A Nordic Retreat
Words by Rebekah Miron
The Saltwater Sauna at Sandbanks is a holistic well-being experience, combining the benefits of heat therapy with the rejuvenating qualities of the sea. Visitors enjoy pastel sunrises, thundering rainstorms, and starlit nights, all from the comfort of a luxury wood-fired sauna. The Nordic bathing experience has become a personal interest of mine, and so I was delighted when I was invited to accompany The Saltwater team on their recent retreat to Finland.
In February, eight of us journeyed to try out some of the best saunas Helsinki has to offer (complete with cold water dipping opportunities to cool off!) Our first stop was Uusi sauna, which included wood-fired saunas alongside a bar for sipping a customary Finnish “Long Gin” afterwards. In conversation with the team, I learned more about The Saltwater Sauna and what brought them together. Sam and Arlene are the masterminds behind the operation, both firm believers in the power of nature and in connecting with others.
Together, they assembled a team from various professional backgrounds, from a PhD student to a former Army Officer, all with one common purpose — to introduce more people to the benefits of contrast therapy.
If you’re unfamiliar, contrast therapy is a science-based anti-stress cure. It centres around exposing ourselves to small doses of healthy stress via heat and cold, which aids relaxation and strengthens the body and mind. The positive benefits for wellbeing were one of the main reasons Sam and Arlene decided to bring sauna culture to the Dorset coast, but another key motivation was the social aspect. As the evening darkened at Uusi sauna, I saw how it became a community hotspot, with Finns tumbling in after work with friends and family to relax and unwind. It’s this same atmosphere which inspired The Saltwater Sauna’s communal sessions, which invite groups of eight to share an authentic Finnish sauna experience. Sauna host Nathaniel commented, “I’d encourage anyone to come to a communal session with a friend or even alone. The sauna attracts a friendly crowd who are warm — no pun intended! — and welcoming. Everyone is just really good fun to talk to."
But the community feel at The Saltwater Sauna is just as strong within the team, which was clear during our second day in Finland as we cheered each other towards our first dips in the sub-zero temperatures of the Baltic Sea. We started at Allas Sea Pool, with their enclosed area for sea dipping and both electric and wood-fired saunas for warming up afterwards. Co-Founder Sam and Sauna Master Jane led the charge here, teeth chattering as they encouraged those more nervous among us to take a quick plunge in the sea. I talked to Sauna Host Daisy just before we braved the water, and she mentioned that while she was keener on the sauna part than the cold immersion, the endorphin rush was incredible. She also gave some good advice for those new to contrast therapy: “Start small and do whatever is comfortable for you. You can build up resilience to the heat and cold with practice, but once you try it, it’s addictive!” After my own dip, I’d have to agree.
By the time we arrived at Löyly Bathhouse later that day, we were all plunging happily off a ladder into the freezing ocean, dodging sheets of ice as we cheered each other on before running back to the warmth of the sauna — huge grins on our faces. Perhaps it was the endorphin high, but there was something about moving between hot and cold, listening to the body, and calming the breath, which left us all feeling invincible. Saltwater Sauna Co-Founder Arlene, originally from Finland herself, commented, “It was a delight to watch the team surpass their own expectations by taking dips in the icy water. Connecting with ourselves in this way and communing with nature is a very life-affirming practice.”
After enjoying the saunas at Löyly, including a traditional smoke sauna, we met in the restaurant to toast our trip with a glass of wine and some Finnish salmon soup. Our visit to Helsinki was short but sweet, and the following day, we parted ways for some final sightseeing before catching our flights home. Experiencing traditional sauna culture in Finland was unforgettable, and I’m glad to have a slice of it back home at The Saltwater Sauna. Having this sanctuary on our doorstep at Sandbanks is a luxury, and if you haven’t already booked in for a visit, I’d highly recommend you do so.
Website → thesaltwatersauna.com
Instagram → @thesaltwatersauna
