Traditional Sauna, the Way It Was Meant to Be
At Ceremony, we’ve chosen traditional Finnish-style dry saunas because we’re committed to creating an experience you can truly feel. While many modern wellness spaces have embraced infrared saunas, we aren’t interested in chasing trends. We’re interested in creating an unforgettable experience rooted in centuries of bathing tradition.
Traditional saunas invite your body into the process. You feel the heat. You sweat. You slow down. The intense warmth creates the perfect contrast with a cold plunge, making each round feel invigorating and restorative. It’s one of the reasons traditional saunas have remained at the heart of bathhouse culture for generations, from Finnish saunas to Russian banyas and beyond.
Some people compare the difference between infrared and traditional sauna to the difference between cooking in a microwave versus an oven. Both create heat, but the experience is entirely different. We built Ceremony around the sauna experience that people remember.
Austin’s Best Saunas
Bring a swimsuit and spend a couple of hours hanging out in our sauna, cold plunge and relaxation space. Outdoors includes an 8-person sauna, outdoor shower and cold plunge. Inside you’ll find a 16-person sauna, a second cold plunge, spacious showers, yoga mats, meditation cushions and a kitchen.
Two Beautiful Saunas, Two Different Experiences
Ceremony offers two spacious traditional dry saunas.
Our outdoor barrel sauna seats up to eight people and features oversized glass doors and windows so you can enjoy views of the gardens, the birds, and the life of the courtyard while you sweat. It feels connected to nature rather than closed off from it.
Our indoor sauna seats up to sixteen people and offers plenty of room to spread out or gather with friends.
Both saunas typically operate around 180°F and can reach temperatures of nearly 195°F. Both feature hot sauna stones that guests can ladle with water to create bursts of steam and an even more immersive heat experience. Throughout the day, we lightly refresh the wood with eucalyptus essential oil, creating a clean, calming aroma many guests have come to associate with Ceremony.
People often tell us we have some of the hottest, cleanest saunas in Austin, and we work hard every day to keep them that way.
How to Enjoy the Sauna
There’s no single right way to sauna.
Some guests sink into meditation or breathwork. Others stretch gently as the heat softens tight muscles. Some read. Some simply close their eyes and rest. Many of our guests enjoy conversation with friends or even make new ones. Over the years we’ve watched countless friendships begin in our saunas, business ideas take shape, and meaningful conversations unfold.
Our recommendation is to spend about 5–15 minutes in the sauna before cooling off in one of our cold plunges or relaxing in one of our indoor or outdoor lounge spaces. Many guests repeat this cycle several times during a visit.
If you’re looking for our favorite routine, try 10–15 minutes in the sauna followed by 1–3 minutes in the cold plunge. Repeat at least three rounds. The combination of heat and cold creates an experience that’s greater than the sum of its parts, leaving many guests feeling energized, grounded, and refreshed for the rest of the day.
Sauna Etiquette
One of the things that makes Ceremony special is the people you’ll meet here. Our saunas are intentionally welcoming spaces where you’ll find artists, entrepreneurs, therapists, students, creatives, families, and people from every walk of life sharing the same space.
Sometimes the sauna is lively with conversation. Other times it’s quiet and reflective. We simply ask that you read the room. If people seem eager to chat, wonderful. If they’re enjoying silence, please respect that.
To help everyone enjoy the experience:
♦ Please wear the sandals we provide.
♦ Always sit on a towel.
♦ Rinse off sweat before entering a cold plunge or returning to shared lounge spaces.
♦ Keep entrances and exits quick so the sauna stays hot.
♦ If you would like to add water to the sauna stones, please do so respectfully.
♦ Please don’t add essential oils to the stones without checking with others first, as some guests are highly sensitive to fragrances.
♦ If you’re feeling sick or have recently been sick, please wait until you’re fully recovered before visiting.
♦ Most importantly, be kind and respectful. Ceremony is an inclusive environment where everyone deserves to feel comfortable, safe, and welcome. While genuine conversation is encouraged, this isn’t the place to hit on people. Most guests are here to relax, regulate their nervous systems, and enjoy a few peaceful hours away from the demands of everyday life.
The Best Way to Experience Ceremony
While the sauna is wonderful on its own, it’s only one part of the larger Ceremony experience.
Alternating between the sauna and cold plunge is one of our favorite rituals, creating a powerful contrast that many guests describe as both exhilarating and deeply calming.
For the ultimate visit, pair your bathhouse session with a massage or one of our signature Korean-inspired body scrubs, or both. Our Ceremony Experience combines the bathhouse, massage, and body scrub into one unforgettable experience, allowing each element to build upon the others.
It’s our favorite way to experience everything Ceremony has to offer.
Ways to Save at the Bathhouse
Whether you’re an occasional visitor or planning to make the bathhouse part of your weekly routine, we have several ways to save:
♦ Shareable 10-Packs – Perfect for friends, couples, and families. Visits never expire, and anyone you share your pass with can use them.
♦ Unlimited Bathhouse Membership – Our best value if you visit three or more times per week. Enjoy unlimited bathhouse access plus discounted guest passes so you can bring friends along. You’ll also receive discounted member pricing on treatments.
♦ Massage Membership – Receive one discounted massage each month, approximately 15% off additional treatments, and member-rate bathhouse visits for just $25. It’s the perfect option if you enjoy both massage and the bathhouse.
Not sure which option is right for you? We’d be happy to help you find the best fit based on how often you plan to visit.