If you’ve been following the latest sauna news, then you’ll already know that one of the Nordic recommendations today is to finish off a good home sauna session with some refreshing cold therapy. Imagine hopping straight from the toasty sauna into a cold bath or shower, or even jumping into the backyard pool. But now, there’s a new way to combine the steamy effects of a sauna with ice-cold invigoration, and it’s set to become the future of the sauna and steam room world. Welcome to the floating sauna.
What is a floating sauna?
A floating sauna is very similar to an at-home sauna. It uses sauna rocks to produce steam and heat, widely believed to be beneficial for health and wellbeing by lowering stress levels and boosting natural immunity. It’s great for skin, too. The difference is that while a home sauna in Melbourne may be located in a yard or inside the house, a floating sauna is situated at a lakefront, on a boat, or even on a floating platform right on the water’s surface. It ‘floats’. Floating saunas are usually accessed via a dock, a pedestrian bridge, or even by taking a boat or swimming out to reach the special facilities. A floating sauna combines two wonderful Nordic traditions and cultures. It’s a perfect blend of Finland’s traditional and authentic saunas, and Norway’s exquisite vessel craftsmanship.
The benefits of floating saunas
Just like a home sauna, floating saunas usually feature wooden benches to allow users to sit and relax while enjoying the heat. The view, however, is usually a bit different. You can gaze out over the water and really feel as though you’re a million miles away from everyday life. They typically feel very private, quiet and isolated, separated from reality by the barrier between land and water. The real beauty of floating saunas, however, is the chance to dive right in after a dry sauna or wet sauna session. It takes post-sauna cold therapy to a whole new level.
Cold therapy has been shown to reduce stress and promote that ‘feel good’ factor, and there’s nothing quite as invigorating as the cool waters of a lake. This sort of arrangement is already very common in Finland and Sweden. Brave users have even been seen diving into ice-covered lakes in winter to really maximise the cold therapy potential.
The future of saunas in Melbourne and Australia?
The benefits of floating saunas suggest that this innovative setup could be the future of Australia’s growing sauna scene. The home sauna in Australia has been rapidly rising in popularity over the past few years. However, many people haven’t yet heard of the incredible Nordic trend for transforming traditional saunas into floating havens of calm and relaxation. Although there are floating saunas around the world – in Norway, Seattle, and Estonia, for example – there’s very little presence Down Under. In fact, there’s really only one floating sauna of note in Australia, and it’s not particularly accessible to local Melburnians. It’s located on Lake Derby in Tasmania, connected to the shore by a small pedestrian bridge that users must cross barefoot to reach. The floating platform features two structures: a hut for changing, and a sauna room where you can gaze out over the waters of Briseis Hole. It’s time Australia caught up, and brought this Northern European trend to Victoria. And the team here at Sauna and Steam are ready to make it happen. As leaders in commercial and at-home steam sauna rooms, we’re already busy making plans to introduce the floating sauna to Victoria residents, with Lake Eildon our location of choice. Keep an eye on our news page for the latest updates!
