The sauna is having a moment. From backyard cabins in Hackney to new bathing clubs in New York, the ancient ritual of sweat bathing is being rediscovered as a modern necessity (The New York Times, Aug 2025). Post-pandemic, in a world that feels permanently “on,” people are craving what Emma O’Kelly, author of Wild Sauna, calls “analog living” - an antidote to the endless scroll.

And it’s easy to see why. Step into the heat and something happens. The body softens, the breath slows, the chatter of the mind eases. Neuroscience tells us it’s a cocktail of euphoria, calm and reset. But beyond the science, there’s the simple magic of gathering - of sitting side by side, of silence that doesn’t need filling, of laughter that comes easier when you’re wrapped in heat.

Here in Scotland, it feels even more powerful. Wild Scottish Sauna cabins perch on loch edges and rugged coastlines, where heat meets cold plunge and the landscape does half the work. The ritual is elemental: fire, water, air, earth. A reminder that restoration isn’t something you buy in a bottle, but something you step into, again and again.

And maybe that’s why the sauna has become, for many, a new kind of social ritual. A “healthy date” with friends. A sisterhood circle with steam instead of cocktails. A gift you give to someone who doesn’t need more stuff, but does need space, breath and connection.

Wild Scottish Sauna vouchers are less about ticking a gift box and more about opening a door; to time, to ritual, to each other.  And when you purchase a Wild Scottish Sauna voucher through We are The Helpful, you can make the experience even more sensory: guests can choose from a range of Gentle Habits essential oils to take with them, infusing every breath with calm, focus or clarity.

As Jamie from Wild Scottish Sauna puts it: “When women like you and I make time to come together in spaces like this, where we are supported, seen, and celebrated, something magical happens. We return to our lives feeling lighter, clearer, and more grounded. Ready to take on the challenges and better able to do so.”

It’s this spirit, of showing up for ourselves and each other, that makes the ritual more than heat. It becomes connection, resilience, and the kind of strength that ripples back into everyday life.

Because sometimes the kindest way to show up for someone is not with words, but with warmth. 

Gift time & space -discover Wild Scottish Sauna vouchers