The Easiest Way to Sauna in NYC

You've heard about the sauna. You probably know someone who swears by it. You may have looked it up and then closed the tab because it seemed like a thing with rules you don't know yet.

It is not as complicated as that. Here is what you actually need to know.

What to Bring

Nothing special. A towel if you have one, but most places provide them. A swimsuit or just a towel -- at Lore, either works. Water to drink. Yourself.

Leave your phone in the locker. This is not a rule. It is advice. The hour you spend without your phone is part of why it works.

What to Expect at Lore

You arrive. The staff will welcome you, give you a robe and sandals, and explain the protocol if it's your first time. No pressure. No performance.

You go into the sauna. The heat is real -- this is not a tepid 150 degree spa sauna. Start with a shorter round if you are new -- five to ten minutes is fine. Listen to your body. When you feel like you've had enough, leave. That is the right length.

You go into the cold plunge. This is where people often have the most resistance. The water is cold. This is intentional. Take a breath. Get in. Stay as long as feels possible -- six seconds, sixty seconds, whatever you can. Cold doesn't negotiate. But it does reward.

You rest. This is the part most people underestimate. The rest between rounds is when your nervous system integrates what just happened. Stay in the rest area. Have some water. Don't check your phone. Wait until your body wants more heat.

Repeat two or three times.

The Etiquette

Low conversation in the sauna. Not silence, necessarily -- just quiet. No phones in the heat. Sit tidily. Be open to stillness. That's it.

What You Will Notice

You will emerge from a first session feeling like you have just woken up from the best nap of your life. Alert, open, not reactive. You will notice your skin feeling alive. You may notice your mood has shifted.

Lore is at 676 Broadway. Come with no expectations, an hour of time, and an open mind. The rest takes care of itself.