Urban Sweat Lodge Trend Spreads in Seattle
The latest path to Zen works up a sweat.
By Nia Martin May 10, 2017
This article originally appeared in the May 2017 issue of Seattle magazine.
Dee Alams’ business is the Seattle outpost of a trend: urban sweat lodges, where one perspires to boost the body’s detoxification, and maybe shed some water weight to boot. Her original City Sweats (Madison Park, 1928 43rd Ave. E; 206.402.5417; citysweatsseattle.com), opened in 2014, recently expanded with a 1,600-square-foot Wallingford location (4222 Stone Way N; 206.402.5417). Start your session with a facial, massage or lymphatic drainage (imagine a spacesuit-like contraption that squeezes the body, pushing out toxins). Then it’s on to the spa’s signature infrared sauna cabin. Unlike a communal outdoor sweat lodge, the cabin is indoors and can hold you and as many as two invited friends.
A curtained-off changing area provides total privacy, so you can pop in and out of the cabin (where it can reach 140 degrees) for hydration breaks throughout the session ($1 per minute for 45 minutes). Afterward, jump into an alkaline shower, wrap up in a soft robe and unwind in the sand-floored relaxation room with a plate of oranges and a glass of cool “72 Trace Mineral” tonic to replenish the minerals lost during your sweat. You’ll emerge feeling shiny and new.
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