The Isle of Wight's first beach sauna has opened in Freshwater Bay, providing an opportunity to indulge in heat therapy alongside invigorating swims on one of the Island' most picturesque beaches.

Rob da Bank, a celebrated DJ, music promoter and festival mastermind, has unveiled the mobile wood-fired sauna as the latest addition to the Slow Motion wellness brand, which he runs with his wife Josie.

The wood-fired sauna, which can accommodate up to 8 people, warms bodies from the inside out. Saunas are said to promote relaxation, improve circulation, lower blood pressure, improve the immune system, reduce joint soreness and improve mood.

Sauna goers can enjoy stunning views of the sea through a panoramic mirrored window – a postcard of Freshwater bay, if you will. The beach itself is covered in a mixture of grey flint and chalk pebbles that make a unique sound as the waves rise and fall onto the shore. To enjoy the full benefits of contrast therapy, Rob suggests spending time in the sauna, before dipping in the sea and repeating.

For twelve years, Rob and Josie have lived on the Isle of Wight, immersing themselves in the island's unique charm. As enthusiastic cold-water swimmers, they, along with their four sons, cherish not only the vibrant beach culture of summer but the invigorating grey winter seas too, which provide opportunities for hibernation and introspection. Wellness is a huge part of their life; Josie is a yoga teacher and Robby teaches meditation.

Come the autumn, the Slow Motion Sauna will travel from place to place spreading its beautiful natural heat as it goes. It'll also be popping up at festivals and charity events over the year.

Rob said: “Leaving your worries (as well as your mobile phone!) at the door is a liberating and truly relaxing experience that can often result in a spiritual high and recharge of the batteries.

We've been running Wim Hof breathing workshops, meditation courses, and rejuvenating sleep retreats at our home on the Isle of Wight for several years. The mobile sauna perfectly complements our wellness offering and we're delighted to share the experience with visitors.”

The Slow Motion Sauna was brought to the Island by ferry company Wightlink and first opened at a taster day for locals last weekend, raising donations to the Isle of Wight Youth Trust.

The sauna is now open on Saturdays and Sundays between 7am and 6pm throughout July and August 2023. Prices start from £10 per person. Sessions should be booked in advance and 45-minute slots are available at slowmotionretreats.net.

How to get there

The most convenient route is via the Wightlink Lymington to Yarmouth ferry service. This scenic journey takes just 40 minutes, and once you arrive in Yarmouth, it's a quick 10-minute drive or 15-minute bus trip to reach the sauna at Freshwater Bay.

Return crossings with a vehicle and up to 7 passengers start from just £71, and the foot passenger price is from £17.80 per person: wightlink.co.uk

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Notes to editors

About Rob da Bank

From a teen behind the Technics at beach parties, graduating through clubland and the UK's most iconic radio station BBC Radio 1, to booking the likes of Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Missy Elliott and the Beastie Boys for 50,000 festivalgoers at Bestival with wife Josie, and providing music supervision for films & TV, Rob has the kind of tastemaker music knowledge that few can match.

About Wightlink

Wightlink is the leading cross-Solent ferry operator, carrying 3.8 million passengers to and from the Isle of Wight every year. Eight ferries complete over 32,000 sailings a year across our three routes.

With over 140 crossings a day, we have more ferries on more routes running more often than any other Isle of Wight service.