FAQ

We hope the following will answer your questions,but if not please get in touch

What should I wear?

We recommend swimwear without metal fastenings. Please remove any metal jewellery before attending that could warm up and cause injuries. Please bring a pair of flip flops or sliders for use in between sauna and cooling off sessions. You may want to buy a sauna hat to wear in the sauna or you can borrow one of ours which get washed regularly.

Why do people wear these funny hats in the sauna? And do I have to wear one?

A sauna hat's primary purpose is to protect your head and brain from excessive heat and promote a more comfortable and enjoyable sauna experience. Wearing a wool hat insulates your head and helps to prevent overheating. It also allows for slightly longer sauna rounds, and can help keep hair from being damaged by the heat.

The sauna hats are optional but advised.

What do I need to bring?

Essentials:

• 2 x Towels: A larger towel to sit on and a smaller one for drying after the sauna.
• Swimming togs-: to make sure everyone feels welcome to try this experience out and feel comfortable, we are a no nudity sauna.
• Flip-flops/crocs: Essential for walking between the sauna and plunge
• Refillable Water Bottle: Staying hydrated is crucial throughout and after a sauna session , so bring a water bottle. We provide drinks, but please arrive well hydrated and continue to hydrate well after the session to ensure the experience is a healthy one.

Optional but recommended if you have one:

• Robe/Wrap/kimono: A robe or towel poncho can be helpful for getting changed before and after the sauna, changing areas are often outdoors and mixed. This can help also help you keep warm during rest periods on colder days. You may want to arrive with your swimwear under your clothes to speed things up and get the most time out of your session.
• Your own sauna hat if you come regulaly and want to invest in one.

Where is the sauna located?

The sauna is mobile so we use various locations in and around Wirksworth, Matlock and the Peak District. Please see our booking link for specific sessions for further details

Do I stay in the sauna the whole time?

No! Please don’t. We advise in our Saunafolk customer briefing to keep the sauna sessions below 15- 20min and include periods of cooling down, rest and rehydration outside. If you’re not used to saunas, take it easy and go for a shorter session of 3-5min, this is a great start. Take a break and then head back in for more and perhaps longer if it feels right. Always listen to your body. Sauna should be relaxing, it’s not a competition. If you overdo it you are much less likely to experience the health and wellbeing benefits and may even cause yourself more harm than good. It’s very important to rehydrate between sessions and arrive well hydrated.

How can I make the most of my session? The following are example schedules that you can use for inspiration.

60min sauna session:

• 5min changing
• 7-10min sauna bathing (round one)
• 5min cooling down/rehydrating
• 7-10min sauna bathing (round 2)
• 5min cooling down/rehydrating
• 7-10min sauna bathing (round 3)
• 5min-10min cooling down 5 min changing

90min sauna sessions

• 5min changing
• 10 minutes sauna bathing (round 1)
• 10min cooling down/rehydrating
• 10-15min sauna bathing (round 2)
• 10min cooling down/rehydrating
• 10 -15 minutes sauna bathing (round 3)
• 10 minutes cooling down/rehydrating
• 5-10 min changing

Some Saunafolk choose to arrive with their swimwear on under their clothes or robe before they arrive so they can start their session efficiently.

Is there a changing room?

Sometimes but where this isn’t available, we can provide a changing robe to those who want one, but most people arrive with their swimwear under their clothes to speed up their changing on arrival. Poncho towels can be helpful if you have one.

Are there showers?

Yes , we have a mobile outdoor cold water shower that will be available at most sessions. Sometimes the site or weather might restrict us being able to offer it but we will always offer it where we can. There will always be watering cans and usually a cold plunge available for you to use to cool down between sauna rounds.

Do I need to do anything to prepare before the session?

Yes, please

1. Please make sure that you have recently showered before attending the sauna for the comfort of you and your fellow sauna guests. You should rinse off using the watering can or shower if available before getting into the cold plunge and after each sauna round. This helps keep the water as clean and hygeinic as possible.
2. It’s really important that you arrive for your session well hydrated. Drink plenty in the hours before.
3. Please don’t attend a session if you are ill or not feeling quite right on the day, or have sun burn, heat stroke, sunburn or any kind of infection. We would much rather you cancel and re book so you can get the most out of your session and for customer safety.
4. Please remove all watches, glasses, contact lenses and jewellery before entering the sauna, as high temperatures can damage coatings and frames. Mobile phones are not permitted in the sauna. Please not that Saunafolk Limited accepts no liability for loss or damage to personal items brought into the sauna. 

What temperature does the sauna run at?

The sauna operates at high temperatures of 60-100°C, this depends on the external temperature on the day, and the amount of times the door is opened in each round as well as the volume of water added to the stove and the type of fuel.

Is it clean?

We have a strict cleaning protocol in place to ensure that the sauna is clean for all Saunafolk customers. We kindly ask that everyone brings their own small separate clean towel to sit on during the session. It will get damp, so bring a large towel for the end of the session.

Do you do collaborations?

Yes! At Saunafolk we are keen to collaborate with other Wellness offerings. We’d love to hear from you if you would like to discuss a collaboration of some kind. We are already exploring joint offerings of yoga, tea ceremonies, breath work, sound baths, art and crafts, and music. If you have an idea of something that might work please get in touch: [email protected]

I’m a landowner in or around Wirksworth, would you be interested in coming here?

If you own land in and around Wirksworth that may be a suitable location for the mobile sauna and cold plunge sessions, and you’d like to offer us a one off or regular location please get in touch. We are also actively seeking suitable land to rent or purchase to site a permanent wooden sauna so please get in touch if you know or own something suitable.

Can I buy a gift card?

Yes, we firmly believe there is no better gift than the gift of warmth! We have a variety of options and can buy multiple gift cards for the same person. Buy a gift card

Who can use the sauna?

Anyone over the age of 18 can join any of our sessions if they are medically suitable and don’t have any medical conditions which mean that sauna or cold plunge is contraindicated. Currently under 18’s can’t use the sauna or cold plunge.

You’ll be asked when booking to read and sign a health waiver to check you are medically suitable.

If you have a disability or specific needs or an allergy or similar please contact us so we can have a chat beforehand.

If you have any underlying health conditions, are pregnant, or are taking any medication always check with your doctor before booking your sauna session.

If you start to feel nauseous, dizzy or have a headache during your session please leave the sauna immediately and let us know.

Please do not attend the sauna session if you feel unwell in any way on the day. If you have symptoms of Covid or flu or any kind of virus please don’t attend. Contact us and we will try and accommodate you on a future date though this can’t be guaranteed. 

Concessions & Accessible Pricing

At Saunafolk, we passionately believe that everyone should have access to warmth, rest and connection — no matter what their circumstances.

That’s why we offer concessional rates from £8 for 60 minutes. This includes:

• Those in receipt of benefits
• Students
• Those on maternity leave who are on a low income

Please contact us for more info on concessions and how to apply.

Can I help fund sauna sessions for those who can’t afford sauna sessions?

Yes! We offer a pay it forward service where you can pay £5 or any amount into the pay it forward fund which enables us to provide the concessionary rate to those who would struggle to pay the full price. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Do you have a charity that you are affiliated to?

Yes! We are proud to be supporters of Medicines San Frontier (Doctors Without Borders) and are passionate about the work they do and what they stand for. We will be running fundraising events for Medicine San Frontier where all profits will go to them.

We are proud to have supported Young Minds and the Derbyshire Eco centre CIC in 2025.

Can I bring kids?

Currently we are operating with over 18’s only as we get ourselves established. We may expand to offer sessions that accept under 18’s in the future. These would be specific family sessions where ratios of adults to children would be carefully managed. 

Can I use the Sauna if pregnant?