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When Is a Sauna Not a Sauna? (Hint: If it uses infrared heat, it might not be what you think.)
The differences between true Finnish sauna "sweat bathing" and infrared heat therapy might surprise you! As one of today’s hottest...
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First-Ever Aufguss World Masters USA Event Announced for 2025
The inaugural USA national competition for sauna Aufguss masters will take place at the Bathhouse, Williamsburg, NYC, June 23-24, 2025.
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Fast Company: Picking up steam: How sweating with your friends became the hot new wellness trend
Thermal pools, hammams, banyas, onsens, shvitzes, cold plunges, steam rooms, and saunas: Hot and cold water, and the communal experience of steam and sweat, has been a pillar of social and wellness cultures across millennia.
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WellSpa360: Spa Sustainability
Sustainability is no longer just a "nice-to-have" trend; it’s a vital commitment. Spas must address not only the wellness of their patrons,
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The Globe and Mail: Developers cash in on Canada’s hydrotherapy obsession
A few months after real estate developer Sky McLean acquired an old Holiday Inn, she had an ‘aha’ moment that would transform her business..
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Spa Opportunities: Aufguss goes stateside: NYC to host first-ever national US competition in June
The ancient European sauna ritual of aufguss is continuing to make waves in the US, as the country prepares to host its first-ever national
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Spa Executive: USA & Canada to host first Sauna Aufguss WM championship events
Sauna Aufguss events in Canada and US will determine the top sauna masters who will go on to represent Team USA
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Spa Business: Kohler partners with DFL to introduce Klafs wellness products to US and Caribbean
Kohler Co. is poised to strengthen its presence in the wellness industry by introducing Klafs – a renowned German manufacturer of premium sa
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Kohler and Design for Leisure Enter Authorized Dealer Agreement for Sales of KLAFS Products in the USA and Caribbean
As Kohler Co. prepares to launch recently acquired KLAFS – a market-leading manufacturer of saunas, steam rooms, and other hydrothermal well
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Spa Business - Design for Leisure expands leadership team to accommodate surging demand for hydrothermal bathing
Hydrothermal spa and wellness specialist Design for Leisure (DFL) has announced Rony Genders' promotion to company director
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Design for Leisure (DFL) Expands to Accommodate Surging Demand for Commercial and Residential Hydrothermal Bathing
This is an exciting chapter in DFL’s 30+-year history, underscoring our unwavering commitment to the hydrothermal spa and wellness sector"


Expert Insight: Communal Bathing Design Tips
Written by Don Genders, founder & CEO of Design for Leisure . This article originally appeared in chapter four of the “Guide to...
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Tips for Planning and Developing a Thermal Spa
Are you considering remodeling or building an entirely new hydrothermal spa area? Whether you're the project owner/operator/developer or...
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Top 5 Spa & Wellness Bathing Trends in 2024
Learn about the latest spa & wellness hydrothermal trends for 2024!
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Introducing the New & Improved Guide to Hydrothermal Spa & Wellness Development Standards
Increased interest in personal and communal wellness, means that developers, architects, designers, and builders are exploring new ways...
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KOHLER Magazine, No. 7: Water Wellness
A groundswell of interest in water wellness is surging across the U.S., with everything from hydrotherapy to mineral hot springs...
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Bathhouse Basics: Sweat Bathing Practices from Around the World
Ice baths, freezing plunges, wild swimming and cryotherapy might be filling social media feeds, but let’s not forget about all the...
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DFL Marks a Milestone: 20+ Years of Creating Hydrothermal Experiences in the USA
Design for Leisure's team of hydrothermal spa specialists works in partnership with spa owners/operators and architects/designers to...
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New McKinsey Wellness Market Report Shows Why Saunas are Surging in Popularity
McKinsey's 2024 Wellness Market Report reveals a few key reasons why sauna bathing is surging in popularity.
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The Wall Street Journal - Smart Saunas Are Picking Up Steam Around the U.S.
By J.S. Marcus Excerpt: Don Genders, founder and CEO of Design for Leisure, a U.K.-based wellness company with a strong presence in the...
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WellSpa360 - Trend Watch: Touchless Technology
Design for  Leisure is the exclusive sales and installation partner for custom KLAFS saunas in the U.S.
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Trend 2: Wellness ROI Gets Real
In the pandemic’s aftermath, we’re seeing operators, notably Accor, and more recently Marriott, embrace a better understanding of...
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Trend 5: Wellness at Home Goes Pro
Not only are wellness equipment and features a big demand in new residential builds, we’re seeing more and more homeowners want to “go...
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Trend 4: Cold Therapies Continue to Fascinate
There is no better advertisement for the benefits of hot/cold contrast therapy – and by extension hydrothermal bathing – then the filling...
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