Say Hello To St Andrews Seaside Sauna

This is a sponsored article for the St Andrews Seaside Sauna, including an interview with owner Judith Dunlop.

In a town where academic pressure abounds and social commitments are never-ending, relaxation can be difficult to find. Luckily, local creative and health-lover Judith Dunlop has the solution. Last February, the town opened its doors to a brand-new, beachside retreat: St Andrews Seaside Sauna. Nestled on the shores of East Sands, the Seaside Sauna offers not only a reprieve from lectures and deadlines but also transformative health benefits.

Dunlop is on a mission to reframe the mindset that saunas are a luxury or a wellness trend. She believes that a sauna is a place of function and community, and is an essential part of a healthy routine, as normal and vital as brushing your teeth. 

The St Andrews Seaside Sauna is a space designed to combat stress, boost immunity, and forge connections. It seeks to bridge the gap between luxury wellness and the everyday regimen, making regular sauna use accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.

For those unfamiliar with the experience, it can be easy to dismiss a sauna session as a simple indulgence. However, Dunlop made it clear that they should be viewed as anything but: “A sauna session is not only self-care, it is disease prevention."

Beyond simply increasing blood flow, saunas provide a comprehensive range of health benefits, from cardiovascular fitness to circulation and organ health. In fact, a long-term study by Finnish cardiologist Jari Laukkanen found a strong correlation: participants who used the sauna four to seven times a week were 50% less likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, the study found that incidence of stroke, pneumonia, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia halved in those regular sauna users.

In addition to general health benefits, saunas are a great tool for sports recovery. Dunlop happily works with multiple sports teams at the University, encouraging them to make use of the facility. The sauna seats up to eighteen people, giving teams the unique opportunity to physically recover from practices or games, while also enjoying invaluable bonding time.

However, the benefits of the sauna are not limited to physical health or sports rehabilitation. Dunlop believes that saunas promote community and mental well-being as much as physical wellbeing. “Saunas are social places. They boost acceptance: self-acceptance and acceptance of [oneself,] and of others. It is hard to be stuck up and self-aggrandising in a sauna, just as it is hard to be unhappy and feel socially isolated,” said the owner.

Postgraduate student Rashad Serhan is in the process of establishing the "Sweaty Saints Seaside Sauna Society," a student-run group that aims to share the benefits of regular sauna use with the wider St Andrews student community. “I hope the society becomes a place where people can come together and find time to relax, connect, and have conversations in a beautiful space by the sea,” said Serhan, suggesting that the sauna could serve as an alternative space to connect with other students, instead of pubs, clubs, and bars.

In addition to the community aspect of the sauna, Serhan also credits the facility for doing “wonders” for his mental health, saying that regular sauna use is a “no brainer.” Any students interested in joining the Sweaty Saints Seaside Sauna Society can reach out to rashadserhan@hotmail.com for more information. 

Serhan is not the only one making use of East Sand’s newest retreat. Hansine Marshall, member of the GB Rowing Team, and Henley Regatta Gold Medal winner, said of her experience with the sauna: “Thanks to Judith’s warm and knowledgeable hospitality, I’ve been a regular visitor to St Andrews Seaside Sauna since it opened — around the same time I began rowing at the University.” She went on to credit the sauna as a “crucial part” of her experience on the rowing team, saying that it supported her recovery through better sleep, eased muscle soreness, and gave her a vital mental reset.

Alongside its health and well-being benefits, the sauna also acts as a creative hub for the student community. St Andrews Seaside Sauna has a packed events calendar and is always eager for new ideas. Dunlop emphasised that, “It's your space, you can use it, you can be creative.” She explained that the sauna is open to any ideas or collaborations, whether the Taylor Swift Society wants to listen to music or a group of students wants to host a book club. However, St Andrews Seaside Sauna’s student collaborations are not limited to creative endeavours. Dunlop also welcomes academics and research students interested in partnering with the sauna to conduct formal studies, saying that, “We in the sauna world are desperate for data.”

St Andrews Seaside Sauna also has plenty of its own events to offer. From Sauna Yoga, to Aufguss, and even Sauna Astrology, the sauna provides a plethora of unique experiences designed to help students de-stress and prioritise their wellbeing.

Whether you are a seasoned sauna user or entirely unfamiliar with the experience, Dunlop believes that saunas should be available to everyone. For this reason, she has made affordability a priority, ensuring that low prices and discounts for both students and staff at St Andrews make regular sauna use accessible to the entire community. The discount code USTA-451B gives students 50 per cent off for an hour-long session in the sauna, while staff members can receive 20 per cent off using the code USTA-357A.

Physical accessibility and convenience are also at the top of Dunlop's priority list. “We are a short, flat walk from disabled parking and very close to the ground, so anyone with mobility issues has an easier time getting to the sauna,” she said. The sauna is also surrounded by local establishments, offering students plenty of options to cool off after they finish warming up. Speaking about these local spots, Dunlop said, “We find East Sands a really friendly community, with The Cheesy Toastie Shack, Caffe Bombo, and lots of student accommodation. With the Surf Club, Rowing, and Triathlon Club, there is a lot going on down here.”  

Dunlop is a Fife local who grew up swimming at St Andrews. Thanks to her familiarity with the area, she managed to find a spot on East Sands with easy access to the water, but away from any potential dangers. “We are at the south end of the beach, away from the tidal rip that makes it more dangerous to swim at the north end,” said Dunlop. This allows sauna users to take advantage of the North Sea and engage in contrast therapy, a popular wellness technique that involves alternating exposure to hot and cold temperatures.

Dunlop with the McLean brothers, who built the sauna.

The St Andrews Seaside Sauna is more than a coastal retreat — it is an innovative approach to health and wellbeing. Dunlop’s ethos is built on the belief that regular sauna use should become an essential component of a healthy lifestyle, available to all who are interested. “It's a safe space, you don't have to worry about how you look or your background — everyone is welcome,” said Dunlop. 

No matter your familiarity with saunas, one thing is clear: St Andrews Seaside Sauna is open to all, eager to reshape the way that the St Andrews community approaches health and wellbeing.

Photos by Suzanne Black