The thing that strikes me about Kathryn Tyler is her serenity. Having been friends for years – closer more recently after deciding to move back to Cornwall – I have always found her to be the most calming presence. So it was no surprise that Kathryn shared plans to set up a beachside sauna after spending time working and living in Copenhagen, an epicentre of sauna culture. Years later, Kiln – co-founded by Kathryn and her partner, Gus – is a staple in the community, with elegantly designed, Swedish-style woodfired saunas firing up Gylly Beach, Flushing and (soon to be) St Ives. 

Here, the ritual is truly centred around community. We attend ceremonies, meeting old and new friends, share stories looking out to sea and find solace in the chilliest of sea dips, even in the dead of winter. 

Whilst down in Cornwall for various shoots, we caught up with Kathryn, Gus, their son Kaspar and Kathryn’s mother (who lives a literal pebble’s throw from the family!) at Flushing, and talked beginnings, community and the power of rituals. 

What drew you to sauna culture and how did that evolve into setting up Kiln?

I’ve been going to saunas since I was a kid in Sweden - initially as a supposed cure for horsefly bites! After that visit I have vivid memories of devouring pouches of liquid chocolate spread with family friends in their home sauna. The ritual became something I returned to again and again - through university (we’d head there after breakdancing and yoga classes), and later as a regular antidote to the winter blues. I’ve always struggled with seasonal affective disorder, and sauna offered warmth, light, and a place to connect. I even met my best friends’ first landlord there after uni - over hearing a chat - proof that you never know who you’ll be sitting next to. That’s the magic of it: saunas are cross-generational, welcoming people from every walk of life.

Years later, while working in Copenhagen, I came across a harbour sauna at La Banchina and had a lightbulb moment - why weren’t there more places like this on the beaches of Cornwall? That was back in 2017, and I began the long process of trying to bring the idea to life. After six years of conversations, maybes, not yet, and even invoking a cease and desist letter, Kiln finally opened in January 2024 on Kiln Quay.

How have you integrated longstanding sauna rituals?

For me, sauna has never just been a solo experience – it’s always been something I’ve felt compelled to share. I’ve been the sauna pusher among friends for years, especially at festivals. While others were heading to the dance tent, I was dragging everyone toward the heat to catch a late night sauna and plunge under the stars - because nothing makes you feel more like a new person than stepping out of a sauna, skin tingling, mind reset.

That deep-rooted need to spread the ritual comes from understanding how transformative it can be. It’s not about luxury or performance it’s about coming back to yourself. Whether it’s encouraging friends to join me in a wood-fired tent or converted truck in a muddy field or introducing families to their first contrast dip at Kiln, it’s always been about reawakening that innate sense of wellbeing we all carry.

Being located right by the sea is obviously significant for Kiln - why was that important, as opposed to being located anywhere with a simple cold plunge bath? Are there any added benefits to hot and cold therapy that involves a sea swim as opposed to a cold plunge?

There’s a kind of wild freedom that comes with sea swimming - the vastness of the ocean in front of you and the sense of surrender to nature. There’s also a real community around it, especially after the pandemic when pools closed and people started looking for new ways to be outside and stay active. Around 7.5 million people in the UK tried sea swimming as a result, and sauna became the perfect complement to that.

That said, a cold plunge – or even just standing outside in the Cornish rain – can be just as powerful. For some, the sea can feel daunting, so we’d love to offer both options at our sites. Currently, we’re limited by a lack of water supply, but it’s definitely something we hope to expand into if we can find a way.

**Can you talk about your Kiln community? They’re so supportive of you! How has the local community reacted to Kiln and how have you fostered that over the years?**
Our community is absolutely at the heart of Kiln. From the outset, we’ve focused on creating space for people to connect, which is why our sessions are primarily social. We want people of all ages and backgrounds to feel they belong.

Families come together, friends (old and new) meet weekly, and it’s been beautiful to see children welcomed into the ritual. My own son has been coming to saunas since he was six months old - it’s something we do as a family, and it feels very natural to include little ones in that. The response from the local community has been overwhelmingly supportive; people have said how much it’s positively impacted their wellbeing, combatting loneliness and fostering friendships they would never have had and we’re really proud of that.

We were awarded Best Community Sauna in the UK & Ireland by the British Sauna Society just five months after opening, which was such a huge honour- especially because it was based on nominations from our community. One person shared how they’d connected with neighbours in their village they’d barely spoken to before, simply through coming to the sauna. That really stayed with us. It’s those quiet, unexpected connections that feel the most beautiful.

Are there any specific routines or practices you recommend to get the most out of a sauna session?

Start simple - arrive with your swimwear on under your clothes to make the most of your time inside. Then follow the basic rhythm of hot to cold, in whatever way feels right for you.

We always encourage people to tune in to how their body feels- it isn’t about pushing limits or sitting longer than your friend in competition. Over time, your body’s relationship with heat changes. Some days you’ll crave a longer session, and things like your sleep or menstrual cycle for women can really influence your heat tolerance.

Contrast doesn’t have to mean a dip in the sea- standing in the wind or rain can be just as effective. There’s a lot of science supporting the benefits of extreme contrast, but ultimately it’s about what feels good to you.

How do you feel when you’re taking part in this ritual? Why is it so important to you, both for yourself and to share with others?

It’s become second nature now so when I go a few days without it, my body genuinely misses it. The feeling afterwards is euphoric and calming. It’s a full reset, physically and mentally. I love that it’s something I share with my son and partner, and that we see families and friends building their own rituals around it too.

There’s something ancient about sitting in heat with others - something deeply human. It’s in our nature to gather this way, to slow down, to sweat it out and come back to ourselves. The sauna reconnects us to that instinct.

Congratulations on winning the award for Best Wellbeing Specialist in Cornwall recently - what do you hope Kiln will do for the community and for sauna culture in general?

Thank you - it’s a huge honour. Our hope is that Kiln continues to be a place where people feel seen, supported, and inspired to care for themselves. We want to normalise healthy rituals for people of all ages and create accessible ways for families, friends, and individuals to reconnect- with themselves, and with each other. We’ve seen deep friendships (and a few romantic relationships!) begin here, and we often hear that the sauna has been life-changing. That’s what keeps us going.

What’s next for you guys?

We’re really excited to be planning a new location in St Ives which will be our first full outdoor spa experience overlooking Porthmeor Beach. It’s been over two years since the site first caught our eye, and we’re finally gearing up to build the mobile units, with an anticipated opening this autumn.

What makes this site particularly special is that we’ll be offering a wheelchair-accessible sauna - something we’ve wanted to do for a long time but it’s currently impossible on a sandy beach! We’ll also have two saunas on site, which gives us the flexibility to create different atmospheres - one will sometimes be a silent space or used for music, meditations, and more immersive experiences.

The local town council has been wonderfully collaborative throughout, and we can’t wait to bring this new offering to the wider community.

Finally, how do you like your Mother Root…?

Hot and steaming in a mug – especially after a sea dip. Total bliss.