Saunas, spaces built for intense dry or wet heat sessions, are standard fare at hotels, spas and gyms worldwide. In countries like Finland (where saunas were born 2,000 years ago), Italy, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Hungary & Poland, the rituals and facilities are often creative, deeply social and fabulous. But the sauna experience outside Europe can frankly be rather “meh”: an uninspired, lonely experience in a spa or condo basement “box.”

A sauna is a small room or house designed for dry or wet heat sessions that promote sweating and relaxation. It typically involves sitting or lying down in a heated environment, often with the addition of steam or aromatic oils, and then cooling off with cold water or air. Saunas have been used for centuries for their therapeutic and social benefits, and are a popular practice in many cultures around the world.