Sauna Babes is for QTBIPOC folks who want to sauna around other Queer and Trans Global Majority folks.
Come through all ye QTBIPOC of London for an evening at Community Sauna Baths just for us
This is a free event for Queer and Trans Global Majority
We will have access to CSB's Ruskin Park site from 5:30pm until 7:30pm and each ticket will grant you access to the full 2 hours
This is a closed space, just for our community, just for Queer and Trans BIPOC
We've shared some information from Community Sauna Bath's website below about what to expect at their saunas:
First Time going to a Sauna?
What to Bring
- Swimwear (or even better, come in your swimwear!)
- Two towels (or you can rent on site - £2 for a small or £3 for a large)
- One to sit on and one to dry off with
- Flip-flops/sliders
- Water bottle
- Padlock (or you can rent one on site for £2)
- A bag for wet clothes
- Warm clothes for afterwards
Flow of a Session
You'll move between hot sauna sessions and cold plunges - as many rounds as you like. Most people do 2-3 cycles. Some stay quiet, some chat. You can sit in silence or join the buzz - up to you. Rest between rounds, hydrate, and take it at your own pace.
- Do I have to plunge? (Nope.)
- Can I leave and re-enter? (Usually, yes.)
- Do I have to talk to people? (Only if you want to.)
What It Feels Like
The heat might feel intense at first, that’s normal. Stay for a few minutes, breathe deeply, and step out whenever you need. The cold plunge is shocking but invigorating. You might feel amazing. You might feel weird. Either way, you did it.
Arrival & Check-In
Arrive 10-15 minutes early so you can check in, get changed, and settle in without stress. Staff will greet you and help you get oriented. You don’t need to do anything special - just be respectful and you’ll have a great time.
Health & Safety
If you’re pregnant, have a heart condition, or a medical concern, check with your GP before using the sauna or plunge.
Facilities FAQs
- Are there lockers? (Yes, but bring your own lock.)
- Are showers hot? Hot showers are available by the changing rooms but only cold ones by the saunas
- Are changing rooms gendered or shared? (Some private, some shared and some gendered depending on the location.)
- Is there drinking water available? (Yes, but feel free to bring your bottle.)
- Can I bring my own essential oils? (No, sorry!)
Sauna Etiquette
To keep the space calm and respectful for everyone:
- Sit on a towel inside the sauna
Please bring two towels with you. One to sit on and one to dry yourself with.
Ask others before adding water to the stones & pause between ladles. It takes time for the heat to have an effect & too much water kills the fire.
- Be mindful of others' experiences
This is a community space. Please be mindful of your noise level within the sauna.
Please rinse off your sweat! It helps keep the plunges fresh for everyone.
- Toplessness is optional for all genders
Please be covered from the waist down. Anyone, however, is welcome to be topless.
- We are a neutral body space
Please do not comment on people’s bodies or tattoos, even if your intentions are positive.
Putting the wrong essential oils can affect safety. Please don’t use your own, and ask our team for more info.
The closest we’ve got to alcohol here is the whisky barrel plunges
- This is a phone-free zone
Please do not bring your phone inside the sauna. You are welcome to take pictures outside, but please ask for consent in advance.
We define BIPOC and Global Majority as non-white folks, people who are racialised as not white. This includes Multiracial folks.
Indigenous does not include any bad faith definitions such as White English folks. We mean Indigenous Peoples ranging from First Nations peoples, Aboriginal Peoples from Australasia, Sami people in Scandanavia and so on.
We do not consider anyone whose ethnicity and identity is of a European Nation state (England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Spain etc.) or Ethnicity (i.e. Catalan, Basque) as Indigenous.