Lake Country man builds community’s first public sauna

A Lake Country resident is opening a public sauna he built by hand out of cedar in hopes of providing a wellness hub for the community, especially during the winter months.

Jacob Jobst recently quit his job in the construction field to build personal saunas for backyards and his business is flourishing. The personal saunas are like much larger versions of wine barrels tipped on their sides, roughly six feet in diameter.

“I learned by practise and my dad helped, he’s really handy,” Jobst said. “It quickly became profitable enough to build saunas full time.”

This year, he decided to tackle a bigger, communal model complete with the sauna room, two change rooms and a reception room.

“I wanted to build a community sauna,” he said. “Other than going to ski hills, there isn’t a lot to do here in the winter.”

Jobst used a shipping container for the frame and lined the inside and outside with cedar wood. He insulated it and got the electrical hooked up by a professional. He cut holes in the sides for windows and a door, and added a heater from Finland.

The cedar was sourced from the BC coast where the trees are more rot resistant than what grows in the Okanagan.

“Cedar is one of the best options to use,” he said. “It doesn’t bleed sap like other woods and it’s really aromatic and pleasant.”

The container was dropped onto land owned by a local farmer.

Jobst said saunas are gaining in popularity in the Okanagan and beyond.

“There’s a lot of science coming out on how healthy saunas are, along with more of a focus on personal wellbeing and healthy choices,” he said. “It seems to be a growing trend.”

Saunas originated in Finland an estimated 10,000 years ago first as fire pits dug into the ground with stones at the bottom heated with a campfire. Water was thrown on top to create steam, according to the a BBC report.

Throughout the centuries, saunas have been places to wash, cook, make soup and do laundry among other uses. There was a spiritual aspect for the Finns who worshipped the four elements of air, water, fire and earth in the sauna.

They remain a well-established way of life in Nordic countries today where they’re considered essential for physical and emotional wellbeing. An important part of the sauna experience is equality where all genders, sexualities and body shapes are welcome.

In Canada, many people treat a sauna as part of self-care practises. According to Forbes, the dry heat of a sauna promotes sweating, increases circulation and enhances relaxation.

The relaxation effect reduces stress levels, while the heat triggers physiological responses that help regulate hormones associated with the body’s stress response. Spending time in a sauna can also lead to better sleep, and may provide short-term pain relief from chronic conditions by relaxing muscles and improving circulation.

Heat exposure reduces inflammation, improves cardiovascular health and improves respiratory health by humidifying the airways. The article suggests regular sauna sessions may also help strengthen the immune system.

While Jobst’s public sauna can be used for dry heat or wet, he prefers the wet sauna experience.

“Dry heat doesn’t feel the same and with the dry, I find it hard to breath,” he said. “Pouring water on the stones you get extra heat and moisture.”

He enjoys having a sauna for the wellness benefits it provides.

“The sleep after a sauna is better, you go to bed feeling nice and relaxed,” he said. “The sauna forces me to do nothing but relax, clear my mind and focus on the heat and sweating. It’s a calming part of my daily routine.”

There are saunas at numerous day spas, pools and recreation centres throughout the Okanagan and Kamloops region, but very few stand-alone public saunas for groups to enjoy.

Kelowna’s Loyly Floating Sauna is opening for the winter season on Nov. 1. This public sauna is a floating structure attached to the downtown marina in Kelowna at the foot of Bernard Avenue.

Located by the Oyama general store and OKF Grill at 16012 Oyama road, Jobst’s sauna also opens to the public on Nov. 1.

Five at a time can go in, and then there is a period for cleaning in between. Outside is a bucket of ice-cold water that is gravity fed from a tank for users to cool off at.

“After you come out of the sauna for ten or fifteen minutes your whole body is warm, you go outside you can cool off outside in an outdoor gazebo or grab the rope on the bucket so water splashes over your head,” he said.

The price is $35 for 75 minutes. There will be seasons passes and discount punch cards for people who want to come regularly.

“Part of this is for me to get my investment back and run a business, but the biggest incentive is to give the community something cool to do in the winter time together. I’m most excited there will be this wellness spot in Lake Country.”

You can make bookings now at oyamapublicsauna.ca.