SALM TEAM 
Cape Town is South Africa’s leading destination for wellness tourism with authorities and analysts reporting a 45.2% visitor engagement rate in the wellness activities offered by the Mother City. In line with global trends, demand for contrast therapy experiences in Cape Town is on the rise. This is being driven in no small part by One Flow Yoga and Wellness Social Club in Green Point, an industry leader in social wellness. Here, locals and visitors can explore contrast therapy, such as Sauna Journeys, which are also true social wellness experiences.
So, what exactly is contrast therapy?
Contrast therapy involves intentionally alternating between heat, typically a sauna, and cold immersion, like an ice bath or cold plunge. While we might view the practice as ‘the latest trend’, the truth is, it has roots in the ancient traditions of Nordic, Japanese, and Eastern European communities. Research shows the body responds powerfully to temperature shifts – circulation is stimulated, inflammation subsides, resilience gets a boost, and moods are lifted.
While contrast therapy can be a self-directed process, what stands out at One Flow is its range of Sauna Journeys, which combine contrast therapy with visual, emotional and connected social experiences. Co-founder, yoga teacher and sauna master Jeanae Dumas says, “Contrast therapy may be trending right now, but it’s not at all a fad. In fact, you can say that it is a necessity in modern life; an active response to the stress-driven, cortisol-heavy lifestyles that most of us live today. What makes contrast therapy so powerful is its ability to balance and counterbalance that stress, offering a reset for both body and mind. And, because social wellness is at the core of One Flow, our Sauna Journey experiences are also specially conceived and designed as social wellness experiences.”
How contrast therapy intersects with social wellness
There’s no doubt that contrast therapy is challenging. It takes some grit to withstand high heat and then plunge into icy coldness – and then do it all again. In community with like-minded people, you find camaraderie and motivation, support and shared relief, appreciation and the unique sense of well-being that comes from simultaneously bearing witness and being witnessed.
Most contrast therapy experiences in South Africa don’t offer a true social wellness aspect, but One Flow won’t do it any other way. For instance, the sauna at One Flow is not a designated quiet zone. Jeanae says, “We must remember that the age-old traditions of this practice are social – yes, you do it because it is good for your overall health – but equally important is that you are doing it because of the very human need to be in community with others. We go through this together. At One Flow, we wanted to recapture all those extra health and wellness benefits that come with togetherness.”
Co-founder and the architectural designer of One Flow’s world-class facilities, Aidan Hart, says, “What is exceptional is how the quality of the environment enhances not just your social connectedness but your contrast therapy experiences. Our Sauna room is a temperature and optimal oxygen-controlled space. The Plunge Sanctuary features two ice baths made of Japanese cedar, while those waiting for the plunge can lie back on the smooth marble Hammam slab bathed in infra-red light. All the materials used offer the best temperature retention and conductivity. The inclusion of infrared lighting is to benefit skin and muscles by penetrating deep to promote healing, increased blood flow, and reduced inflammation.”
One Flow’s signature Sauna Journeys go far beyond the typical contrast therapy experiences. Trained Sauna Masters, mentored by Jeanae, bring structure, safety, and depth to each journey, turning it into a practice of true healing and connection.
Over December 2025, the One Flow Yoga and Wellness Social Club in Green Point will host First Thursday sober sauna rave parties with DJs, and there will be guided Rest and Restore Sauna Journeys every Sunday. Jeanae concludes, “Contrast therapy is ultimately a shared ritual that taps into something ancient, elemental, and profoundly human. And at One Flow, the hottest–coolest experience in wellness is also a real celebration of what happens when we breathe, move, sweat, and plunge together.”
Visitors can choose between:
· Wellzone Sauna and Plunge sessions are scheduled every day, and you are guided just by the timer. Participants move freely between the Journey Sauna room and the Plunge Sanctuary.
· The Contrast Therapy Sauna Journey is guided by a Sauna Master to ignite vitality and boost resilience. It’s a powerful journey including breathwork, mindset cues, and grounding rituals.
· The Deep Flow Sauna Journey, guided by Jeanae, is an immersive experience with curated sound and lighting that is designed to take you beyond the physical to engage with your emotions and inner being.
· The Rest and Restore Sauna Journey is a guided experience on Sundays aimed at settling the mind and allowing the body to unwind, so that you’re reinvigorated for the start of the new week.
Visti www.oneflow.co.za to book your contrast therapy experience.
