Saunagusen

The gravel crunched under my tires as I pulled up to Skovvang 1, just outside Køge. It was a crisp Saturday in early fall, with leaves starting to turn in the nearby Ejby forest. I had heard about Saunagusen, this mobile sauna wagon that sets up here most weekends, and decided to check it out for some quiet heat and a cold plunge.

The wagon sat parked in a clearing, simple and sturdy, with room inside for about twenty people. I paid 200 DKK at the door for a sixty-minute session, which included the aufguss ritual. A small group had already gathered, chatting softly as we waited to begin.

We filed in and found spots on the wooden benches. The air warmed up quickly, carrying that familiar dry scent of heated wood. Someone turned up the stove, and the heat started to build, layer by layer.

I leaned back and let my muscles relax, listening to the low hum of conversation fade into silence. The wagon felt cozy, like a shared secret in the middle of the woods. Outside, birds called from the trees, adding to the sense of being tucked away from the busier parts of Køge.

After a while, the aufguss began. Hot air swirled around us, pushed by a towel in steady waves. Sweat beaded on my skin, and I focused on my breathing, in and out, as the intensity grew.

When the heat peaked, we stepped out one by one toward the isbad. The cold air hit first, a sharp contrast after the sauna's warmth. I lowered myself into the icy water, feeling the chill grip my body from toes to chest.

It lasted only a minute or two, but that plunge sharpened everything: my heartbeat, the forest smells, the quiet around us. Back inside the wagon, the heat felt even better, like a reward. We repeated the cycle a couple more times during the session.

The whole thing emphasized presence, just being there with the group in that peaceful spot. No rush, no distractions, just the rhythm of heat and cold.

As the sixty minutes wound down, I dressed and walked back through the paths of Ejby forest. The sun filtered through the branches, and a light breeze carried the scent of pine. Køge felt close yet far, with its harbor and old town streets just a short drive away.

I learned Saunagusen runs aufguss sessions on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays here, though it sometimes travels to waterfront spots in other cities. That mobility adds a nice touch, like the sauna could pop up anywhere. For now, this forest setup suited me fine, a simple way to unwind.