LONDON (AP) – There may be winter and there may be some chills to chew in the air, but dozens of men and women packed into this small sauna room in East London are happy to sweat in their swimsuits.
Here you’re above 90 degrees Celsius (194 Fahrenheit). It looks like it’s getting even hotter.
As lavender oil melts onto the hot hot stones and the blocks of ice that emit fragrant vapors release fragrant vapors, “Sauna Master” Oliver Beryl turns on the music around the room and begins to vigorously shake a towel over his head to spread the waves of pressure waves around the room.
Callum Heinrich on the left and Ella Price on the second left will have a sauna session at Hackney Wick Community Sauna Baths in London on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025 (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
“Find someone now and try sitting back to back with them,” suggests Beryl. “Or keep eye contact with the person sitting next to you if necessary.” There is a brief hesitation, but most people are blocked for a few minutes.
Sauna baths swept London and other parts of the UK, particularly among trendy 20s and 30s who are interested in trying new entertainment that are healthier than nights at pubs and bars.
From Scandinavian saunas and Native American sweat lodges to Japanese and Turkish baths, we sweat in communal spaces for relaxation, physical therapy, psychotherapy and socialization.
Callum Heinrich, Right, Ella will shower during a sauna session at Hackneywick Community Sauna Bath in London on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
But now the most popular sauna is an emphasis on “connection” with the community, offering something novelty sitting in a heated box. Sauna Club nights will show you DJs, Saunas and poetry workshops, or “meaning “infusion” as hosted by Beryl, featuring “Aufguss” (meaning “infusion” in German).
Also, many sites offer outdoor ice baths next to the sauna, allowing people to cycle between the heat and the cold.
“That’s refreshing.”
“I loved the feeling of losing myself. Jess Carmichael came out of his first ‘Arfgus’ at a community sauna bus in Stratford, East London.
She likened the exhilarating experience she felt when she came across the frozen sea with hundreds of others on New Year’s Day.
“I think people need this right now. I feel this warmth comes from outside and shares experiences with others,” she added.
Callum Heinrich enjoys a sauna session at Sauna Baths, Hackney Wick Community in London on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025 (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Charlie Duckworth, co-founder of Community Sauna Baths, said it all began in 2022 when he and his fellow Sauna Nutters installed two small saunas (including one in a horse box) in an unused parking lot in Hackney’s trendy neighborhood.
Non-profit social enterprises proved to be extremely popular and have since expanded to four sites throughout the capital, with two more open.
A large part of the appeal for many fans is that the sauna acts as a “community place” like a pub or church, Duckworth said.
Callum Heinrich on the left and Ella Price on the second left will have a sauna session at Hackney Wick Community Sauna Baths in London on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025 (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
“Saunas reduce inhibition and also provide a mild sense of happiness,” he said. “I think it’s a great place to socialize.”
The number of UK sauna sites has increased this year from 45 in 2023 to 147, according to the UK Sauna Association.
“A little more fun”
Visitors will be enjoying a sauna session at Hackneywick Community Sauna Bath in London on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025 (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
One of the advantages of Britain’s sauna culture being so new compared to countries where practices are ingrained in tradition is that providers can “make it a little more fun and more creative,” Duckworth said.
Peckham Sauna Social in south London features a relaxing ambient sauna night with resident DJs and a non-alcoholic cocktail bars over the weekend. One of the most popular monthly sessions is the “Creative Writing Sauna.” A short poem reading is followed by a chaiti and a writing workshop in the lounge.
“Reading in the sauna was something I’ve never done before. Being hot and sweaty and dripping down the pages was challenging at first,” said Caroline Dorit, author who leads the workshop.
Something about sharing chats with other semi-clothed strangers in the sauna seems to encourage participants to be more open about sharing their ideas and writings, Doritt said. “And I know that many of my best ideas came out of the bath,” she added.
Reported Health Benefits
David Saville is sitting by the campfire during a sauna session at the Hackney Wick Community Sauna Bath in London on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025 (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
In addition to reducing stress and flowing ideas, I swear to alleviate some saunas and cold inflammation, improving heart health and sleep.
Some studies have gone further, one suggesting a link between visiting a sauna at least four times a week and reducing the risk of mental illness among middle-aged Finnish men.
“A real sauna should be as regular as a gym, and doing it regularly offers reported health benefits,” says Gabriel Reason, secretary of the British Sauna Association.
These health benefits are not yet well established, but people with high blood pressure or heart disease should check with their doctor before going to the sauna and ice bath, but many converts return regularly to boost their mood.
“It just resets your brain in a really nice way,” said Karam Heinrich, who was submerged in a barrel of cold water and his skin still steaming from the sauna. He says he will attend twice a week as much as possible. “For your mental health, it’s the best in the world.”
