A new Folsom bathhouse aims to bring ‘hot springs indoors’ before next winter

A sauna will head to Folsom just in time for winter 2023.

Asha Urban Baths, a sauna founded in Sacramento in November 2016 is expanding to Folsom at 9611 Greenback Ln., where Scott’s Seafood used to be located, according to Asha’s owner, Cori Martinez.

Martinez said the owner of the location will be Niki Thomas, and the project should be completed by December.

“For $35 folks can use the bathhouse,” Martinez said via email. “Think hot springs brought indoors in a down to earth and affordable day spa. We have multiple saunas, a steam room, two large warm soaking pools, a cold plunge, cold bucket showers and space to lounge alone or quietly visit with friends.”

The establishment will also include a salt lounge and a sound immersion experience.

A salt lounge offers a 45 minute experience of salt-pumped air with up to six other guests in a room with two solid walls of Himalayan salt bricks, oversized bean-bag chairs, weighted blankets and eye pillows, according to the company’s website.

Sound immersion attempts help customers relaxat through vibrations for 33 minutes, followed by 12 minutes of silence to “feel the effects,” the website said.

“We actually don’t do sales or deals beyond our regular pricing,” Martinez said via email. “Our goal is to be accessibly priced all the time, so our prices are set to be as low as possible all the time.”

Martinez’s location at 2417 27th St. started as an expansion of her yoga studio, which opened in 2010. She said she has since sold the yoga studio and expanded the bathhouse to double the size.

The expansion was completed the day Asha shut down for nearly a year due to COVID-19.

While it was closed, Martinez said she developed a franchise package to help people open a version of Asha themselves. Last month, she signed an agreement to support the opening in Folsom, her first partner location.

This story was originally published January 7, 2023 at 6:00 AM.