Svetting on the Chain

WAUPACA – A new business venture on the shore of Columbia Lake gives people the opportunity to sweat Norwegian style and take a plunge in the frigid waters of the Chain O’Lakes.
The Svett Club is an eight to ten person steam sauna that is located on the green at Indian Crossing Casino.
Erik Munck is the owner of the Svett Club and when he was looking for locations that would allow for not only a sweat but a place for a cold plunge, Indian Crossing Casino seemed to be a perfect spot to try out his new business.
“I thought this is not only a perfect community, but a perfect location on the Chain and the partnership with the ICC has been incredible,” Munck said. “I like to call it social wellness, so it’s good for you but it’s also fun.”
Munck said his father is Norwegian so he has grown up with a sauna being a normal and common throughout his life.

“As young as I can remember, I was in a sauna and its some of my best moments: connecting with my family, friends and nature—has been in a sauna,” Munck said.
The barrel sauna uses steam and can reach temperatures as high as 215 degrees. The sauna is Finnish style, meaning it heats up rocks and then patrons can pour water over them to create steam to increase the temperature.
This is referred to as “löyly” and Munck said it is the secret and important part of the Finnish sauna experience, saying it raises the temperature and gives you an exciting rush.
Along with the sauna is the capability to contrast the hot sauna temperatures with a cold plunge into Columbia Lake.
Munck said that this is referred to contrast therapy, and for those worried about going into Columbia Lake there is also a cold shower outside of the sauna, or you can simply walk outside to cool down to get the contrasting affect.
To get the full benefits of the sauna, Munck said the best plan of action is spending 12 minutes in the sauna, and 12 minutes out of the sauna, going back and forth.
Some of the benefits of this contrast therapy include sleeping better, improving focus, regulation of cortisol levels, relaxing muscles, reducing lactic acid, and improving circulation and cardiovascular health.
“There was actually a recent study where they found that regular practice, which is four times per week, reduces co-morbidities,” Munck said. “This is a 40 percent reduction in all cause mortality, 46 percent lower risk of hypertension, 63 percent reduced heart disease mortality, 65 percent lower Alzheimer’s risk and 66 percent lower risk of dementia.”
You can book an individual session, which last 45 minutes for $20, or you can rent out the entire sauna for $120.00 for up to four people, or $150 for up to eight people.
Munck said the sauna will remain in operation for as long as it can be, and is estimating at least through March, as it is weather dependent and will be in place until the green opens back up at the Indian Crossing Casino for the summer.
Munck said he has opened up a few more days during the week for the holiday season but otherwise he is still tweaking the hours of operation, which is currently open on weekends.
This is Munck’s first Svett Club sauna location. He hopes to build upon this and is currently working on setting up more locations.
One of his goals is to create a sauna pontoon to rent in Chicago, something he would like to bring to the Chain in the future once he is able to get it up and running.
More information as well as booking information can be found at www.svettclub.com, or on Facebook at Svett Club. Questions about the service can be directed to erik@svettclub.com.