Business: Perspire Sauna Studio
Address: 1301 S. Naper Blvd.
Phone/website: 630-796-6632 and www.perspiresaunastudio.com
Regional manager: Kayla Thompson, 35, of Naperville
Years in business: Opened in March
What does your business do? “We have 10 private, full-spectrum infrared saunas equipped with red light therapy and colored light therapy. Individuals come in, sauna for 40 minutes,” Thompson said. “Helps them burn calories. Helps them with pain and inflammation.”
Forty minutes? “That seems long, but because you can adjust the temperature and you’re being heated from the inside out, you’ll find it’s not as intense as a traditional sauna.”
What does infrared do? “It’s similar to a traditional sauna, but the infrared heats your body up in a different way. It heats your body up directly, rather than the air around you. It makes for a more relaxing experience.”
How does heating your body help? “It helps detox. … (With) this sauna, the sweat has 20% more impurities in it than a traditional sauna.”
Why are you here? “I was going through a career change. I wanted something different. I found a posting on Indeed, met with the owner and everything worked out.”
How do you feel after the sauna? “Some people report feeling a little sleepy. Other people, it energizes them. I’m one of those. It makes me feel really good. Feel lighter, less stiff.”
How can it help with weight loss? “You burn 200 to 400 calories per session. Obviously, if you’re going for a substantial amount of weight loss, you need to also exercise and eat right. But this does have cardiovascular effects similar to exercise.
“We play a video for all our new guests. It explains the science behind everything and how it can help with mimicking the effects of exercise.”
What does the video say? It stresses that users can control the heat inside the sauna and recommends starting at 130 degrees and slowly increasing. It cautions to “be sure to listen” to your body, and urges users to be “well-hydrated before, during and after the session.” There’s always the option to open the door to end a session early, the video said.
How’s this business doing? “It’s going very well. We have almost 250 members. We’ve been pretty busy, considering its summer. A lot of people don’t like to use the sauna in the summer. … People are starting to hear about the benefits.”
How does membership work? “You pay a monthly fee. There’s no contract. You can cancel at any time. The cost is $99 for four sessions a month, $159 for eight sessions and $179 for unlimited.”
What’s the first visit cost? “Only $20. If someone does not want a membership, after that it’s $39 for each single session.”
Do you have another location? “Downers Grove. That opened almost two years ago. It’s going very well. We have a little over 300 members there. We see 400 members or more in the colder months.”
Is this a national chain? “Yes. We are the only two in Illinois right now. A third — not our franchise — is coming to Lakeview in Chicago. … There are a lot (of locations) on the West Coast.”
What is red light therapy? “That’s different from infrared, which is invisible. Red light is on your skin. It helps with melatonin production. … It’s very popular.”
What do you like best? “I have the best team. The girls at both location work well together, are very positive and care a lot about their jobs. Getting to know all of them has been great. Also, getting to know all our members. You hear about their health journeys. … A lot of people say their skin is better and they’re sleeping better.”
Do you use the sauna? “Yes. I try to use it twice a week.”
How many employees work here? “Seven.”
What hours are you open? “Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Weekends 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.”
Any future plans? “The franchise owner, Steve Braverman, has a license for a third location in the next year or so. I don’t know where yet.”
What’s a customer say? “The sauna is relaxing. … It’s clean. … Very friendly, outgoing, accommodating people here. … (After the sauna) I feel refreshed, detoxed,” said Jamie Peccatiello, 41, of Orland Park. “I hope we get one closer to me.”
What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “Building relationships and networking. Getting out there in the community is the most important thing to do.”
If you know of a business you’d like to see to profiled in Down to Business, contact Steve Metsch at metschmsfl@yahoo.com.
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
