New UK research into the mental health benefits of sauna
Sauna culture is experiencing rapid global growth as more and more people start to explore and experience both the physical and mental health benefits of this long established tradition.
The UK approach to sauna has evolved from a simple private wellness routine to a popular, social practice. Community sauna spaces with an emphasis on connection, well-being and alcohol-free socialising are popping up across the country. The British Sauna Society currently lists over 600 UK public saunas on its map.
The first research into the power of collective sauna rituals has just been published. This new collaborative research from Dr Martha Newson (Institute of Lifecourse Development, University of Greenwich) and Rachael McGrath (The London Interdisciplinary School) is an exciting milestone in understanding how this ancient practice could support mental health and wellbeing. The findings suggest that the social and ritual aspects of sauna use may contribute to its wellbeing effects, with potential implications for social prescribing initiatives in the UK and beyond.
Sauna has well-evidenced benefits for our physical health, but our research suggests it offers something just as important: connection. In turn, this social connection elevates our mental wellbeing…..Our data shows that shared ritual is integral to the feelings of connection and wellbeing that emerge from sauna use. People don’t just go for the heat; they go for the community, which is what makes sauna so powerful in the UK.”
— Dr Martha Newson, Institute of Lifecourse Development, University of Greenwich & Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion, University of Oxford
With the age of digital interaction, the UK is currently experiencing a loneliness epidemic with one in 2 adults reporting feeling lonely and findings that poor social relationships are as much of a health risk as cigarettes and alcohol. Dr Martha Newson’s research suggests that sauna practice could be explored as a preventative lifestyle intervention to counter this position.
She connects the findings to other ritual practices around the globe, and explores the power of collective sauna rituals to allow participants to “bond at a deeper level than many [other] group activities.”
“What we see in shared, ritualised sauna experiences - and in our data - is that people feel connected to their bodies and to each other, and that this connection boosts wellbeing…As saunas become more widespread in the UK, they represent an accessible & underexplored resource for neighbourhood health and NHS-aligned social prescribing.”
— Rachael McGrath, Research Affiliate, London Interdisciplinary School
The research assessed a variety of sauna rituals, but particularly explored that of Aufguss, a popular sauna practice whereby an aufguss master works with water, essential oils and towel techniques to circulate heat throughout the sauna. Aufguss is designed to enhance the benefits of a sauna session and heighten levels of endorphins and serotonin.
The overall findings of this new research show the importance of regular and frequent collective sauna bathing, with weekly sessions showing better wellbeing outcomes
than monthly visits. Those who felt the highest levels of belonging to the sauna community were those who reported the greatest ritual experiences.
