Body + Soul

Why communal saunas are the hottest trend in wellness right now

Across the country, communal saunas are on the rise, but this isn’t sweating it out as you know it. With DJ sets, nude bathing and mobile sauna trucks, the traditional sauna is being reimagined as the ultimate sober social scene. In a world of chronic burnout and digital disconnection, could sharing steam be our most human form of wellness yet? 

When I moved from London to Sydney, I was struck by the city’s devotion to wellness. Nights of pub pints and bar rounds with dates were replaced by slower, softer rituals – spaces designed for deeper connection.

Across Australia, a new social scene is emerging: sweat-drenched, phone-free, and hangover-proof. Saunas, icy plunges and even co-ed nude bathing are becoming the sober-curious alternative.

And it’s no wonder communal saunas are booming. As we collectively hit peak burnout, wellness is softening and becoming less about self-optimisation and more about genuine human connection. And with loneliness now a public health crisis, maybe sweating side by side is the new way to bond.

This (quite literally) hot entry to the social wellness scene is part of a bigger shift. The Global Wellness Institute’s 2024 trend report noted a move from “solo wellness” to “social wellness,” where ritualised communal experiences like group breathwork and saunas are designed to bring people together.

In Finland – where 3.3 million saunas serve just 5.5 million people – löyly, the steam rising from heated stones, is a kind of communal ‘church of nature’.

Globally, the ritual is evolving: London’s Sauna Social Club layers Finnish tradition with DJs, art workshops and creative writing sessions, while in Australia, Blue Mountains Sauna hosts co-ed nude bathing nights with Get Naked Australia and multi-sensory Aufguss rituals led by a “sauna master” who choreographs steam, music and lights.

“It’s not just about biohacking or recovery,” says Blue Mountains Sauna co-founder Nikita Miltiadou. “We’ve always championed social wellness and community – it’s for everyone, all ages, all sizes. From the start, we designed our sauna to be shared, offering joint memberships for housemates, couples and families. It’s the new pub. The Romans understood this, and now Aussies are finally catching up.”

A new wave of roaming, beachside, or boutique saunas is also helping to turn this ancient ritual into a modern community experience. Sydney is home to Slow House, a modern bathhouse-meets-social club. In Tasmania, there’s Kuuma Sauna, Australia’s very first fully mobile sauna pontoon boat. In New Zealand, Sauna Fest draws hundreds to Rotorua’s Lake Tikitapu for a weekend of wood-fired saunas, cold plunges, music, and ritual. It’s part wellness retreat, part festival, and it signals just how communal this practice is becoming.

But beyond the festivals and pop-ups, the real magic is in the small, human moments they create. Inside the heat, connection feels surprisingly easy, and that sense of effortless connection is reshaping how different groups – especially men – are starting to relate to one another in these spaces.

Rob Dempster-Smith, founder of mobile sauna Cedar & Salt, sees a “strong presence of middle-aged women, often coming in friendship groups or with family,” but is “also seeing encouraging signs that sauna is becoming a space where men feel more comfortable opening up and connecting.

"In the UK and parts of Europe, sauna culture has played a big role in supporting men’s mental health, helping combat loneliness, depression, and social isolation.” 

“We’re beginning to see similar shifts here too [with] men’s circles, breathwork groups, and mates choosing sauna over beers. It’s heartening to witness wellness becoming a way for people, especially men, to build connection, routine, and community in their lives,” he says.

And it’s not just the social aspect. There’s something about the heat, the silence, and the shared vulnerability of a sauna that softens people, making them more present – and more open.

Sahra Behardien O'Doherty, psychologist and president, Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi) says “The heat and steam mean you need to pay attention to your breathing, to help slow your body down and regulate the autonomic nervous system. We also have to let go of our self-consciousness…It can be quite meditative…to sit with our thoughts, noticing them without acting on them immediately.”

“Conversations are often quieter and side-by-side, lower pressure than sitting across from someone and making eye contact,” says O'Doherty. “Alcohol can be a crutch for some people who feel anxious about social connection, and what actually works in the long term is exposing yourself to those uncomfortable situations and finding that you're safe, that you can connect with others, and that you might even enjoy it.” 

Far from a passing wellness trend - after all, the ritual has been around for centuries - saunas are becoming a new ‘third space’ and way to socialise. “People often strike up conversation simply by reacting to what’s around them – spotting a dolphin, watching the sunset, commenting on how cold the ocean swim was,” says Rob Dempster-Smith.

I felt it too when I visited with a friend; you feel more present in your own conversations, and connection with others came naturally over the shared shock of icy sea water and the ritual of adding more steam. 

So it sounds like saunas might well be here to stay. 

Written By: Sienna Hocking
Link: https://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/wellness/mental-wellbeing/why-communal-saunas-are-the-hottest-trend-in-wellness-right-now/news-story/b4ad3b9fc91c0962dc86a9eb90984c85