The sauna and plunge pool ritual is an age-old practice that has been universally enjoyed throughout history. In an increasingly stressful world, the sauna is being used more than ever to relax and recharge. Hiding at Kip & Nook, Yorkshire’s most luxurious hideaway retreat, is the Kirami Wellness Experience, a beautifully designed outdoor spa, where you can immerse yourself in this ancient bathing tradition. Listen to the sizzle of water poured over the hot stones, as you sweat it out in the sauna before you plunge yourself into the ice bath or cold drench shower for an invigorating awakening of the senses. Afterwards, relax in your private seating area with your own fire pit as you take in the views of the surrounding countryside. We found the experience to be wildly recharging and such a wonderful add-on to our stay at Kip and Nook this spring.
Disclosure- This post is sponsored as part of a collaboration with Kip & Nook, whereby The Curiosity Collection was invited to experience a stay at The Den. All opinions expressed are our own.
SAUNA AND ICE-POOL EXPERIENCE AT KIP & NOOK
A short walk from The Workshop at Kip and Nook, we find a winding path that leads to an oasis of rejuvenation. We’ve come to check out Kip & Nook’s latest wellness retreat, in an attempt to learn about the benefits associated with contrast bathing. The idea is simple - heat up, then cool down and hope that along the way you’ll find that the stresses of daily life have faded away. The outdoor spa is absolute heaven, surrounded by views of the Yorkshire countryside. First we enter the living room area, perfectly warmed by the sauna at the end of the container. Waiting for us inside we find fluffy towels, robes, health shots and a cosy sofa to relax on in-between sweating sessions. We finally pluck up the courage to strip off to our bathers and head into the sauna to sweat it out. We open the door to a wall of intense heat but we push through to take our seats. We pour water over the hot stones to release more steam as the press of heat on our skin more persistent with each passing minute. We breathe through the heat and sit back to appreciate the dreamy views through the floor-to-ceiling window. When the heat gets too much, we step out to take on the next step of the experience - the cold therapy. We tip-toe out onto the decking towards the ice-pool, where a quick back and forth reveals i’ll be the first to take an icy dip. At the edge of the steps there’s a slight hesitation, a moment of doubt, before the promised benefits of doing this takes over and keeps me going. One leg, then two and before I know it I’ve plunged myself into the freezing water. A moment of sweet relief from the heat of the sauna comes before something else, a slight tingling panic that this is cold. Really cold. I remember our advised instructions. Focus. Breathe. Emerging from the water a few minutes later is an exhilarating feeling of newness, of being transformed somehow. And then, we excitedly repeat the ritual over again. Contrast bathing, although perhaps sounds uncomfortable, has a myriad of health benefits. Our 90 minute experience alone was enough to feel the jolt of awakening that comes from partaking in the practice. We end the session with a walk down to a private seating area, nestled within the flowering fields, where we sit and soak up the new sense of calm that’s washed over us. We feel different when we leave, renewed, with a better understanding of why this ancient practice is so sacred.
BOOK YOUR WELLNESS RETREAT AT KIP & NOOK
Book your own wellness experience at Kip & Nook here.
Read more about our stay at Kip & Nook here.
