STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — New York’s first floating sauna is now open to the public, bringing a taste of Norwegian life to America.
Saratoga Springs welcomed KOS Sauna into its midst this winter as the facility floats on the waters of Saratoga Lake.
KOS, which is “pronounced like ‘cozy’ without the ‘y,’” according to Advance/SILive.com sister site NYup.com, aims to integrate Norway’s sauna culture into the hustle and bustle of New York life.
Crafted by Kate Butchart, Tom Varghese, and architect Bjørnar Skaar Haveland, Butchart explained that the sauna provides health benefits to the human body.
“Sauna is best in the winter when you can get that really extreme contrast between the hot of the sauna and the cold of the water or the snow or however you’re cooling off,” Butchart told NYup.com. “Having that big temperature difference really gets the endorphin flowing and also maximizes the physical health benefits.”
According to NPR, “using a sauna four to seven times per week was associated with a 40% to 60% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and death, compared to those who only went once a week.”
Saratoga Springs is aptly known for its mineral springs, giving that taste of Norway without having to leave New York.
Presently, KOS can handle 15 guests in one sitting, which typically lasts 90 minutes. In those 90 minutes, you can relax in the sauna, dive into the lake, enjoy the sauna’s roof terrace, indulge in mineral water straight from the local springs, and, of course, take advantage of the changing rooms.
It is required for guests to bring two towels, a reusable water bottle, and footwear adequate for wetness, be it flip-flops or water shoes.
To find out more about KOS, you can check out their website here: https://www.kossauna.com/