Become a member of the British Sauna Society
Sauna culture - or ‘contrast therapy’ - is rapidly growing across the UK, with the number of public saunas doubling each year. Trends in wellness, preventative health and longevity extension are all driving the boom. People are no longer just seeking to relax and unwind - they want to be optimising themselves. And in a tech-filled world that forces us to live in a nonphysical world, they’re also looking to reconnect - with their own bodies, with each other, and with nature.
Spas already have the set up to meet all of these demands. But most are failing to capitalise on their potential value. They are leaving money on the table.
Having spent thousands on thermal facilities, few customers can access the wellbeing and health benefits they offer, because they simply don’t know the right way to use them. Spa staff aren’t trained to guide them, and lack basic education on hot and cold bathing.
Benefits of business membership
By signing up to a British Sauna Society Business Membership, you can open up new revenue streams within your business, extract more value from your facilities and meet the expectations of a changing spa market. You’ll benefit from:
Individual memberships for staff in your business
Monthly newsletter and yearly publication about the UK and International sauna scene
Access to a network of sauna and cold immersion experts
Certification that your thermal facilities are authentic sauna quality
Priority tickets to industry networking events and conferences
Discounts with sauna industry suppliers
Support and resources to upskill your team to become Sauna Masters that can offer and array of international bathing rituals
Resources to guide bathers on effective and safe use of thermal facilities
Register your interest
Contrast therapy and ritual consultancy
If you’d like a more personalised approach and would like to engage a partner to work directly with your team, you can also schedule audits of your thermal facilities and bespoke workshops and training for your spa staff. This could be basic training for your staff to learn more about sauna culture and effective bathing practices, or could qualify them to become licensed Sauna Masters than can host rituals and performances.
1 day intro workshop: For the love of sauna
A fun and educational workshop suitable for Spa Managers, Front of House, Spa Hosts and Marketing Teams. Suitable for up to 6 participants, the workshop covers:
Understanding wellness benefits of Thermotherapy
Maximising your thermal assets
Scheduling and managing a thermal programme
Marketing and promotional resources
3 day Sauna Master Qualification
The full certification programme ensures emerging Sauna Masters will leave with the confidence, knowledge and expertise to create their own sauna ritual programmes. Sauna Masters gain knowledge in all areas of:
Basics of sweat bathing cultures
Science and benefits of sauna
Health and safety protocols
Elements of a sauna ritual
Equipment and supplies
Aufguss techniques
Sauna aromatherapy
Creating ritual moments
Contacts
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Deborah Carr, Director British Sauna Society & Director Aufguss Team UK
Deborah is a Director of the British Sauna Society, which aims to make the physical, mental and social health benefits of sauna more accessible to the UK public. With years of worldwide spa and wellness expertise, Deborah Carr has a deep knowledge of and extensive network within the spa world through her work with Total Spa Solutions and Anada. She has pioneered Performance Aufguss in the UK, leading the team representing the nation at the Aufguss World Masters.
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Gabrielle Reason, Director British Sauna Society
Gabrielle is also a Director of the British Sauna Society, and founded the first woodfired community sauna in London in 2021, the Community Sauna Baths. With a masters in Physiology, Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Oxford, she works with health organisations and local authorities to research and publicise the physical, mental and social health benefits of sauna.
