Prior to visiting Slomo, I was resistant to the concept of a sauna and ice bath situation in London. In Austria, where my mum comes from, it makes sense given the setting and climate to surrender your body following a long day of skiing or frolicking in the mountains to the clutches of alternate hot and cold. I suspect it’s much the same in Scandinavia, but in London, where the pop up has returned to Kings Cross for a second year until the March 2, I’m not so sure.
The founders Rob and Josie da Bank refer to it as, “a soothing retreat from bustling city life.” Though I wonder if Londoners will want to visit this outdoor enclosure to huddle together in saunas sweating profusely? It is, after all, bad enough to be wedged next to a dressed and unheated fellow stranger on the tube; is this really something we city folk want? And when will they do it — during lunch breaks? And who will be intrepid enough to fling themselves into the coldest of the ice plunge baths?
I’m not sure of all these things, but as I traverse the flat plain that is Granary Square carrying a tote bag containing flip flops, a swimming costume, and a towel while being buffeted by Storm Eowyn, I know I simply don’t fancy removing most of my clothing in broad daylight in order to dart from sauna to ice bath.
The list of things I’d rather be doing instead are numerous, seductively dancing through my head. I’d like to be on the sofa, nestled under a blanket while reading a book, or, better yet, on a sun lounger (while responsibly slathered in SPF of course) doing similar. It doesn’t even have to be that decadent, I decide as my feet pace across the cold concrete towards the teepee housing the Slomo pop-up. A pub would be nice. Or just my bed. Basically, anywhere that doesn’t involve any vigour or exposure to cold on my part.
The list of things I’d rather be doing instead are numerous, seductively dancing through my head
But here I am, and, once checked in, there’s nothing for it but to pop my belongings in a locker and head to the gated area that’s home to two wood-fired saunas, three cold plunge pools, and an ice tank. I am told by a cheery and dedicated sauna fan that the trick is to really lean into the concept of this contrast therapy, whereby you go from sauna to cold plunges repeatedly in order to effectively give your whole system a boost via improving the metabolism, balancing hormones, and decreasing inflammation, among other things.
I start in the cooler sauna, though despite it being the entry level offering, I find that I’m quickly sweating. After 10 minutes in there, I attempt one of the ice baths, only managing to thrust my legs in before making a quick retreat to the sauna. I repeat this a few times until I’m able to get my shoulders under the freezing water and feel that whoosh of release as my muscles start to soften and blood flow returns to the coiled up bits of my body. I feel something else too: elation, a feeling my tired, beaten January body had entirely forgotten.
I feel something else too: elation, a feeling my tired, beaten January body had entirely forgotten
Next, I lie down in the sauna for something called leaf whisking, where a woman called Jesse takes a bunch of oak leaves and first fans me with them, thereby intensifying the heat, before pressing them onto me and telling me about the importance of the sauna ritual as she taps the leaves up and down my body. If this all sounds mad and very un-London to you, know that in the moment I too thought it was very mad and un-London — but, Christ, it felt bloody brilliant, and by the third time she pushed the warm leaves onto my abdomen, I decided I would happily, happily pay good money for another twenty minutes of the same.
While on the topic of money, I should add that I’m impressed by the price point; most good things in London cost a lot and this, relatively, doesn’t. It’s £9 for off-peak sessions lasting an hour, and £12 for peak. There are add-ons and events and so on, but essentially £9 will grant you entry for the main event and, as always, doing things regularly will reap the best results, so I’d suggest if you’re strapped for cash and want to give yourself a boost, this is the way.
And, yes, you might feel a bit less than enthusiastic at the prospect of this sort of thing in the Capital, but from one exhausted Londoner to (probably) another: trust me, this pop-up by the clever Slomo team is precisely what you need right now.
Entry to Slomo is £9 for off-peak sessions and £12 for peak and programmed sessions. The saunas will be closed on Tuesdays. For more information, head to kingscross.co.uk/event/slomo-sauna.
