Health / sauna
How Bristol is falling for the warm embrace of saunas
An inner wooden door of a huge cylindrical barrel opens and outflows a steamy mass of 90-degree heat. It flushes on the skin of my face and hands like a warm embrace.
I peer inside and two long benches face one another beneath a half-moon-shaped window which frames a grassy field lined with leafless trees.
Greg Moody is showing me around his new pride and joy: a sauna area he has built on a plot of land at Windmill Hill City farm in Bedminster.
is needed now More than ever
The 32-year-old data analyst, who spent a recent summer enjoying Ireland’s steam-based offerings, started the project in November so that people in BS3 (and beyond) could join in his love of saunas.
Combined with cold water immersion, saunas can have some health benefits – photo: Orchard Sauna
For many, sauna culture is an integral part of their lives. It’s more than just washing, it’s about cleansing bodies and minds and embracing a sense of inner peace.
In Finland, the practice is such a valued tradition that in 2020 it was inscribed on the Unesco list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
In the UK, sauna culture is nowhere near as evolved but this unchartered territory is starting to inspire a wave of entrepreneurs who are passing on the tradition in new and novel ways, from covering ex-army trucks on beaches to planting them on the watersides of Highland lochs.
Established saunas in Bristol are found in spas and gyms including Bristol Float Centre and Bannatyne Health Club & Spa as well as at the Lido in Clifton, whose swim memberships are currently full with a waiting list of over 1,500 people.
“It struck me there wasn’t a good quality, traditional sauna that was easily accessible for people who live in Bristol,” says Greg.
Orchard Sauna is not flashy but functional, with storage boxes for users’ belongings, changing cubicles made from reclaimed wood, a chilled barrel plunge pool, a small seating area and a compost loo.
Sessions cost £15 per hour for individuals, or £100 for a group to hire the entire sauna. The aim is to bring users together by the extremes of temperature and socialise in the mist.
Greg says: “The existing ones tend to be more exclusive and pricier but with fewer people in. This is really about a friendly, down-to-earth community and being as close to a traditional sauna experience as we can get within a city.”
The Wave has recently opened free saunas overlooking its inland surf lake – photo: The Wave
Ten miles north in Easter Compton, the team at the Wave has installed saunas overlooking its inland surf lake, billed as “perfect for a post-surf warm up”.
Abby Richardson from the Wave says: “They offer a great way to warm up after an exhilarating surf session, but also increasing research is showing that the combo of the dry heat of a sauna and cold-water immersion offers great health benefits, both physically and mentally.”
Some evidence suggests that regular sauna sessions can, like cold water swimming, help lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia and boost immunity.
Greg Moody wanted to create a good quality, traditional sauna that was accessible for people who live in Bristol – photo: Betty Woolerton
Visiting Orchard Sauna in late January, a few weeks into the facilities being complete and up and running, Greg still can’t quite believe he managed to pull it off.
“There were moments when I stood in the freezing field on my own and I wondered: ‘Have I completely the wrong end of the stick here? Is this just a complete delusion? Do people actually want this?’
“But I’ve been overwhelmed in the first few weeks. People have come back the next day after their first session. There’s a massive appetite for it.”
Looking to the future, Greg wants to bring the sauna experience to a wider group. “I’m aware that within the farm we have lots of people from different backgrounds with some not considering this might be for them,” he says. “I don’t want it to be exclusive so I’ve got ideas to make it more accessible for everyone.”
Main photo: Orchard Sauna
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