The Saltwater Sauna
Sandbanks, saltwater, summer and saunas. They all go hand in hand, right? I recently had the chance to catch up with Arlene and Sam from The Saltwater Sauna to ask them all about their new sauna on Avon Beach and find out exactly how the Finns do summer…
First things first - tell us all about your expansion!
Sam: We have three exciting expansion projects underway. One is an extension to our current sauna in Sandbanks, where we’re building a slightly smaller sauna mirroring the current one, perfect for a more affordable private hire by smaller groups. Our second expansion is a huge project on Avon Beach, where we're developing a 14-metre wide site with two saunas and changing rooms, starting this autumn. Lastly, we’re looking to create a stunning destination sauna in Lulworth Cove, complete with dedicated changing facilities and a natural spring water outdoor shower at Lulworth Lodge. These projects are designed to benefit the local community, and by partnering with local businesses, we aim to help support local livelihoods, foster a stronger, more vibrant community, and provide a consistent stream of visitors during the ’off-season', while also giving more people the opportunity to experience our saunas, as we have received an unbelievable amount of support.
A huge time for The Saltwater Sauna, then! It’s fantastic to hear about the support you’ve had from the community.
Sam: Absolutely, we’d really love to take this chance to thank everybody for the support. We received over 300 supportive comments on our planning application, and we're very thankful to the local community.
It just goes to show how much everyone is loving Finnish sauna culture down on the south coast of England. With summer coming up, how do the Finns traditionally use saunas when it’s hot outside?
Arlene: In Finland and a lot of the Nordic countries, our favourite time to use the saunas is in the summer. Growing up in Finland, Midsummer in June is a huge celebration. It’s when the sun doesn’t set at all, and cities turn into complete ghost towns because everyone goes to their summer houses to be by the sea or a lake. We’ll have endless barbecues, bonfires, and saunas with dips in the sea, and just enjoy nature and time with family and friends.
Summer saunas in Finland sound absolutely incredible. What’s it like, visiting a sauna in the summer?
Sam: It’s a totally different experience compared to winter - down here in Dorset it provides a place where you can enjoy the beach in a less crowded, more peaceful setting, even on a busy summer's day. We often recommend having a bit more humidity and dropping the temperature of the sauna when it’s hot out.
I imagine a lot of people would think to avoid a sauna during a heatwave. Can saunas help us cope with the heat?
Sam: Absolutely. Heat adaptation through sauna use can help reduce overall core temperature and increase heat tolerance, which will help the body's response in any hot environment. No matter the time of year, it's always going to be refreshing to enjoy a sea-dip and sauna, afterall, we're bathing in the English channel, which never truly warms up! We think it's a brilliant way to make the most of the beautiful summer weather and enjoy sea bathing for extended durations, and hang out with friends on the beach afterwards for a barbeque, enjoying the long summer evenings.
What else is on the horizon for The Saltwater Sauna?
Sam: We'll be launching our first winter wellness retreat to Finland this autumn, and people can soon register their interest on our website. This retreat will include saunas, bathhouses, ice swimming, and yoga, all guided by our newly appointed Retreats Manager, Ali, along with our Sauna Master & Thermalist® Instructor, Jane. Of course, we'll also have our very own local expert in Arlene who will help provide an authentic experience, showing us Brits how it’s done! We’ve got some other exciting projects coming out which we can’t talk about quite yet, but watch this space!
Keep up with The Saltwater Sauna's expansion by following them on Instagram @thesaltwatersauna and visiting their website at thesaltwatersauna.com.
