Plenty of the activities I have undertaken for HTSI’s Longevity series have been prefaced with the assurance that, no matter how gruelling the experience in the moment, afterwards I will surely feel amazing. This hasn’t always been the case; cryotherapy is well-named, given it brought me close to tears. But after 30 minutes in a SweatLounge pod I felt excellent – relaxed, refreshed, a little moist.
When a serious newspaper sends its Longevity columnist to climb into one of your infrared pods, it feels like a moment. The Financial Times recently asked a simple question – “Is a sauna worth the sweat?” – and came to SweatLounge in Chiswick to help answer it.
Infrared saunas have become a quiet contender in the longevity conversation, offering a way to support cardiovascular health, reduce inflammation and improve recovery without adding another punishing workout to an already packed week. For many people, the idea of lying in gentle heat for 30 minutes is far more realistic than enduring icy plunges or extreme regimes.
From Chronic Pain to Infrared Pods
SweatLounge did not start as a trend play. It began with years of back pain, inflammation and a search for something that would actually fit into a real life, not an idealised wellness schedule. Infrared therapy made a meaningful difference to my pain, sleep and ability to function – but there was nowhere in London offering a calm, accessible, studio-style experience dedicated to this technology.
In 2024, SweatLounge opened in Chiswick as the UK’s first infrared light studio built around private pods rather than communal heat. As a former tech executive, the goal was to combine evidence-informed benefits with a frictionless, high-street experience: bookable sessions, no performance pressure, and a space designed for people who want results without the “biohacker” theatre.
What the FT Found in Our Pods
Traditional saunas heat the air around you, often up to 90–95°C, which can feel intense, especially in a crowded, shared cabin. At SweatLounge, our infrared pods work differently: they warm the body directly at around 50°C, with your head and shoulders outside the pod so you can breathe comfortably and stay in longer.
During the FT visit, the columnist spent 30 minutes in one of our pods and stepped out describing feeling relaxed, refreshed and genuinely rejuvenated, rather than drained or overwhelmed. That contrast mattered: in the same feature, she recalls other “longevity experiences” – such as cryotherapy and intense contrast therapy – that left her close to tears instead of feeling well.
Heat Without the Suffering
There is growing scientific interest in what regular heat exposure can do for long-term healthspan. Large observational data from Finland suggest frequent sauna use is associated with reduced risk of sudden cardiac death and lower all-cause mortality, likely linked to effects on blood vessels, inflammation and cardiovascular conditioning. Clinicians like Dr Ash Kapoor, medical director at The Levitas Group, also point to heat’s impact on mitochondrial function, nitric oxide production, circulation and neuroplasticity – all fundamental levers for how the body repairs and adapts.
But the most important thing is consistency. A protocol that requires you to endure severe cold or extreme discomfort several times a week is unlikely to be sustainable for most people. At SweatLounge, the philosophy is simple: make it comfortable enough that you actually want to come back, while being honest that heat therapy does not replace movement, nutrition or sleep – it complements them.
What This Recognition Means for SweatLounge
For our members, this Financial Times feature is a validation of what they have already felt in their own bodies: less pain, better sleep, calmer nervous systems and a sense of having done something meaningful for their future selves by simply showing up to lie down and sweat. For SweatLounge as a business, it is a signal that the conversation around longevity is shifting – away from extremes and towards accessible, evidence-informed tools that fit into everyday life.
We are proud to be building this from West London outward: a woman-founded, self-funded studio concept that treats warmth, rest and nervous system regulation as serious health interventions, not indulgences. If you are curious whether a sauna is “worth the sweat”, you can read the full FT piece and then come decide for yourself, pod-side, at our Chiswick studio where heat is the frontier, and suffering is not required.
https://www.ft.com/content/eb54469f-56bc-47d5-bd59-1d05c7de1090
