Why I'm Giving Sauna Gifts This Christmas

Two winters ago, my German friend gave me a sauna gift card for my birthday, which falls at the end of November, right in the middle of my annual sickness season.

She’d spent years watching me try to survive winter on coffee, energy drinks, and every supplement imaginable, shaking her head in disapproval. It was a simple gift (and a bit of an intervention), but that one voucher changed my life, and turned me into a serial sauna gift-giver.

How a Sauna Voucher Changed My Winter

Winter used to mean months of feeling half-alive. My health would crash somewhere around late September and refuse to recover until the first sign of spring. I'd spend the season tired, sniffling, with a permanent chill in my bones and a foggy brain.

Michaela had seen me suffer every winter and finally decided to sneak in some of her folk wisdom in the form of a 5-session sauna voucher. In her culture, sauna is an essential part of a health routine, not a luxury. I laughed at the idea. 

Sitting in a wooden box, sweating with strangers, then plunging into cold water? No, thank you. My couch and blanket were my wellness routine. But her insistence that she'd join me convinced me to try.

It was a grey November day when we first went to the sauna. I remember the fog over the lake and the steam rising in the cold air. The idea of taking my clothes off in that weather felt ridiculous, but Michaela’s no-nonsense manner left me with no choice but to follow.

Getting into the sauna was the easy part. The heat inside was nice and comforting. Getting out of it was much less so. The cold plunge felt like being stabbed by a thousand tiny needles. I lasted maybe two seconds, and was convinced I’d wake up with a sore throat or worse. 

But no such thing happened. In fact, the opposite. My muscles felt loose, like after an hour-long relaxing massage, and when I got home, I felt light and calm. That night, I slept like a baby.

After a few sessions, I started to notice small changes. I wasn’t freezing all the time anymore, and my energy levels went up (probably thanks to finally getting proper sleep). Even my skin looked better. That was enough to convince me to sign up for a monthly membership.

After about a month of regular sauna sessions, I started to feel the real benefits of contrast therapy in my body and mind. I felt stronger and healthier than I had in years. I didn’t take a single sick day that December, and for once, I actually had the energy to handle all the Christmas shopping and prep. But it was clear to me that the best gift I’d be giving that year wasn’t something I’d find in a shopping mall.

Why I Started Gifting Sauna Experiences

My story is in no way original or unusual. I'm sharing it because it's so common. Right now, as you read this, you can probably think of a family member or friend who could really benefit from a bit of heat and cold exposure therapy.

The same year Michaela introduced me to the sauna, I gave vouchers to whoever I saw fit for Christmas instead of the usual latest bestselling book. My best friend got one, my sister got one, even my dad got one (and yes, it may have had a little to do with me wanting a few sauna buddies).

At first, it felt a bit odd handing over a gift that wasn’t a tangible “thing.” Some were genuinely excited and thanked me for the original gift. Some smiled politely, unsure what to make of it. After decades of exchanging books and chocolates, gifting a sauna experience felt like starting a minor revolution.

But one by one, they tried it — and slowly, they got what I was on about. My sister went through a winter without her usual seasonal slump, and my dad even noticed his back felt better.

To me, a sauna voucher is a low-effort (after all, you just get the gift card, et voilà) but truly thoughtful gift. It’s an experience that helps the people you care about feel better. You’re essentially giving them better health, and isn’t that what we all want for our loved ones? For them to be happy and healthy?

Why We Need Sauna Gifts

We don't need more things. We always stress about finding the perfect gift, but most of us already have enough jumpers, candles, and novelty mugs. A sauna gift card is a much more sustainable option than another material item that might sit in a drawer.

We need more opportunities to slow down. More experiences that make us relax and remember what being in the moment feels like. Especially when the sauna is set in a beautiful, natural environment, a Wednesday evening in a sauna can feel like a mini-holiday.

We need more moments of connection. Away from all the screens, you can sit in silence or chat quietly, and it feels easier to really listen, to be present. It’s just a simple way to spend time together without distractions.

We need more well-being. After a session, I feel lighter, calmer, and simply healthier, both mentally and physically. I love to think that offering a sauna session might help a friend going through a difficult time, or my mom when her headaches flare up.

We can’t wrap love in colorful paper, but we can show we care with a meaningful experience that actually lasts.

The Gift That Keeps Giving

This season, I’ll be handing out sauna gift cards again. It’s a present I loved receiving (even though I was initially skeptical), and now it feels natural to share the benefits of sauna with others. I like to think I’m giving more than a voucher; I’m offering a little pause in the middle of busy lives, a chance for people to take care of themselves.