Yoga and Sauna in Stockholm: A Different Kind of Friday Afternoon

The idea is simple. An hour of yoga on the water, followed by a sauna, outside, in the sun, next to a lake. Ten minutes from central Stockholm by metro. It's a drop-in class if you're on your own or with a friend, a private booking if you want it for a group.

This is what that afternoon looks like.

Why yoga and sauna is the combination

Yoga and sauna solve the same problem from opposite directions. Yoga opens the body with movement and breath. The sauna opens it again with heat. Together the effect is more than the sum of the parts.

The Finnish tradition of exercise followed by sauna exists for exactly this reason. Your body has done something, then you give it 15 minutes of heat to settle into it. What would take you half a night's sleep to feel happens in 20 minutes in a hot room by the water.

SUP yoga adds a third element: you've been outside, you've moved on water that was moving underneath you, you've had to focus. When you get in the sauna afterwards you are genuinely done in a way a studio class doesn't quite get you. That's the afternoon.

What the session looks like

You arrive at Sickla Strand 10 to 15 minutes before the class. The gear is on site, you check in, lock up your valuables. Quick safety briefing on land, how to get on the board, how to paddle out. We paddle two to three minutes to the anchor spot.

The class is 75 minutes including the paddle. We start seated and lying down, build to kneeling and standing, close in savasana with the water moving underneath. Then back in. The sauna is by the lake, you're in it within 10 minutes of finishing the class.

Most people stay in the sauna 15 to 30 minutes. You can swim in the lake afterwards if the temperature allows. There are changing rooms and lockers on site. Elton's Café is a hundred metres away if you want to eat.

Three ways to book it

Drop-in class

For one or two people. Book a single slot through Smashing Balance, show up, join the class, sauna included. 350 SEK per class. No group required. The class runs weekly from late April to September, vinyasa and yin alternating. See the current schedule on Smashing Balance.

Private group booking

For 3 to 10 people who want the whole experience for themselves. Hen party, birthday, team day, long weekend with friends. The class, the boards, the sauna, all yours. From 500 SEK per person. Book directly with me: hello.yogawithcamilla@gmail.com.

After-work team session

A Friday AW or team reset for a group of colleagues. Works well for teams of 4 to 12. The yoga breaks the week, the sauna is where the actual conversation happens. No agenda, no laptops, no one is the boss on a paddleboard. Booked as a private event, combined with dinner at Elton's if you want to extend the afternoon.

When it works best

• –Friday afternoon, when the week needs a proper full stop
• –Sunday morning before anything else happens
• –Midweek evening reset during a conference or offsite
• –A hen party warm-up the day before the main event
• –A birthday treat for someone who already has everything
• –The first proper summer afternoon when the temperature is finally right

When it doesn't work

• –If someone is pregnant: the yoga can be adapted, but SUP yoga isn't recommended during pregnancy. The drop-in class and private sauna work without the SUP part
• –If the group is more than 12 and you want everyone on the water at the same time: it can be done in two rounds, but it extends the session significantly
• –If someone is nervous about water: the boards are stable and you stay in shallow areas, but it's worth knowing in advance so the briefing covers it properly

Getting there

Sickla Strand at Elton's Café, Nacka. By metro: green line to Hammarby Sjöstad, then 10 minutes along the waterfront path, or the Tvärbanan tram to Sickla. By bike: the Hammarby Sjöstad path goes straight there. Parking on site for those coming by car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the class in English?+

Yes. I'm Australian, all my classes run in English by default.

I've never done yoga or paddleboarding, will I manage?+

Yes. The boards are wide and stable, designed for yoga not racing. The class starts with a thorough safety briefing and the first poses are all seated or lying down. No experience needed.

Is the sauna included in the price?+

Always. Whether you book a drop-in or a private group, the sauna is included.

What do I wear?+

Swimwear underneath, training clothes or a t-shirt over, a towel, and something to change into after the sauna. Sun protection if the forecast is clear.

Can I just do the sauna without the yoga?+

The sauna is managed by Smashing Balance and may be bookable separately through their site. For the yoga-sauna combination, the class is the right entry point.

How big is the drop-in class?+

Usually 4 to 10 people. The class runs regardless of group size. If you want the session for your group only, book it as a private event.

Can we eat at the café afterwards?+

Yes, Elton's Café is right on site and is good. The timing works well: class finishes, sauna for 20 minutes, lunch or early dinner at the café.

Is it available in winter?+

The SUP yoga season is late April to September. The sauna at Sickla Strand is typically available longer, but check with Smashing Balance for current availability outside the season.

Book it

Drop-in: Smashing Balance, where you'll see the current weekly schedule. Private group of 3 to 10: email hello.yogawithcamilla@gmail.com with a date, rough headcount, and whether it's a hen party, team day, birthday, or something else.

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