Portal North. ISSUE 2 - Magazine - Page 46
Steamy scenery
Longsands beach, Tynemouth
INSIDE THE SAUNA BOOM
According to the British Sauna Society, the number of public saunas in the UK has seen a 14-fold increase in the last
three years, growing from 43 to more than 600 today. Rebecca Crowe dives into this heated wellness trend that is
not only helping people feel better but also fostering community
Slowly leaning back against the back of the sauna, I
close my eyes and inhale deeply, taking in the smell
of the wood, the heat of the steam into my lungs,
and instantly feel myself relax. Opening my eyes, I’m
welcomed by the large picture window of Mersea
Sauna overlooking Crosby Marina.
A relatively small waterfront sauna, the capacity is just
six people for public sessions. However, it’s a chatty
bunch at this Liverpool sauna.
There’s a mix of regulars and newbies, discussing the
bene昀椀ts of the sauna, comparing notes about others
in the area, and talking about upcoming festivals.
The combination of wellness and community is
de昀椀nitely on the rise. More saunas are popping up in
cities and densely populated places where connection
may be lacking. The location choice by the water and
Crosby Beach isn’t by accident.
“That connection to landscape is a big part of why
sauna travel is growing across northern countries,”
says Jake Newport from sauna specialist Finnmark.
46 PORTAL NORTH ISSUE 2
“Places with coastlines, lakes and big open spaces lend
themselves to it. A sauna beside the water changes
how you experience those places.”
Thoroughly warmed, I head outside to the icy plunge
pools, the cool water both a welcome respite from the
heat and an unpleasant shock. The duality of wellness.
Re-entering the sauna, I 昀氀ip the egg timer back for
another 15-minute stint in the engul昀椀ng heat. Again,
that 昀椀rst inhale, the settling of muscles, and the cedar
smell, put me right at ease, and the outside world
suddenly no longer exists.
CONNECTION
TO LANDSCAPE
IS WHY SAUNA
TRAVEL IS
GROWING
Mersea Sauna
