The British Sea Sauna Experience

"I enjoyed the sauna very much, but then my first run into the sea was cold yet strangely exhilarating. Even after the first time I felt excited and by the end of the hour, that dopamine definitely got me."

Faith Bleasdale tries the full Finland plunge at beautiful Saunton Beach in North Devon.

Last winter, I discovered the joy that was the Sea Sauna.

I am lucky to live on the North Devon coast, so when a friend suggested going to nearby Saunton Sands, the idea of the sauna sounded lovely, even though plunging into a cold sea did not.

The cold plunge and sauna has been gaining popularity throughout the world – it’s almost a mainstream activity now. However, combining wood-fired saunas with sea dips was initially a Nordic tradition and it has been popular for thousands of years.

Recently the sea sauna has become a modern wellness ritual, and they are popping up all over the world. It became clear my argument for sitting in a warm pub wasn’t going to win, and so I dug out my swimming costume and prepared to freeze.

Although you can do it either way round, we went to the sauna first then plunged into the sea, second. If you spend about 10 minutes in the sauna, your core body temperature rises, your heart rate increases, and then you go to the sea (one to three minutes) which shocks your system, constricts your blood vessels and triggers a dopamine surge.

I enjoyed the sauna very much, but then my first run into the sea was cold yet strangely exhilarating. Even after the first time I felt excited and by the end of the hour, that dopamine definitely got me.

It helped that we were on a beautiful beach, and there was something special about the surroundings. Yes, I am a true convert.

The cold water/sauna movement is growing.

Tens of millions of people do this around the world. In Finland over 3 million people practice regularly.
Alternating between extreme heat and cold water creates a phenomenon called vascular pumping. This effect is good for your heart, your muscles, your metabolism and you can even get an energy surge.
Jumping into cold water results in mood elevation and mental clarity which can last hours.
It can improve your metabolism and even help to burn calories.
Research from Finland shows that doing this frequently is linked to a 40% reduction in all-cause mortality.

Book at Sea Sauna UK

Photograph(s):

Faith Bleasdale

Faith Bleasdale grew up in Devon, studied History at Bristol University and then moved to London. After sampling a huge variety of jobs, she decided that she would put her passion for writing to good use. She has lived in London, Bristol, Brighton, and Singapore but moved home to Devon, which is where she grew up to have her son. Her son, who is the light of her life, has Down’s Syndrome and Autism so a big passion of Faith's is working for awareness and acceptance. She writes fiction under her own name and also Rachel Wells. As Rachel Wells she is the author of the Alfie The Doorstep Cat Series. She writes full time.

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