Sad Sauna Ritual – Five Birches x Glasgow Community Sauna

20:10, Friday 11th September, New Moon (75 minute session)

Guided session to connect to grief, loss or sadness and allow heat, steam, scent and sound to soften it. Four rounds with light guidance, aromatic steam and gentle leaf-whisking. Invitations for visualisation, movement and Gaelic song to ground, open and settle your heart.

Each sauna ritual I’ve done someone has told me it made them cry. It doesn’t surprise me. Coming back into your body stirs up emotions. Often it is only when there is room and time that feels safe enough to let things land.

So many of us are doing life carrying grief, loss or sadness. Being in the sauna is a great time to reconnect to your body but a regular social session might not leave space for what that can bring up. The sensations of heat, steam, cold and the awakening touch of birch leaves on the skin help us associate – be in ourselves more fully.

Sad Sauna is an offering of space to rest with grief, loss and sadness in your body. It’s a sauna it is alright to cry in.

What’s the same as a regular Glasgow Community Sauna session? Bring swimwear, two towels, water and move through hot sauna, cold plunge, cold shower and spaces to relax.

What’s the same as a Five Birches Sauna Ritual? There will be four rounds in the heat some of which will include bundles of soft birch branches used to create aromatic steam, waves of heat and cleanse the skin.

Who’s the guide? I’m Phyllis, professional massage therapist and sauna guide, student of Irish and Scots keening practices and Threshold Choir close harmony song work for the dying. I trained with Welfare State International in hosting ritual and have created, facilitated and participated in joyful, sad and reflective ceremonies to mark and honour the things life throws at us.

What will be different? Lights off, no need to talk, instrumental soundscapes playing. No need to track time as you’ll be lightly guided through four rounds lasting 10-12 minutes each. There will be Irish and Scots Gaelic chants from the keening tradition – simple short songs sung for the dying, the dead and the grieving. There will be invitations to scan your body, to sit with sensations with compassion and curiosity – all optional. There’ll be quiet breaks to cool down and a bell to return for the next round.

This is an informal container to engage in as much as you feel comfortable . If you are experiencing traumatic grief, severe depression, or struggling to manage, please seek professional support.