A mobile sauna business run by a Dungarvan husband and wife team is proving particularity popular this festive season, as more and more people embrace the great outdoors and the phenomenon of year round sea swimming.
Demand has sizzled this year for slots in The Hot Pod, run by Ed and Deirdre Flavin who set up the business three years ago in a bid to promote the physical and mental health benefits a visit to the sauna offers.
The Hot Pod appears at various locations along Waterford's coast and, on St. Stephen's Day, two saunas were in situ at Clonea Strand with all slots booked. Meanwhile, The Hot Pod could also be enjoyed by visitors to Kilmurrin and Dunmore East on the same day.
Ed Flavin at The Hot Pod on Clonea Strand
Ed says more and more people are realising its many holistic benefits.
"It gets people outdoors to do something," he says.
"There's healing in the sea, walking the beach, feeling the rush of blood around your body and then the heat of the sauna warming you up."
He says the camaraderie of sea swimming and a trip to the sauna is similar to visiting a pub - but adds "there's no hangover".
"It's like a community, a gathering bringing people together," he says.
"We see all age groups from sixteen up to people in their nineties. The mixing of different groups and the different conversations - it's going back to the old Irish way of slowing down a bit, being grounded and present in the moment."
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