Ølstykke Svømmehal

The train pulled into Ølstykke station on a crisp Tuesday afternoon, and I walked the short distance along Stationsvej to the local swim hall. The town felt like a typical Danish suburb, with neat rows of houses and bikes parked everywhere. I had heard about the saunagus sessions here, held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and decided to try one out. For 73 kroner, it promised a half-hour wellness treatment that blended heat with scents.

Inside, the place had that familiar mix of chlorine from the pool and warmth from the sauna area. I changed and stepped into the sauna room, where a small group had gathered. The gusmester greeted us quietly and explained the flow: two rounds of eight to twelve minutes each, with a ten-minute break in between to cool down.

We settled on the wooden benches as the heat started to build. The gusmester poured water mixed with essential oils over the hot stones. Steam rose up, carrying hints of those healing aromas through the air.

He grabbed a towel and began fanning the steam around the room. The warmth intensified, wrapping around us like a blanket. I felt the scents open up my breathing, a nice touch in the steady heat. That first session lasted about ten minutes, enough to get the sweat going without overwhelming anyone.

When it ended, we stepped out for the pause. I headed to the cold bath, dipping in quickly. The chill snapped me back, refreshing after the steam.

After the break, we returned to the sauna. The gusmester repeated the ritual, pouring more of the oil-infused water and fanning with steady motions. This time, the aromas felt stronger, maybe because my senses were already tuned in.

The air circulated better, pushing the heat into every corner. I leaned back and let it sink in, noticing how the group stayed quiet, focused on the experience. It wrapped up after another twelve minutes or so, leaving me relaxed and clear-headed.

Walking out afterward, the evening light filtered through the windows. I dried off and headed back to the station, thinking about how these midweek sessions fit nicely into a routine.