Finding this place has been a life-saver. Or maybe just a sanity saver, but either way, I am SO happy I found out about Lumos in the Culver Road Armory. Pre-pandemic my routine consistently involved spending a significant amount of time at the gym primarily for the sauna. It was my treat for some hard work. And of course it's good for you too.
So when the pandemic hit, and even after gyms could reopen, it seemed like I would never get to go back to the sauna. I'd even returned to the idea of having a custom built sauna in my house.
Anyways, fast forward to two months ago, and a friend showed up on my instagram feed in a sauna. I immediately inquired, and immediately signed up.
Ok, so I'm getting to the actual review now...
I tried them out with a 30 minute session and used the mindbody app to schedule it. It was totally easy. I use this app for my training sessions, so it's nice to have these in one place. The first session was magical. I sweat SO much. And while I typically prefer a traditional dry sauna, these infrared ones are comparable. A nice feature is their new customer offer. A buy one get one free deal, so my second session was free and just as nice. Just be aware that you need to use the second session within two weeks. (not hard for me because I could be here twice a week).
Since then, I've been coming to this location regularly. I bought a pack of 10 45-minute sessions and use them after intense workouts. I'm thankful they are in a centrally located spot easy to get to after HIIT at the big-box down the road, or the private gym I go to for training.
I think that 30 minute sessions are good for most people. I personally like the 45 minute option because 30 minutes passes in no time, and I felt like I didn't get to full appreciate the experience. 45 minutes is maybe more than necessary, but it gives me the option of spending 40 minutes in and enjoying that lavender infused washcloth a few minutes longer after a sweat.
Even if the saunas at the gym reopen soon, I'm considering continuing at lumos, perhaps with a membership. The fact is, this place is super chill and relaxing. The decor is beautiful, and you have a couple of options for sauna suites. #4 & #5 are probably my favorites. 5 seems to be a little darker because of the drop ceiling in that area. #6 is much brighter because of the windows. The others are just as nice, but I find them a little less relaxing because of the open ceiling and proximity to the entrance.
Bring your water bottle to stay hydrated. You can fill up at the fountain that has a bottle filler. You can also purchase from them if you forget. Bring your phone and stash it in the heat-proof box and plug it in to have your music piped into your sauna. I personally love my spanish guitar music play list for my sessions.
Other things to note - you will be asked to take off your street shoes at the front. This (in my humble opinion) is one of the best ideas you could have. It actually common practice at pools, spas, and studios like this in Europe. No dirty street shoes tracking junk into your sauna oasis.
All of the employees working here have been really friendly. If I didn't already have a full time job and a side hustle, I'd seriously apply here for what seems a great environment to work in.
Alright - bottom line. You need to check this place out! Sauna therapy is so good for you, and your probably don't even know what you've been missing out on! read more