Come Get Hot In This Sauna on Wheels
Founders Jackie & Paula are bringing HotBox to your neighborhood
We recently took a field trip to somewhere a bit unconventional, especially for the summer. HotBox Mobile Sauna, currently located in Red Hook, is a pop-up sauna that has been traveling around New York City over the last few months.
The sauna, fashioned out of what is essentially a chic caravan, is run by two super awesome (and purposely anonymous) women, Jackie and Paula.
At the rear of the caravan is the sauna itself. It’s kept at 170–180 degrees Fahrenheit and roomy enough to accommodate about ten people at a time. In the front is the cool off room, supplied with plenty of towels, because trust me, you will sweat.
They recommend you stay in the sauna for 5–10 minute intervals, with many breaks and cups of water in between. Inside the sauna was brutal, and we cannot stress the importance of remaining hydrated throughout the experience. However, the brutality was refreshing. You can truly feel the toxins of last Friday’s night out being banished from your body.
The most rewarding feeling, however, is that of stepping outside into the world again. A world that formerly felt like it was in the throes of summer, will now feel like a cool fall day. The makeshift ice shower set up outside of the sauna is unlike anything you have felt before.
Check out our interview with Jackie and Paula below!
How did you two meet?
Paula: I’ve known Jackie for about five years now, and we met through a mutual friend/roommate that Jackie went to college with.
Jackie: And we’re partners, we’re engaged.
What sparked the idea for a traveling sauna?
Jackie: A lot of different things. I think we’ve just been really fascinated and interested in bath culture for a while. Neither of us really grew up with going to spas and saunas, or anything like that. It wasn’t really until I moved to the city about 10 years ago when I got introduced to the Russian Turkish Baths.
When Paula and I met, we started to frequent those establishment a little bit more, and really started learning more about bath culture, the history and ceremonial aspects, and the fact that it exists in so many different places around the world. So I think that’s what sort of sparked the interest. Then we got introduced to a mobile sauna community out in Minnesota. So we had this idea before we realized that was even a thing.
Paula: We were in the process of building our own design. We did a bunch of research and connected with people that were doing this and learned how they built their community.
What has been the most challenging part of running HotBox? The most rewarding?
Jackie: Well, we’re still babies in this so far. We officially launched in March, so while we’ve been researching and thinking of ways to do this for a little bit, we really just started this only a few months ago.
The challenge is similar to that of any new entrepreneur and business owner, especially ones who are working their nine to five during the week as well. But the reward obviously outweighs that; just seeing people go in here and really enjoy themselves. I’m seeing how people gravitate to it and enjoy it, and I think it’s just a really great community we’ve built together.
Paula: When you have someone that’s never been inside the sauna before, they’re a little skeptical but they’re usually the people that stay in the longest. And when they come out, they’re like a different person. That’s so cool to see. You know they had a different experience.
Why should people be hyped about getting into a sauna during the summer?
Jackie: During the summer, I realize, especially for folks that aren’t too familiar with it, it’s a tough sell. But the truth is getting into a sauna any day of the year is beneficial. It’s good for your mental and physical health. It’s a really different and interesting kind of social activity as well. Maybe you choose not to go out and party one night, and just want to take a break from that lifestyle because you’re looking for a way to detox and meditate.
Paula: And the great thing is, no matter how hot it is, it’s always hotter in there.
Why a pop-up and not a permanent location?
Jackie: The fact that we’re on wheels makes it just a little bit easier to move around and hit more residence areas. So I guess the idea behind this is a semi-permanent residency. We’ve been here for a few months and we were in Ridgewood for about two months.
And also the accessibility of it. I think the the goal and the mission of this project is really bring it to as many neighborhoods as possible. Doing that by organically having conversations with people, whether they’re in the sauna or not, they’re just kind of curious people that walk by and kind of figuring out where to bring this next, that’s been the fun of it.
Paula: Yeah, setting up in different spaces has been really fun, to cater a different experience based on the surrounding community. We can even play off the Statue of Liberty and those great views.
Do you have any health-related lifestyle advice?
Jackie: I think we do know a bit about the overall benefits of incorporating this into your lifestyle.
Dr. Rhonda Patrick, I don’t know if you’re familiar with her, she runs a podcast and blog; she’s done a bunch of studies. I think the mental health benefits really are evident. I know it’s helped me personally and there’s also the social benefits as well, whether that’s meeting a complete stranger and hitting it off in a kind of a small room. It’s an odd experience, but it’s definitely a cool and human one, so I think it’s very honest.
Any upcoming projects you’re looking forward to?
Paula: So many. We‘re trying to do a lot of events.
Jackie: We’re working with more art-based events as well. We were chatting with some multimedia designers and thinking of some cool ways to make that happen — probably not until winter when it gets a little colder and more people will want that. We’re so open to people hitting us up with an idea to collaborate on. I think that’s really the reason why we started this. It’s a business but also an art and community project.
We’ve also been working with PortSide NewYork trying to organize Sandy relief benefits, since a lot of the Red Hook community is still trying to rebuild their lives after that storm.
So really anything and everything. We’re just so stoked to be doing this and have people be interested in it.
Click here to book an appointment with HotBox!
