LONDON — When I received an invitation to a birthday party at a social sauna, my first thought was: "Do I have to be naked?!"
The answer (thankfully) was no, although some sauna traditionalists would prefer otherwise. All I needed was a swimsuit, sandals and two towels to attend a 90-minute session at Community Sauna Baths, a nonprofit communal bathing site in London's Hackney Wick neighborhood. The community is among a crop of social thermal experiences that have opened in recent years abroad and in the U.S. And, as people look for low-cost, high reward summer fun, these saunas are reporting a boom in popularity.
Following a hectic 6 p.m. commute on public transit, the tranquility of Community Sauna Baths was welcome. Approachable attendants had our group sign a waiver (saunas may not be safe for those who are pregnant, have low blood pressure or some heart conditions) while we sipped a rose-infused tea. We traded sneakers for flip-flops and professional clothes for swimsuits and dipped in a quick cold shower before entering one of the wood-fired saunas.
Coming from 65-degree temperatures, the heat was stunning at first. The community keeps its chambers around 175 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (note to monitor your body for signs of heat exhaustion). While I had tried a sauna before, it was usually a smallish closet tacked on to a gym or hotel locker room. I'd never experienced this kind of setting — a place where sauna was distinctively the main event. Larger chamber design is key factor of the social sauna movement, widening the physical space to invite more individuals to collectively feel the heat.
