

Sauna timeĪ sauna provides a dry heat experience, which is a nice juxtaposition to the moisture from the steam room-and comes with its own perks.

You can take another cool shower if you'd like afterwards, too, but it's not necessary. She recommends getting in the water up to your neck (no need to submerge) for roughly 10 minutes-a hot tub is ideal, but any warm bath will do. It's an amazing feeling to allow your body to be weightless, which we aren't very often." "It also helps with inflammation and any nerve issues. "Relaxing in warm water is particularly great for releasing muscle tension," says Tortolani. Though it can be difficult taking a shower that's lower than your body temperature, she promises it'll be worth it±and your endorphins will definitely be on high alert (yes, that's a good thing). "Try to make it cooler or cold, and really massage the big lymph node areas to help speed up the process." That includes your neck, armpits, and groin areas. "This rinse is cooler than your first because you want to start flushing the system out," says Tortolani. Next it's back to the shower-but it won't be as easy as the first. Photo: Stocksy/Nabi Tang 3. Hit the shower again Tortolani advises staying in the steam room for 5-7 minutes. (Ever notice how everyone leaving a bathhouse always looks totally Zen?)Īnother bonus? Your pores will open up, so acne-causing bacteria and buildup will be released into thin (steamy) air. "It's really good for relaxing the muscles, lowering your heart rate, helping with circulation and digestion, promoting better sleep-the list goes on," the Brooklynite says. Follow a specific structure-which she's fine-tuned after years of practice-and you'll reap major benefits. "The order of the elements matters, since you're slowly preparing your body for the more intense hot and cold," Tortolani adds. "Your body will feel as if it just did a big workout, because in essence it did." Inside, there are modern-chic showers, a steam room, and a lounge filled with raw nuts, fresh-brewed teas, coloring books, and all-natural beauty products, while outside is a backyard oasis with a jumbo-size hot tub, a rain-style shower, and a just-installed retro-style sauna (insert heart-eye emoji here). "Hydrotherapy helps with releasing endorphins and increased levels of melatonin," says Liz Tortolani, founder of CityWell, a (super Instagram-friendly) boutique bathhouse in what is basically my dream version of a Brooklyn apartment. What's the secret to making your DIY spa day work for you?Įnter hydrotherapy, or hot-cold rituals. The fact is that there's so much more to sweating it out than just wrapping a towel around your chest and hanging out on a wooden bench. But arguably the easiest way to give your body a refresh-especially in the dead of winter-is by hanging out in a sauna or steam room.Įasy, that is, if you know what you're doing. You can detox with juices, supplements, or even by working out.
