Infrared saunas had been showing up everywhere — in my feed, across different social platforms, and from friends who had actually tried it and wouldn't stop talking about it. When Perspire Sauna Studio opened at Suite 140 on the Esplanade, I stopped scrolling and booked a session. I brought my husband, which turned out to be the right call: the suites are private and wood-paneled, built for two, not a communal sweat situation. We had the room entirely to ourselves.
What We Actually Did
We booked a full-spectrum infrared session with red light therapy and added the halotherapy — salt air piped directly into the room. The suite climbed to 130 degrees. We sat in there for 40 minutes and had one of the more focused conversations we've managed in months. No phones. Nowhere else to be. Just heat, cedar, and the low hum of the sauna running.
Infrared works differently than a traditional sauna. The air temperature is lower, but the heat goes deeper — you feel it in your muscles, not just on your skin. By minute 20 I was fully drenched. By minute 40 I felt loose and genuinely relaxed in a way that's hard to manufacture on a regular Tuesday afternoon.
The Details That Matter
The place is spotless — I noticed it immediately in the suite, the hallway, the whole operation. Towels are provided. The one thing worth bringing is a cold bottle of water; don't skip that. When you finish, iced face towels are waiting. After 40 minutes at 130 degrees, that moment lands hard. It's also the reason you'll want to book a second session before you've even left the parking lot.
Worth Knowing Before You Go
If you haven't tried infrared or red light therapy before, the staff will walk you through what each session actually does, how halotherapy factors in, and what frequency makes sense for what you're after.
The Practical Info
Perspire Sauna Studio is at 2760 Esplanade, Suite 140. Parking is right in the lot. Hours are Monday through Friday 7 AM to 8 PM, Saturday and Sunday 9 AM to 5 PM. Reach them at (530) 861-6134 or chico@perspiresaunastudio.com. Bring cold water. Everything else is handled. And if you want a wider look at what Chico's local scene is producing right now, this story on what's made right here is worth the read.
