Sauna or ice bath: which should you choose?

Saunas and ice bath tubs are opposite experiences, and people often come into the shop unsure which one they want. Here’s how they compare, so you can decide what suits your home and your routine.

The difference in a sentence

A sauna is a small room you sit in to get very warm. An ice bath is a tub of cold water you sit in for a short time to cool right down. Many people use them together, moving from hot to cold and back again.

Saunas

There are two main types:

• Finnish saunas heat the air with a heater and stones. You can pour water over the stones to make steam.
• Infrared saunas warm you directly, at a lower air temperature. People who find a traditional sauna too intense often prefer them.

Saunas can go indoors, in a spare room or garage, or outdoors as a garden or barrel sauna. Outdoor saunas sit on a prepared base, which we build as part of the installation. We supply and build Fonteyn saunas across Cyprus.

Ice baths

An ice bath used to mean a tub full of bags of ice. Passion Ice Baths have active cooling: a built-in chiller keeps the water at the temperature you set, so there’s no ice to buy or carry. Most go outside, on a patio or beside the pool, and we deliver and set them up anywhere in Cyprus.

How they compare

• Space. A sauna needs room for a cabin, sized by how many people you want to seat. An ice bath needs about the footprint of a single tub.
• Setup. A sauna is built on site on a prepared base. An ice bath is delivered, positioned and set running.
• Using it. A sauna session is usually longer and more sociable. An ice bath is a short, sharp dip.
• The Cyprus climate. A sauna really comes into its own on winter evenings, though plenty of our customers use theirs all year. An ice bath is especially welcome on summer days.

Why many people want both

Moving between heat and cold, known as contrast therapy, is the reason a lot of people buy either one. If you think you’ll end up with both, it’s worth planning them together, so they sit close to each other and share the same base work and electrics. We can help you plan the whole set-up.

A note on health

Saunas and ice baths are both demanding on the body. If you have a heart condition, high or low blood pressure, are pregnant, or have any other health concerns, check with your doctor before using either.

Try before you decide

The easiest way to choose is to see them in person. Come into the shop in Mesogi and we’ll talk you through the options, or ring us and tell us about your space.