EEarlier this year I was on the verge of burnout. I felt like my career as a freelance journalist was on constant life support, I had a hectic home life and was consumed with worry about a world seemingly hell-bent on self-destruction. I too experienced the death of a close family member and an old school friend. Grief has become the default status. Despite the support of my family and loved ones, I needed to find a way to cope with this almost overwhelming sense of loss.
I tried meditation, yoga and therapy and they all helped. Then I heard about Public saunasa non-profit project in London designed to make saunas accessible to everyone. From the very first visit I felt that something had changed. A feeling of peace came over me. It immediately felt like a sanctuary, a corner of calm in a chaotic city that also allowed me to calm that swirling sadness and release some of my pent-up anxiety.
Now I visit regularly. I prefer to come alone, but the atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming and it's easy to strike up a conversation with other guests. Even on busy days, people go out of their way to give each other a seat on a sauna bench. There is a real sense of community.
Now I understand that there are many benefits to saunas. They reduce stress by releasing endorphins and help improve cardiovascular and muscle health. My hamstrings, which usually feel like they're cemented, have weakened dramatically. Now I feel much more flexible. I also enjoy the sensory experience of a sauna: the smell of the wood, the hiss of the water splashed on the hot stones – and, although perhaps to a lesser extent, the invigorating shock of the cold plunge pools afterwards, in which I usually linger for a few seconds before jumping out…
I've always prided myself on my ability to handle the heat. Part of this, I assumed, was due to my mother's Anglo-Indian heritage; partly, several childhood years spent in the scorching Middle East. But I used to – foolishly – imagine this ease with higher temperatures as some kind of endurance test.
I used to go to saunas every now and then, but they had turned into “how long can you last” competitions, where my sweat-drenched torso and singed nose hairs became some kind of weird prize for perseverance. The therapeutic part of the experience gained momentum.
But now my sauna visits feel like mindfulness exercises; the heat helps you stay focused and present. It feels like my negative thoughts are being washed away. It's like a deep cleansing of body and soul.
I leave the session rejuvenated, deeply relaxed and strangely energized. This helps restore my sense of emotional balance. I feel more flexible physically and mentally, as if some of my old worries have literally evaporated. My future is still uncertain, but I know I can face it now with renewed strength and purpose.
