The power of sauna ritual: British Sauna Society to collaborate with University of Greenwich to research the wellbeing impact of sauna use.

We’re delighted to announce that the British Sauna Society will be collaborating with Dr Martha Newson and the University of Greenwich at the UK Aufguss Championships in Canary Wharf, London, 18-19 May, to explore how sauna culture contributes to wellbeing, particularly through ritual, shared experiences and identities.

Credit: Lucy Leo

Ticket holders to both events will be invited to take part in a research project into the power of sauna rituals. Participants will complete a survey before and after using the sauna.

Dr. Martha Newson is a cognitive anthropologist and researcher renowned for her work on rituals, group bonding, and the psychology of belonging. Her research has taken her from football stadiums to sacred ceremonies, uncovering how shared rituals shape identity, trust, and collective resilience. Martha is Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Greenwich, London, and Leader of the Changing Lives Lab Group at the University of Oxford.

At the Sauna Summit in Canary Wharf, she will also be giving a keynote - The Power of Ritual. In this talk, Martha will shed light on how ancient practices meet modern science, revealing why rituals matter more than ever in a fragmented world, and how we can consciously use them to build stronger, more connected communities.

On the research, Martha explains:

In other regions, such as Scandinavia and Japan, sauna use is collective – supporting the idea that collective experiences can help strengthen social bonds and enhance mental and physical health. Despite the growing popularity of saunas in the UK, little research has explored how sauna culture here compares to these traditions and how it might contribute to collective wellbeing.

By investigating the psychological effects of sauna use, this study will provide valuable insights into how both individual and social aspects of sauna rituals influence relaxation and mental health. The findings will contribute to scientific literature and help shape discussions on holistic wellbeing practices, benefiting sauna users, wellness practitioners, and public health researchers alike.