The Rise of Sauna Culture in the UK
Over the last few years, a flourishing sauna culture has firmly made its way to the UK’s wellness scene. Once reserved mainly for spa hotels and high end gyms, sauna enthusiasts can now indulge in a warm retreat in the heart of cities, on beaches across the country, and even in their own gardens. The rise in popularity has come hand in hand with the widespread enthusiasm and appreciation for cold water plunging, the two combined offering a multitude of health benefits known as ‘Contrast Therapy’.
The long history of saunas is thought to begin in Finland, where natives would fill holes in the earth with heated stones to provide warmth during cold winters. As time moved on, they evolved into heated cabins so intrinsic to the daily life of Finnish culture that nowadays nearly 90% of Finns take at least one sauna per week, with many considering saunas to be an integral tool for their happiness. With Finland being named the happiest country in the world for seven years running, it makes perfect sense to take inspiration from their much loved wellness practices.
The benefits of sauna use have been well documented, positively impacting both the body and mind through the activation of thermoregulatory pathways. These include stress reduction, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, improved muscle relaxation and lactic acid elimination, reduced levels of harmful toxins, lowered risk for Alzheimer’s & Dementia, improved sleep and immunity, skin cleansing and replenishing, and weight loss.
A less frequently acknowledged benefit of saunas is the social element, with saunas being an intimate place for people to gather and connect. This is illustrated by the growing popularity of community saunas, in cities - where people are attending sauna sessions like they would a boutique fitness class or going for a coffee with friends, and on beaches across the country, where people are combining the intensity of the heat with cold water dips in the sea.
Elie Seaside Sauna, Elie, Fife From £12
A recent study by the Mayo Clinic suggests that to really reap the benefits of sauna bathing, 3 to 7 sessions per week is optimal, with each one lasting 15-20 minutes. Whilst this might sound a lot, for keen adopters of wellness practices this is thought to offer a significant boost in terms of day-to-day wellbeing, long term health and longevity. Nowadays, there is also the option of installing beautiful sauna cabins in private gardens, with companies turning even the smallest of city gardens into luxury, private wellness sanctuaries. For example, Wildhut; a British sauna company hand-crafting spectacular saunas inspired by traditional Nordic principles, integrating natural, sustainable and sympathetic design with the wide-ranging benefits of sauna bathing. The home sauna offering is the ultimate antidote to fast-paced modern day living, right on your doorstep.
Wildhut hand-crafted saunas From £23k