Saunas for Women: Are They Healthy, How Are They Used in Ritual & More

Written By Mimi Young

At Mist Thermal on Bowen Island, our private forested saunas and reviving hot-cold waters hold space for your renewal with the elements. Located next to Nectar Yoga Retreat in the temperate rainforest just steps from the Salish Sea, our thermal circuit honours global lineages of sauna traditions while offering a contemporary take on relaxation and restoration.

Since opening our doors in December 2024, we’ve welcomed Bowen locals as well as travellers from Vancouver, Victoria, and beyond (many are looking for things to do on Bowen Island).  We’ve noticed a distinct rhythm among our women guests. Many arrive seeking not just a physical release, but also for emotional restoration. Whether moving through burn out, breakups, hormonal changes, postnatal depletion, or simply a desire to reconnect with their own bodies (sometimes with a friend or two), our saunas and cold plunges offer something that feels both primal and relevant.

Whether you’re visiting for the day or extending your stay at Nectar, we’ve gathered some of the most common questions we receive from women about saunas.

Are saunas actually healthy?

Yes, for many (including women), regular sauna use can improve cardiovascular function, reduce stress, and support musculoskeletal recovery. In one Finnish study, consistent sauna bathing was linked to reduced risk of heart disease and dementia source. The benefits extend beyond physical health: the act of slowing down, being quiet, and simply sitting with yourself is a valuable kind of emotional and spiritual wellness, too.

Do saunas burn fat?

An article put out by the Mayo Clinic shares that while a sauna isn’t a fat-loss tool, it can support weight management indirectly. By increasing circulation, reducing cortisol, and improving sleep through relaxation, sauna use can help regulate the metabolic patterns that affect body composition, especially as women age. In this way, time spent in a sauna, especially regular exposure (such as through Mist’s Membership), helps rebalance one’s system.

What toxins are released after a sauna?

While some claims around “detoxing” can be exaggerated, there is science to support that sweating helps release trace amounts of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury source. More significantly, sauna bathing activates the lymphatic system and improves circulation, supporting the body’s natural detoxification organs, including the liver, kidneys, and skin.

sauna cold plunge

Sauna Usage as Rituals For Women

Across cultures and centuries, women have long turned to heat as a form of care: ritual steam huts in Mesoamerica, jjimjilbangs in Korea, saunas in Finland and other Nordic countries, and Indian and Malay postpartum traditions. These were not luxuries but essential rituals: spaces and practices to restore blood vitality, calm the nervous system, and return to oneself after labour, grief, initiation, or transition. Heat softens the body and makes space again.

In today’s landscape, the sauna continues to offer this refuge. We see it in popular culture with celebrities who have incorporated heat therapy as part of their self care routine. But beyond trend or image, saunas tap into something elemental. They give women a place to sweat without apology, to sit still without the push towards productivity, to peel off expectation and experience the body not as something to fix, but something to feel.

Coming to Mist Thermal on Bowen Island is more than just a spa day just 20 minutes from Vancouver, our saunas become liminal spaces, so you can pause between demands. For many women, it’s the closest thing to ceremony available in a world that rarely allows stillness and silence. Many enter tense, fragmented, buzzing, and then leave warm, fluid, and intact. The body remembers itself. In other words, Mist is not so much an escape but a return.

Who shouldn’t use a sauna?

Women who are pregnant, especially in the first trimester, should prevent overheating and be cleared to use saunas (or any form of high heat) by a health care provider. If you have low blood pressure, have an autoimmune disorder, or are recovering from illness, take caution. Individuals undergoing health treatments may also want to limit exposure, as some medications or other health protocols may affect one’s threshold for heat. Always check with your doctor when navigating complex conditions.

Ready to experience saunas and cold plunges with intention?

If you’ve been searching “spa places near me”, “nordic spas near me”, or “day trips from Vancouver,” Mist Thermal on Bowen Island offers a thoughtfully designed sauna and cold plunge experience immersed in the heart of a forest at the base of Mount Gardner. We provide an elevated experience with a private tea bar in your change suite, the option to add essential oils to your sauna water bucket, and botanical body care that delights the skin. Our guests regularly share that they feel “rebalanced,” “lighter,” and “in tune” after a session with us. To elevate your visit, pair your thermal experience with a 2-night stay at Nectar Yoga, just steps away. We look forward to welcoming you soon!

Mimi Young
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Sauna to Cold Plunge: Is It Healthy, and What Should You Avoid After?