Saunas, ice baths and plunge pools: The new luxe features coveted by health-conscious home owners

Sauna devotee Kristy Patterson prefers to perspire in private. “I don’t want to drive around a car park, sit in a waiting room, then use a sauna other people have just sweated in,” the mother of five says. “I like knowing it’s just my family who use our sauna. I switch it on and, in 30 minutes, enter this beautiful private space.”

Patterson installed the three-person sauna in her Perth home two years ago and sweats it out three times a week to warm up, decompress, sleep better and ease back pain. “If I’m feeling flat, it gets my blood pumping, and I feel great,” she says. “I also use it for dewy skin if I’m going out. I barely need makeup.”

Sitting in 60-degree heat may sound excruciating to the uninitiated, yet for many wellness enthusiasts, incorporating a sauna and other spa-standard equipment, such as plunge pools and ice baths, into their households is game-changing, and on the rise.  

In recent years, the popularity of infrared saunas has surged, leading to an influx of studios and pop-up outdoor saunas to suburbs across the country.

“Infrared sauna therapy has taken off over recent years for its benefits, including improved circulation, reduced inflammation, weight loss and detoxification”, says Lalena King from Clearlight. “Most people focus on increased longevity and want to take saunas as part of their at-home wellness routine.”

Not all homes can cater for a traditional boxy cabin-style sauna, but portable versions, like the Helsi One, designed by architect Rama Tiscornia and made in Byron Bay, fit any style and size of property.

Transforming from a sleek bamboo hall strand into a horizontal dome, it immerses the body in 360-degree infrared heat and red light that boasts benefits such as cellular regeneration, detoxification, muscle recovery and improved circulation.

Priced at $6999,  it’s simple to use – lie on the infrared-enabled mat and pull the dome up over your body. King recommends 20-minute sessions for beginners and 45 to 60 minutes for more experienced users.

Infrared panels

Winter and dark environments affect people differently. For some, a lack of sunlight saps energy, and in more extreme situations, it can result in seasonal affective disorder, or SAD – a depressive condition. 

Therapy Lights Australia founder Jonathon Partridge says modern-day life is partly to blame. “Our homes are good for keeping the environment out, but light deprivation can lead to health problems,” he says. “Red infrared light therapy provides optimal light exposure through infrared LED treatments, which are surprisingly easy to do at home.” 

Patterson and her children regularly use infrared panels. “We love its healing properties, even for the kids’ cuts or wounds,” she says. 

Partridge’s products cater to every budget and space with various panel sizes and devices designed to treat the face and body – even family pets. 

“Our customers range from sportspeople to seniors with sore backs,” he says. “Not every home can fit a full-body panel, so our infrared hats, smaller panels, waistbands and full-body mats make it possible for every home to have one.”

Plunge pools

Margot McConnon installed a magnesium-rich plunge pool in the backyard of her Brisbane home and says it has improved her skin and sleep quality considerably. “The water is very soft and doesn’t dry out my skin,” she says. “I soak for 30 minutes before bed and sleep deeply.” 

There has been a significant increase in plunge-pool sales in recent years, which Kate Lainson from Cronulla Pools says reflects our changing lifestyle. “With blocks getting smaller and an increase in duplexes, more people want smaller, low-maintenance pools,” she says. “Home is our sanctuary, and families want to spend time together, so a plunge pool is convenient and luxurious.” 

Starting at around $85,000, Lainson’s pools are made from concrete, making them customisable for sites of all sizes. She fills them with magnesium-infused water, which benefits the body as an anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant, mood regulator and bone healer. “Magnesium can be taken in tablet and powder form, but bathing allows it to be absorbed transdermally – through the skin,” she says.

Ice baths

Since ancient times, people have harnessed the power of ice, and ice plunging has recently seen a resurgence, with celebrities and wellness enthusiasts on Instagram and TikTok praising its transformative health benefits.

“Many want to wake up and ice-plunge first thing,” says Proactive Recovery co-founder Matt Van Opijnen. “It puts them in a position of difficulty, and by overcoming three minutes of cold, they feel they can achieve anything for the day.” 

Regular ice plunging is said to bolster mood and mental state as it increases dopamine and serotonin levels. It also aids post-workout recovery, improves metabolism and regulates cortisol levels for better sleep. 

Entry-level inflatable ice baths, ideal for rentals, apartments and small spaces, start at $100; more permanent setups with chillers are around $5000. 

“Start your ice bath journey taking sessions between one and five minutes at 10 to 15 degrees,” Van Opijnen recommends. “The sweet spot is three to four minutes; if you are experienced, go as cold as one to two degrees. I stay in for the length of a song and meditate while focusing on my breathing. It’s all about listening to your body.”