenheit) and will get even hotter.
As ice cubes soaked in lavender oil melted on the hot stones and released aromatic steam, ‘sauna master’ Oliver Beryl turned on background music and began vigorously waving a towel in a circular motion over his head, sending waves of intense, dry heat throughout the room.
“Now try finding someone and sitting back to back with them,” Beryl suggested. “Or, if you feel more comfortable, you could maintain eye contact with the person next to you.” Beryl hesitated for a moment, but most people readily agreed to sit for a few minutes.
Saunas have taken London and the rest of the UK by storm, particularly among twenty- and thirty-something hipsters looking to try a new activity that’s healthier than a night out at the pub.
From Scandinavian saunas and Native American sweat lodges to Japanese onsen and Turkish baths, sweating in public places for the purpose of relaxation, healing the body or mind, and socializing has become an integral part of many cultures around the world.
But today’s most popular saunas are those that emphasize a sense of community and “connection,” or offer an experience beyond simply sitting in a heated sauna. Think sauna nights with DJ sets, sauna poetry workshops, or rituals like Beryl’s “aufguss” (German for “infusion”), an intense experience combining warmth, music, and scents.
Many establishments also have outdoor ice baths next to the sauna so that visitors can alternate between hot and cold baths.
“I love the feeling of ecstasy. It’s a 15-minute break from everyday life,” said Jess Carmichael, emerging from her first “relaxation” in a public sauna in Stratford, east London.
She compared the excitement she felt to running into the cold ocean with hundreds of people on New Year’s Day.
“I think people need that right now – that warmth of the outside world and that sense of sharing experiences with other people,” she added.
Charlie Duckworth, co-founder of the community sauna, said it all started in 2022 when he and other “sauna fanatics” installed two small saunas, one in a horse-drawn carriage, in a disused car park in trendy Hackney.
The non-profit social enterprise has proven so popular that it now has four branches across the capital, with two more planned for soon.
Duckworth noted that for many sauna fans, much of its appeal comes from the fact that it is a “social place,” like a bar or a church.
“Saunas allow people to let go of inhibitions and create a mild euphoria,” similar to the effect of social drinking, he said. “I think saunas are a great place to socialize.”
The number of public saunas across the UK has increased from 45 in 2023 to 147 this year, according to the British Sauna Association.
One of the new advantages of British sauna culture compared to countries with longer traditions, says Duckworth, is that sauna owners can “have more fun and be more creative”.
Peckham Sauna Social in south London hosts relaxing sauna evenings at weekends, with resident DJs and a mocktail bar. One of its most popular monthly events is the Creative Writing Sauna: a short poetry reading followed by tea and a writing workshop in the lounge.
“Reading in a sauna was something new for me – at first it was difficult to even feel the heat, sweat and water dripping from the pages,” said author Caroline Druitt, who led the workshop.
According to De Ruyter, interacting with other half-naked strangers in the sauna seemed to encourage participants to share their thoughts and write more openly. “Plus, I know that many of my best ideas come to me in the shower,” she adds.
In addition to reducing stress and boosting inspiration, some people claim that saunas and cold water immersion relieve joint inflammation, improve heart health and sleep.
Some studies have gone further: one found a link between sauna use at least four times a week and a reduced risk of psychosis in middle-aged Finnish men.
Gabrielle Reason, secretary of the British Sauna Association, said: “A proper sauna should be used as often as a gym and it is regular use that provides the so-called health benefits.”
While these health benefits have not yet been fully proven, and people with high blood pressure or heart disease should consult a doctor before visiting a sauna or ice bath, many devotees visit them regularly to improve their mood.
“It really does reset your brain in a really beautiful way,” says Callum Heinrich, who is immersed in a bucket of ice water, the steam from the sauna still lingering on his skin. He says he goes twice a week when he can. “It’s the best thing in the world for your mental health.”