Who We Are
Radical Love and Collective Effervescence*
Our Mission
Selkie Sauna, LLC aims to provide a welcoming, inclusive, and rejuvenating space where individuals can relax, unwind, and connect with others. We believe in the power of sauna to promote physical and mental well-being and strive to create an environment that supports and nurtures this. Our mission is to foster a sense of community through shared experiences, and to promote a healthy lifestyle by encouraging regular sauna use. We are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and mindful space for all individuals, regardless of background. We strive to make this ancient practice accessible and enjoyable for all community members.
*Collective effervescence is the feeling of energy and harmony when people are engaged in a shared purpose. The phenomenon combines a “connection to others and a sensation of sacredness.” Collective effervescence is related to positive outcomes such as life satisfaction, feelings of awe, social connection, and perceived meaning in life.
Photo Credit: Ginny Majka
Selkie Sauna LLC was formed by a group of women from Mount Desert Island, Maine called “Cold Tits, Warm Hearts.” This is the playful and lighthearted term used to describe our regular winter swims in the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Despite the cold, we gather together to enjoy the invigorating and energizing benefits of the cold water plunge. The phrase has since become a symbol of the camaraderie and resilience that can be found when people come together to challenge themselves and support one another. Despite the name, our group is not limited to those who identify as women and is open to all who are interested in the practice.
Mount Desert Island, Maine is home to some of the most creative, inspirational, and hardworking people. Check out some of the the other island businesses and organizations that we love!
Other Islanders We Love
Selkie Sauna is based on Mount Desert Island, Maine – Unceded Territory of the Wabanaki Confederacy
Honoring the Land We Live, Work, and Play On
Photo Credit: Ginny Majka
Selkie Sauna recognizes that Mount Desert Island, Maine is situated on the traditional lands of the Wabanaki people, including the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, Micmac, and Abenaki nations. For thousands of years, these Indigenous communities have lived, hunted, fished, and gathered on this land, developing rich and diverse cultures, languages, and traditions.
Despite the forced removal, displacement, and oppression that these communities have endured throughout history, they continue to maintain strong connections to their ancestral lands and contribute to the social, cultural, and environmental well-being of the region.
As we acknowledge the history and ongoing presence of the Wabanaki people on Mount Desert Island and beyond, we also recognize the ongoing work of reconciliation, cultural healing, and recovery that is necessary to address the harms of colonization and to build more respectful and equitable relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. We offer our respect, gratitude, and solidarity to the Wabanaki people and their ancestral territories. This land acknowledgment is just the beginning of the conversation. Selkie Sauna is dedicated to educating ourselves and supporting Indigenous movements for decolonization.