Normandy Park

Our introduction to heat therapy began during the pandemic. In the summer of 2021, my husband Chad and I purchased a sauna and redesigned our backyard to make space for it—adding a rock pond, hardscape, fire pit, and surrounding garden spaces.

That summer, as we assembled the sauna during a stretch of 107° heat, we questioned the timing more than once. Yet the experience quickly became an important part of daily life. Evening saunas evolved into the addition of a cold shower, and eventually we added the tradition of weekly dips in the Sound—capped off with a sauna session alongside friends.  

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Over time, these rituals began to shape the rhythm of our lives—encouraging slower evenings, time outdoors, community, and a greater sense of restoration and connection throughout the seasons.