Altaer Sauna

Overview

ALTÆR is a mobile wood-fired sauna business based in Rhode Island, designed as “an altar to alter your perceptions and biochemistry with the Natural Arts.” It offers immersive sauna experiences that blend ancient thermic bathing traditions with modern wellness practices, emphasizing purification, detoxification, and communal healing. The sauna is a custom-built, high-quality structure using red cedar wood and a Kuuma stove (4th-generation Finnish design), accommodating up to 6 people comfortably.

The overall atmosphere is sacred and alchemical, fostering unity across social divides in a neutral, nature-immersed space. Experiences promote sauna diplomacy (inspired by Finnish traditions), heart coherence, and reconnection with body, earth, and mind through heat, sound, cold plunges, and touch. It’s not a standard spa but a transformative ritual in natural landscapes like beaches, with elements like essential oils, löyly (steam), and outdoor showers.

Features & Amenities

• Wood-fired sauna with Kuuma stove, reaching 170-190°F in 45 minutes; uses red oak for long-burning heat.
• Two-tier benches with gaps for easy cleaning; wheelchair-accessible lower bench option in designs.
• Cold plunge and outdoor rinse/shower.
• Essential oils, eucalyptus whisks (vihta), and löyly water bucket for enhanced steam.
• Altar, crystal grids, mantras embedded in walls for spiritual infusion.
• Outdoor setup: Changing room, mats, lights, Ganesh statue, shells, fire extinguisher.
• Insulation: Rockwool; vents for airflow; no plywood floor.
• Cleaning supplies: Sauna-specific soap, vacuum, brushes; stewardship protocols for maintenance.
• Additional: Music speaker, hourglass timer, first aid, burn ointment.

Services

• SaunaSocial: Public group sessions ($40/person) for bonding and sweating with neighbors.
• Private Sauna: Exclusive bookings ($180/session) at locations like South Shore Beach, Little Compton.
• Corporate Events: 5-hour rentals ($2,100) for team building and recovery.
• Mobile Delivery: Free to South Coast MA, Providence RI, Upper Cape Cod; +$100 for >35 miles.
• Special Experiences:
  • Homecoming: Body-Earth-Mind ($80/person, 2 hours): Sound journeys, craniosacral touch, fire, cold plunge (7 max).
  • HeartMath Building Personal Resilience: Coherence techniques, meditation with gongs/bowls.
  • Rest in Sound: Immersive sound baths for groups/companies.
  • Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST): Gentle bodywork for trauma, recovery, anxiety.
  • Race/ Athlete Recovery: Post-event sauna for muscle relief, endurance.
• Rentals & Consulting: Sauna rentals, open-water sauna startup advice ($350).
• Products: Gift cards ($40+), 10-pass cards ($310), ALTÆR socks ($26).

All require a sauna waiver; bookings via site or Calendly.

Pricing

• SaunaSocial: $40/person.
• Private Sauna: $180/session.
• Corporate (5 hours): $2,100.
• Homecoming Class: $80/person (2 hours).
• Gift Cards: From $40; 10-pass: $310 (1-year expiry).
• Delivery: Free in select areas; +$100 beyond 35 miles.
• Consulting: $350.
• Non-refundable gift cards; prices exclude taxes/fees.

Location & Hours

• Primary Areas: Mobile service from Providence, RI to Provincetown, MA, including South Coast MA, Upper Cape Cod, Fairhaven, New Bedford, Little Compton, Westport, Tiverton.
• Pop-up Spots: South Shore Beach (Little Compton), events via calendar (altaer.space/events).
• No fixed hours; session-based (e.g., 2-hour classes, 5-hour events). Book via website; locations emailed 24 hours prior. Check calendar for schedules; stewardship ensures daily readiness.

Notes

What makes ALTÆR special:

• Holistic Integration: Combines sauna science (longevity, reduced inflammation, cognitive boosts via heat shock proteins, norepinephrine/prolactin) with HeartMath, BCST, sound (gongs, bowls), and nature immersion (Shinrin-Yoku influences).
• Mobile & Communal: Brings sauna to beaches/races/events, promoting equity and “sauna diplomacy.”
• Sustainability: Wood-fired, natural materials, Leave No Trace trained; stewardship rituals with gratitude.
• Artist-Built: Crafted by 6 RI artists/welders; embodies playfulness (“Silky Sifaka” angels of forest).
• Evidence-Based: Cites studies on cardiovascular health, athletic performance, mental clarity; client testimonials praise grounding effects.
• Inclusivity: Wheelchair-friendly designs, trauma-informed (racial/ emotional), no drugs across borders for retreats.