In Scandinavia, the sauna is more than a post-workout recovery method. It is a ritual, a weekly reset, and above all, a pillar of social connection.
When three San Diego FC teammates—Swedish defender Christopher McVey, Danish forward Marcus Ingvartsen, and San Diego FC’s first-ever team captain, Danish midfielder Jeppe Tverskov—moved to Southern California, they found plenty to love about the sun and surf. But they missed the deeply ingrained contrast therapy culture of Copenhagen and back home.
So, they built it themselves.
Enter Scandinavian Heat Club, a brand-new sauna and cold plunge social club designed to blend Scandinavian roots with San Diego soul. Located inside the Barnes Tennis Center in Ocean Beach, the club brings an authentic, community-first thermal ritual right to the heart of San Diego.
At the core of the Scandinavian Heat Club is a structured 75-minute session for up to 14 participants. Rather than leaving guests to count down minutes on a wall clock, every journey is led by a dedicated “Gus Master,” a title which comes from Aufguss, a German word meaning "infusion" or "pouring" (from auf meaning "on/up" and gießen meaning "to pour").
In traditional sauna culture, the master of the session uses water and/or essential oils infused onto hot stones, using artful towel movements to circulate heat, steam, scent, and sound throughout the room. At Scandinavian Heat Club, each 75-minute experience cycles through three deliberate rounds of contrast therapy (sauna followed by a cold plunge) with guided breathwork in between the rounds.
While every session follows the same 75-minute heat, cold and breathwork format, guests can choose from four different styles. The Gus Master shapes each experience through music, aroma, towel movement and pacing, ranging from slow and grounding to energetic and upbeat.
- Deep Flow: A slower, immersive session featuring calming aromas, intentional music and gentle towel movements designed to create a continuous flow. The emphasis is on slowing down, breathing deeply and settling into the moment.
- Reset: An atmospheric experience built around immersive sound and melodic, soulful music, with a more intentional pace designed to help guests disconnect from daily distractions.
- Vibe: A modern, dynamic session featuring current tracks, smooth beats and uplifting energy. It's livelier than Deep Flow while maintaining a relaxed, balanced rhythm.
- Upbeat: A high-energy session with more rhythm, movement and lively music for guests who prefer a more invigorating atmosphere.
The variety gives guests a way to choose the mood that suits them, whether they're looking for a quieter reset or a more energetic shared experience.
Scandinavian Heat Club has not yet announced a firm opening date, but founding memberships are currently available for $250. The club's planned drop-in rate is $38 per session, giving prospective members an option to try the experience without committing to a membership.
For McVey, Ingvartsen, and Tverskov, the goal is to bring a piece of home to their new community. For San Diegans already familiar with cold plunges and contrast therapy, the guided, group-based format offers a different way to approach the practice. And for those new to sauna culture, the structured sessions provide an introduction that doesn't require figuring everything out alone.
Scandinavian Heat Club is located at the Barnes Tennis Center, 4490 W Point Loma Blvd in Ocean Beach. Follow @scandinavianheatclub for the latest opening date information.
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