Shape House, An Urban Sweat Lodge

Our friends told me about Shape House, the latest wellness activity.  There is a handful in LA and they are growing on the east coast.  This summer there happens to be one (a pop-up) in the Hamptons so I decided what the hell, I am going to give it a shot.

The activity takes an hour.  When you get there they give you a large bottle of water, loose fitting clothes (long sleeve shirt, loose pants, and cotton socks) to put on and then show you your room.  Each room is just a small cubicle with a bed and a tv.  The experience costs $50 for one shot, discounts for a multiple buy.

On the bed is the “sweat piece”.  It looks like a lined sleeping bag.  You get in and they velcro you up so full-onu get the full on sweat.  They put a clicker in your hands, headphones on your head so you can either listen to music, watch TV or whatever it is you want to do while lying there for an hour.  They return after 20 minutes to make sure you are ok.  Then come back with 15 minutes left and put a lavender wet towel on your forehead….much needed.

I managed to drink almost the entire bottle of water while I laid there.  The first 15 minutes I wasn’t sure I was into it but then you get into a zone.  The last 10 minutes I had pretty much had enough.  I spent the hour watching Chef’s Table.

The hour ends and they get you out of the bag.  I was drenched in sweat.  You sit in the lounge area, have some more water, a few pieces of orange until you are ready to take off the sweaty clothes.  I felt like I had a big workout.  My skin felt amazing.  I really felt like I had been fully cleansed.

Fast forward a few days, I feel really good.  It is an interesting experience.  Not for everyone but I am glad I did it.  Pretty sure I am not racing back next week but I am definitely going to do it again.  The post feels pretty good.

Comments (Archived):

  1. awaldstein

    New to me so thanks!In LA in a few weeks and may try this if time allows.Huge fan of cryo–A surprising experiment with Cryotherapy http://arnoldwaldstein.com/

  2. AMT Editorial Staff

    Oh, GG….hot yoga is a better answer.

  3. JAJones

    Are there advantages to this vs. a sauna? The sweaty sleeping bag thingy doesn’t sound like something I would choose over a sauna with eucalyptus. Tim Ferriss interviewed Rhonda Patrick on the benefit of dry heat https://tim.blog/2014/04/10… . I’m interested in trying a sensory deprivation float tank as well.

  4. JLM

    .OK, so that’s like Texas every day in August without the TexMex?JIMwww.themusingsofthebigredca…