Welcome to Element Outdoor Sauna
A private, outdoor sauna + cold plunge experience located in the east end of Toronto.
Guided contrast therapy sessions with a Certified Thermalist ®
Explore Our Offerings
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1 : 1 Coaching
Learn the correct way to use sauna and cold plunge to optimize your unique health goals.
Discover the exciting science behind contrast therapy and how it can supercharge your health.
These info-packed sessions take you on a deep dive into your body, while you put your knowledge into practice in real time.
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Memberships
Ready to commit to contrast therapy as a regular part of your health routine?
Explore our unlimited memberships so you can get the most out of your sauna + cold plunge practice.
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Pay As You Go
Maybe you’re new to contrast therapy and just want to give it a try. Or maybe you’re travelling through the city and not staying long.
Book an individual session to reset your nervous system, and feel the benefits take hold.
The Un-Spa Philosophy
Element Outdoor Sauna is all about embracing challenge, building resilience, and reconnecting with yourself through simplicity.
We are open year round, rain or shine, and yes, even during winter. There’s no music, books or distractions. It’s just you and the elements.
Your session is a time for you to be still, reflect, breathe, and sharpen your mindset. In our modern world filled with conveniences and crutches, you get to rediscover your body’s wild wisdom.
Your mind knows how to be still. Your body knows how to regulate itself. All you need to do is come back to nature.
What Makes Element Outdoor Sauna Different?
Conventional Spas
Most spas offer little to no guidance in terms of how to use the heat and cold correctly.
People are left to their own devices, and often overdo the heat (which can damage the mitochondria), and underutilize the cold.
Most cold tubs are not cold enough to trigger some of the greatest benefits that cold exposure can offer.
Element Outdoor Sauna
At Element Outdoor Sauna, we believe in science, education and empowerment.
This is Toronto’s only facility owned and operated by a Certified Thermalist— meaning you’ll have an expert guiding you through your visit and making sure you’re maximizing your benefits and not putting your body through any unnecessary stress.
“Best sauna experience I’ve had so far. The sauna was at 105 Celsius and the water in the cold plunge was cold enough to make ice (there were literal ice blocks). Denise was great and shared a lot of knowledge on sauna protocols and even game me some recommendations for further reading. Would recommend and would go again next time I’m in the area.”
— Mike McGhie
What is Contrast Therapy?
Contrast Therapy is the science of using alternating hot and cold exposure to optimize health.
Through the processes of vasodilation and vasoconstriction, you encourage your circulatory system and lymphatic system to flow as they should, delivering nutrients and clearing wastes from the body.
Furthermore, the extreme temperatures activate an array of proteins in the body that improve immunity, hormone balance and stress response.
What does contrast therapy do for nervous system health?
Where can you find the right place to practice contrast therapy in Toronto, guided, by a Certified Thermalist ®
Some awesome benefits of contrast therapy include:
reduced inflammation
faster recovery
improved vagal tone
improved circulation
Better sleep
lower anxiety
better coherence between body/ mind
improved metabolic health
improved mood
Thermogenesis *** crucial***
Thermoregulatory system health
The Key Elements:
Do you hate the crowds? Me too.
Private Rooftop with open sky:
Located in the east end of Toronto. Danforth neighbourhood, small business district in Greek town. Element offers you a private rooftop, wear your swimsuit, or wear nothing at all. Feel the sun, the rain, the wind, and the glorious feeling of being alive.
Finnish Barrel Sauna:
This hand-crafted, Scandinavian sauna offers dry heat, while its circular shape ensures optimal air flow.
Dry heat is the safest because it allows the skin to properly register the temperature and respond with sweating, without overheating and risking heat exhaustion. 100C temperature.
Two levels of seating allows for a slight temperature difference, so you can choose how much you want to challenge yourself.
The clear glass front means you can enjoy looking out at the weather through all seasons.
Morozko Forge Prism Ice Bath:
This state of the art ice bath offers you the world’s coldest cold plunge. Using micro-filtration and ozonation to ward off pathogens, this tub is one hundred percent chemical-free.
The addition of epsom salts means the water can sit at 0 degrees celsius without freezing. This tub will challenge you, and offer you benefits you can’t get anywhere else.
Morozko manufactures their tubs with specialized steel that mimics the earth’s grounding effects. It promotes activation of the parasympathetic nervous system and leaves you feeling calmer and more resilient.
Private Change Room and Shower
That’s right, you don’t have to share. Guests of Element Outdoor Sauna have their own private bathroom, complete with lockers, shower and towels.
Meet Denise
Certified ThermalistⓇ
Owner of Element Outdoor Sauna
Denise is certified through The Soeberg Institute, founded by world renowned contrast therapy researcher Susanna Soeberg PhD. In addition, she has also completed WIM HOF basic and advanced level online trainings.
Denise’s passion for health and wellness began in 2015 when she became nearly paralyzed with a back injury related to steadily declining lifestyle habits. It was at this critical moment she decided to change everything by losing 130lbs, by prioritizing proper nutrition, and exercise.
But, this was just the start of her journey. In 2021 she was faced with the sudden death of her wife and with that their shared business. During this process she turned heavily to contrast therapy to help her manage the incredible stress and grief of this life transition. By bringing her full self to this process, she realized the immense benefits of this practice for body, mind and spirit.
It was through her emergence from this dark period that Element Outdoor Sauna was born.
Denise’s passion is palpable and contagious as she guides her clients through her space.
It is her mission to challenge peoples limiting beliefs of what they can do, and show them that optimum health can be attainable for all.
What people have to say
