Thursday: Cold Awareness

Cold Awareness: a guided group experience

After more than 30 years of turning up the heat for our customers and providing the accompanying cooldown moments, we think it’s time for something new at Thermae Grimbergen. Introducing: Cold Awareness. During these sessions, you discover how cold exposure strengthens your body and mind in a surprisingly gentle way. After all, real balance can only be achieved when hot and cold alternate.

How does Cold Awareness affect your body and mind?

This ancient method is enjoying a real revival at the moment. Cold exposure sharpens your senses and combined with heat exposure helps reset your mind and body. The cold puts your nervous system under a little bit of stress, as it were. So, by training your body to cope better with cold, you will also find it easier to deal with stress.

Blood flow is boosted.
Your muscles relax more deeply.
Your immune system is activated.
Your body releases endorphins.

We invite you to be present with us in the here and now for a while. No big shock, but a guided ritual by experienced sauna masters. No pressure to do anything you don’t want to. Simply feel, discover and release at your own pace.

14:00: in the Tibet sauna

This session starts in the Tibet sauna, a sauna with lower temperatures. With essential oil aromas to awaken your senses and soften your breathing. Because your breathing is the focus of this group moment. Together with the sauna master, you will do simple breathing exercises that will automatically slow down your body.

Afterwards, you will all go to the natural swimming lake as a group. Guided, safe and with absolutely no pressure on you. You will enter the cold water at your own pace, to a level that feels comfortable to you. Up to your knees, your hips or immersing yourself completely. It’s up to you. The objective of this session is to find out where your limits are.

We close the session with a few gentle exercises to warm up and the opportunity to share your experiences in the adjacent relaxation area.

17:30: in the African sauna

In the afternoon, we dive a little deeper. In the African sauna, we deliberately turn up the heat to very hot. Again, you will prepare your body with a few short breathing exercises. Afterwards, you will go to the natural swimming lake as a group. We won’t jump in but will enter the water gently. Your breathing will guide you and you will get the space you need to do this at your own pace but at the same time, we will try to explore your limits together.

Our sauna master will be present the whole time to ensure your safety and offer support.

Practical info, carefree wellness

The sessions are given in Dutch and French.
No booking required.
Free to our sauna guests.
All sessions are held in the nude area.
No experience needed, all our sessions are very accessible. Our sauna master is ready to answer any questions you may have.
If you are unsure whether or not this is for you or if you have a health condition, we advise you to consult your GP before taking part.
In extreme temperatures, sessions may be cancelled. Please ask for up-to-date info at reception.