Hoi zäme!
I always thought spas were luxuries– massages, facials, fancy hotel steam rooms – not something that could be a healthy part of everyday life. Until I moved to Baden, Switzerland. Baden is Switzerland’s spa town and home to the most mineral rich thermal waters in the country. It’s here I first experienced the Swiss bathing culture, called “Badi” in Swiss-German. Badi wasn’t a luxurious moment reserved for special occasions, but a culture that prioritized access to clean, quality bathing experiences within your community.
When I moved to Switzerland, I was looking to heal. I was still reeling from the chaos of the pandemic and exhausted from years of climbing the corporate ladder.
One of my neighbors in Baden told me that people have been coming to this town for thousands of years to heal in the thermal-rich waters. You don’t even have to make it into the water to become immediately and pleasantly hypnotized by the River Limmat and its steady flow. The minerals of the hot springs and the culture of joy, community, and connection that surround them were unlike anything I had experienced before.
a turning point
After finally burning out from the grind of corporate life, I knew it was time to bring the magic of Badi culture back home with me to America. I quit my job and left Switzerland for Connecticut.
Badii, so named in homage to the Badi bathing culture of Switzerland, is a Connecticut-based bathing community. We strive to bring the benefits of bathing to America - in a way that respects the European cultural roots of sauna and bathing but with a truly American spirit.
Today we share news, education, and recommendations about global bathing culture on our Badii and Badii Talk platforms, including podcast, email newsletter, blog, and Instagram.
In early 2025, we will launch Badii Bathhouse. A Hartford, Connecticut area local contrast sauna and cold plunge experience that offers a welcoming, Swiss-inspired social activity.
Thanks for being a part of it all!
Sarah
Sarah Spoto
Sarah Spoto is our founder. She has lived across the globe, most recently in Switzerland where she was introduced to bathing and sauna culture. Sarah has launched many brands and businesses in her career, most notably at Cadillac where she worked for nearly a decade. She might be the sole founder of Badii but she wouldn’t be here without the support of her community and partners in Europe and the US.
We are a woman-owned small business based in Hartford, Connecticut USA.
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