1 of 2
Photos by Sheila M. Dugopolski, Earthing Studio
A Sol Sweat sauna fits two people and comes with Pandora and Netflix.
2 of 2
Photos by Sheila M. Dugopolski, Earthing Studio
For too long, the only St. Louisans who had access to infrared saunas were the ultra-rich who can afford to install one in their homes and the lucky few whose gym or doctor’s office has one.
Stacy Sullivan has changed all that. Her sauna studio Sol Sweat in Kirkwood makes the healing and detoxifying power of heat therapy affordable and accessible.
Sol Sweat is St. Louis’ first studio dedicated exclusively to infrared saunas, which studies show can help with weight loss, detoxification, stress relief, and a range of musculoskeletal conditions, including arthritis, acne, hypertension, metal poisoning, lyme disease, and joint pain. Infrared saunas have become the latest healthy obsession for celebrities, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Cindy Crawford, and Jennifer Aniston, who says she goes to the sauna with her new husband Justin Theroux.
See also: Why (and Where) You Should Do a Detox This Winter
Sol Sweat’s saunas, built by Kansas City-based Sunlighten, use carbon panels to produce infrared energy that penetrates much further into the body than conventional saunas in a way that’s safe enough for daily use. Clients can set their own temperature or choose from several pre-set programs, such as weight loss, designed to boost the metabolism by increasing and lowering the temperature throughout the session to simulate a workout.
“The infrared sauna is the safest, most gentle way to get that heat therapy,” says Sullivan. Infrared saunas heat the body from the inside out, so clients can stay in for up to 40 minutes. “A regular sauna is great, but you’re only able to stay in for about ten minutes. Same thing for a hot tub or steam room.”
How do you pass the time? Sol Sweat’s saunas come equipped with Pandora and Netflix so clients can keep their minds busy while their bodies are sweating, though many clients use the quiet time to mediate or stretch. And don’t worry about feeling claustrophobic; the saunas have glass doors that open into a private changing room so clients won’t feel closed in.
For Sullivan, heat therapy is more than a business—it’s a way of life. Between her battle with food allergies and long hours in the highly competitive wine and spirits industry, Sullivan says the only thing that made her feel better was heat.
“I just needed anything to help me sweat it out,” Sullivan tells SLM. “Sometimes it was too late to make it to hot yoga or I was to tired, so I joined Wellbridge [Athletic Club & Spa] just for the steam room and sauna. It was just the only thing that made me feel better.”
Sullivan didn’t have to look far to find the inspiration to leave her stressful marketing job and open a studio dedicated exclusively to saunas.
“I was sitting in the sauna and I was like, Why can’t there just be an easy-access sauna?” Sullivan says. “I just had a vision—Oh my gosh, I want to open a sauna business!”
Sullivan left her job in June and opened Sol Sweat in November. She uses the saunas as often as she can and credits them for helping her manage inflammation and stress relief and develop a meditative practice.
Saunas are all about sweating, but don’t worry if you don’t sweat so much after your first session. Sullivan says it takes the body three sessions to get used to the heat, which typically ranges between 130 and 150 degrees. Once the sweat starts rolling, you may notice it doesn’t stink like workout sweat does.
“It’s a clean sweat,” Sullivan says. “You don’t feel like you’re grimey or anything because it’s all antibacterial.”
New clients can buy three Sol Sweat sessions for $60 or three Sol Mate sessions, where two people share a sauna, for $90. The seven day cleanse package offers seven sessions for $70. And if you act quickly, the Groupon for Sol Sweat offers a session for just $19.
To make an appointment, log on to Sol Sweat’s website or call (314) 609-0555.
Contact Lindsay Toler by an email at LToler@stlmag.com or on Twitter @StLouisLindsay. For more from St. Louis Magazine, subscribe or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
