Club with Sauna venues

A club with sauna is a sports or wellness club that has a sauna and whose wet area is built mainly around that sauna. At a club with sauna, dry heat comes first rather than a hammam, massage or a large spa section; some clubs offer the sauna together with a cold plunge pool so that heat and cold can be used one after the other.

Hot and cold areas at a club with sauna

The example of a club with sauna in the listing is a wellness club on the Yalıkavak seafront in Bodrum, Muğla: outdoor sports areas, yoga and meditation classes, a sauna and a cold pool are used together. Using the sauna and the cold pool one after the other is known as contrast therapy: the body, warmed up in the sauna, goes into cold water for a short time and then rests. Contrast therapy temporarily speeds up circulation and some people find it invigorating, but it is not suitable for everyone.

Using the sauna after training, and what to watch out for

A short sauna session after training may help to reduce muscle tension and to relax. It is generally recommended to go into the sauna not straight after a hard workout but once your pulse and breathing are back to normal, to keep the session short and to replace lost fluids by drinking water. If you have a cardiovascular condition, high or low blood pressure, are pregnant, or have a feverish illness or recent surgery, consult your doctor before using the sauna and especially before a cold plunge. If it is your first time, see the guide that explains step by step how to use a sauna.

What sets a club with sauna apart from a club with spa

At a club with sauna the wet area is limited to the sauna; a club with spa, by contrast, offers a separate spa section made up of a sauna, a steam room and, depending on the club, a pool or massage rooms. A club with sauna can also be classed as a fitness club; the example in the listing appears under both types. All these types belong to the fitness and wellness clubs group.

House rules at a club with sauna

At clubs with sauna, use of the sauna usually depends on membership or day entry. Ask the club whether the sauna is shared or separated by gender, whether swimwear is worn, whether towels are provided and when the cold pool is open. Showering before entering the sauna and sitting on a towel are established hygiene rules in shared heat areas.