Common Ground Wellness Cooperative – Portland

Spiritual vibes. Relaxing environment. Fantastic massages! The outdoor soaking pool and the sauna are perfect for being alone in or bringing a friend with. Common Ground is a place I would like to go to monthly. It really helps center me.

I have really enjoyed my first few visits here. The facilities are very spacious, clean, and updated. The courtyard is decorated really nicely. My only complaint is the sauna heater is a bit undersized/underpowered for the room and because the door is frequently opened the space never gets to proper temperature. Also the heater needs a larger mass of stones, you can see the heater elements when they cycle on. A proper sauna heater heats the stones which radiate the heat. And finally there is a note to not put water on the sauna stones. The term "dry sauna" is something Americans have made up. A proper sauna involves adding water over the stones to create "Loyly". I've mentioned these things to the staff at the end of each visit but I haven't seen any changes to their equipment or policy. If they could get the sauna right this place would be perfect.

For our readers - "loyly" is a Finnish word that describes the steam that is produced when adding water to the hot sauna rocks. This word is difficult to translate as there is no other similar word in the English dictionary -- it means more than simply "steam." The most popular and accepted Finnish translation is that it means “Spirit of Life."

I love the open sky while I soak, and not having to wear clothes is the best. There's nothing better than a massage and a soak to chase away the winter blues.