More homeowners are turning unused backyard space into something that actually gets used every day: a private wellness retreat. Not a pool nobody swims in past July, not a gym corner that becomes storage by spring, a sauna, a cold plunge, or both, built into daily life.
If you're considering it, the real question isn't "should I get one," it's "which setup actually fits how I live."
If you want the ritual, start with a sauna
A cedar sauna delivers something a pool or a home gym can't: forced stillness. Twenty minutes with no phone, no notifications, just heat and wood. The Auris One is built for exactly this, full cedar construction, glass fronts that let in natural light, and outdoor rated for year round use regardless of climate.
If you want the performance edge, add cold
Athletes and biohackers didn't make cold plunging popular by accident, the contrast between deep heat and cold immersion does something a sauna alone doesn't: it trains your nervous system to recover faster, reduces inflammation, and leaves you sharper for the rest of the day. The Frost system is designed to sit right next to your sauna, so the full hot cold cycle happens in your own backyard instead of a $40 a visit recovery studio.
If you're not sure yet, here's the real difference
- A sauna is about slowing down, recovery through stillness.
- A cold plunge is about waking up, recovery through shock.
Most serious home wellness setups eventually have both, because they solve different problems. But you don't have to buy both on day one.
A few things worth knowing before you buy
Space. The Lumin line comes in single, two person, and three person configurations, so a small side yard and a full outdoor entertaining space can both work, this isn't an all or nothing renovation.
Installation. These aren't plug and forget items shipped in a flat box. Full cedar construction ships via international freight, and most owners treat it the way they'd treat a hot tub install, a real fixture, not a purchase you return.
Longevity. Cedar is naturally resistant to moisture and rot, which is why it's the standard for outdoor sauna builds instead of standard pine, the difference shows up in year five, not year one.
Whether you start with a sauna, a cold plunge, or both, the goal is the same: build a space at home you'll actually use, not one that becomes another background fixture in the backyard.
Brightline Wellness is an American owned business and authorized dealer of premium infrared saunas, cedar saunas, and cold plunge systems. Every product ships via international freight from our manufacturing partner.