Naked in the North
Beads of sweat are better than no jewelry at all! This mission takes me to the far north to experience the Scandinavian sauna culture in an authentic way. The passion for saunas has always been deeply rooted in the Arctic Circle, is cultivated all year round and is part of everyday life. It is said to be beneficial for the immune system, respiratory system, circulation and tired muscles after a workout. Even in the Finnish parliament, politicians like to meet up for a joint infusion. A lot of hot air for nothing?
The ultimate XXL sweat & relax experience is offered by the brand new The Well - Scandinavia's largest spa on 10,500 square meters. Idyllically situated in the pine forest on the Oslofjord, it is absolutely state of the art in terms of wellness and interior design, inspired by Norway's nature. The dome above the 30-metre indoor pool is modeled on an ice crystal and creates a spherical play of light on the water. No fewer than 11 indoor and outdoor pools, 15 saunas and steam baths and a number of treatment rooms really do fulfill the most unusual wellness wishes!
After an infusion in the "Badstue", an outdoor sauna hut with a view of the treetops and stars, I feel just how freezing cold a Nordic winter night can be. Afterwards, a 100 degree heat challenge awaits me on two floors in the indoor log cabin sauna! In my favorite steam bath, I am very close to the dancing northern lights. After a short excursion into a dark ice cave with pleasantly warm waterfalls, I experience a melodious tea ceremony in the Japanese bathhouse with onsen. I feel like I'm in a 1001 Nights fairytale in the beautifully designed oriental hammam, which is available for exclusive hire. Afterwards, a feeling of weightlessness and deep relaxation fills me in the hands of the Watsu therapist as she slowly moves me through the water in a one-hour treatment. For any post-wellness hunger pangs, THE WELL restaurant serves delicious Norwegian dishes in a beautiful Nordic design. I relax and enjoy my moose steak in a cozy bathrobe by the fire.
But the spa at my hotel is also a real design gem. If you've always wanted to spend a night with art by Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons, check into Oslo's most spectacular hotel, THE THIEF. Built on stilts, it is located on Tjuvholmen, the island of thieves. With its canals, ambitious architectural projects, such as Renzo Piano's iconic Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, and hip restaurants, Tjuvholmen is one of Oslo's most sought-after locations. The hotel's restaurants and bars have also become real hot spots on the Oslo scene thanks to their exquisite contemporary art collection, harmonious interior design and innovative cuisine.
Winter days in Norway can be tough, so after a day of sightseeing in the icy cold, I steal away to the atmospheric THE THIEF SPA. Here, natural materials such as slate and wood create a luxurious atmosphere and a thieving sense of relaxation across 800 square meters. If you want to work up a sweat with an intensive workout, you can do so day and night in THE THIEF GYM! For once, I prefer to treat myself to a Moroccan rhassoul treatment in the steam bath and the THIEF GUSS in the sauna to slowly thaw out, and then watch the ships pass by on the glittering waters of the Oslo Fjord from the panoramic window of the pool. To pamper my skin again after the Fire&Ice challenge of the last few days, the treatments in the hotel's spa and make-up lounge with fine products from Babor, Carita and Voya are the ideal beauty finale to my hot and cold expedition!
Last but not least, the crucial question remains: "To be or not to be naked" when taking a sauna in the north? First things first - nudity in the (public) sauna is not a Scandinavian thing! Although THE WELL's house rules stipulate that saunas and steam baths may only be entered stark naked or with a sauna towel, this rule is only followed hesitantly or not at all. And so you're bound to get some furtive glances in your Adam or Eve costume and feel pretty NAKED in the North!
www.thethief.com www.thewell.no
