OUR GUIDE TO SAUNA CULTURE

AMERICANS, BRITS AND CANADIANS ARE STARTING to pick up on what Europeans, Russians and Scandinavians have known for centuries: Saunas are an integral part of wellness.

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IN A FOG Steam saunas like this one at the Spa at Southall Farm & Inn in Tennessee, can provide pain relief and relaxation.

Driven by trends in self-care and a greater focus on health, boutique sauna experiences are gaining steam.

Broad Health Benefits

Saunas—defined broadly as any room where a heat treatment occurs—are renowned for their numerous health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health, stress reduction, pain relief, muscle recovery, enhanced respiratory function and relaxation.

Spa enthusiast Alisa Priddle says, “With a Finnish mother, I have been bathed in saunas since I was an infant. It is the contrast: repeatedly going from the heat and steam to a jump in a lake or roll in the snow that stimulates the circulation, cleans the pores and makes you feel absolutely amazing and sleep like a baby. If my mom is any example, at 93 she looks like she is in her 70s. Saunas to this day are a key part of my social life.”

Saunas aren’t just for recreational users, either. Athletes use them as part of their training routines, too. Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team osteopath Henry Howe told