Sauna Room Drama and Why Hospitality Pros Need to Prioritize Recovery

By Microgen

I snapped at someone in the sauna about a month ago. It wasn’t my finest moment, but it wasn’t my worst.

A gentleman was bothering everyone around him and wouldn’t be quiet. The atmosphere in the room was tense and uncomfortable as he loudly kept rolling one sentence into the next.

One of the main practices in saunas is to induce a relaxed, meditative state, which is why some facilities have signs asking people to be quiet.

However, this was at my local gym, and although people do chit-chat, most are respectful and have self-awareness.

Finally, the man left the room, bringing his intense vibe with him. All of us seemed to exhale upon his exit, after feeling a bit embarrassed for speaking up, the individuals in the room were grateful I had enough sense to challenge him.

It got me thinking, though, about how unregulated our nervous systems in the hospitality industry can be, and that in the one place where I want to unwind and stay silent, I still come across challenges.

In our line of work, we constantly have to please people, no matter our mood or personal struggles; we have to show up for our guests because that is our job.

But sometimes outside of work, it can feel like our job never stops; perhaps that’s why I felt a little uneasy scolding the man in the sauna room as my words lashed out at him in a direct manner.

The pressure to always keep my cool, no matter the situation.

Still, as I closed my eyes and began to calm my nervous system, I was reminded of why I make it a point to use the sauna a few times a week.

Benefits of regular sauna bathing

A sauna works through thermotherapy, using dry heat typically reaching up to 185°F, generated by hot rocks or stoves.

At high temperatures, the dry heat of a sauna enhances circulation, relaxes muscles, alleviates joint pain, and encourages sweating to eliminate toxins.

Additionally, saunas are believed to have positive effects on cardiovascular health, with frequent use up to 4 times a week associated with up to 50% lower death rates from cardiovascular disease and stroke alone.

Even a single weekly session shows measurable improvements in blood pressure and arterial flexibility.

However, regular sauna bathing activates the parasympathetic state known as the body’s "rest and digest." This is the direct biological opposite of the chronic fight-or-flight mode that hospitality work keeps you locked in.

Which is why prioritizing recovery is essential in this industry.

When the PNS is activated, it helps the body reduce cortisol (a stress hormone) and adrenaline, allowing it to recover from chronic fight-or-flight responses, which is imperative when working in a high-stress environment.

For that reason alone, sauna bathing might be something to add to your weekly routine, especially if you work in hospitality.

And if someone disrupts the silence, perhaps speaking up is the most relaxed thing you can do!