Social bathhouses are “picking up steam,” according to the owners of Saunaday, a modern bathhouse that opened July 21 on 315 S. Blount St.
Co-founders Roshelle and Jason Ritzenthaler don’t see communal bathing as a fleeting wellness trend — instead, they point to how 4,000-year-old sauna and bathhouse rituals are answering modern-day challenges, like loneliness, anxiety, depression, tech dependency, dementia, hypertension and other health conditions.
“We are inspired by the global resurgence of sauna and bathhouse culture, and we want to bring this energy home to Madison,” says Roshelle Ritzenthaler. She has experience in architecture and design; her husband Jason used to work in finance.
The 5,000-square-foot thermal bathhouse features a five-step bathing ritual, including high-quality saunas, a cold plunge pool, cedar salt scrub showers, a Moroccan hammam-inspired steam sauna and a lounge space…