Naosha Gregg

I’ve always had a mundane experience with saunas. My routine with them was always uniform: take a dip in the pool, use the sauna to dry off, and go about my business. I never considered the space to be one of healing and community, especially as my focus was always on a test of endurance against the room's slowly rising temperature. So when I heard that Bathhouse was opening North America’s largest sauna in my humble abode, the borough of Brooklyn, and hosting the Aufguss finals, I was intrigued. Located at 540 Atlantic Avenue, just blocks from Barclays Center in the mod neighborhood of Boerum Hill, the now-condominiums and luxury spa space were once home to an early 20th‑century factory building that housed the Brooklyn Daily Times. The space capitalizes on Brooklyn's inviting culture, providing a much-needed oasis for relaxation and, most importantly, sweat. RECOMMENDED: The best spas in New York for some R&R “[Atlantic Avenue] sits at the intersection of four of Brooklyn's most vibrant neighborhoods. The energy is palpable," said Jason Goodman, co-founder of Bathhouse. "This location feels like stepping into another world but also truly local, and offers a convenient place to sweat and reset closer to home." Photograph: Adrian GautBathhouse Stepping into the bathhouse, I found the soft white walls peppered with swimsuits and bathhouse essentials for sale. However, once I checked in, I immediately descended downstairs to a darkened oasis. Buried in the depths of the iconi