Fire + Floe Sparks New Kind of Gathering Space
COURTESY OF FIRE + FLOE
By QUINN PROPST
Ward Media Staff Reporter
On Bainbridge Island, where misty mornings linger and the views never disappoint, Mikal Foushee has created something extraordinary: a Scandinavian-inspired refuge where heat meets cold – and transformation begins.
Launched in 2024, Fire + Floe is rooted in the centuries-old Nordic tradition of sauna and cold plunging. It’s a ritual Foushee and her husband practiced for years in the chilly waters of the Puget Sound. Inspired by travels to Denmark and Sweden – where sauna culture is seamlessly woven into daily life – Foushee often dreamed aloud of a sauna to warm up in after their plunges. Eventually, that dream took shape.
Foushee began to wonder why, in a region so similar to Scandinavia in climate and landscape, saunas weren’t a more common part of life.
“I never imagined I would start a sauna,” she said. “But I thought, well, it’s what I want to be doing – maybe other people want to do it, too.”
Now, nestled near the Bainbridge shoreline, Fire + Floe offers contrast therapy: the practice of alternating between
intense heat and cold immersion to relax the body, clear the mind, and build resilience. Sessions are about an hour and 15 minutes and typically begin with 10–15 minutes in the sauna, followed by a plunge into the Sound. Guests are encouraged to flow back and forth between the two extremes as well as to listen to their bodies instead of watching a clock.
“People walk away feeling calm, clear, and more connected to themselves,” Foushee said. “It’s a practice that helps you meet discomfort and move through it – and in that process, something shifts.”
Foushee grew up on Bainbridge Island and has been plunging in these waters for many years. She knows the place intimately – its rhythms, tides, and moods. After a career in photography, video, and project management in the health and wellness industry, she found herself burned out after the pandemic. What was meant to be a short break turned into a complete shift in direction and ultimately, the founding of Fire + Floe.
Her mobile timber sauna, custom- built by Michigan-based craftsmen, was designed specifically for its spot in Lynwood Center near the southern end of the island. Because the Puget Sound and Scandinavian coastlines share so much – wind, fog, evergreens, cold water – Foushee saw an opportunity to build community in nature, especially during the darker months.
“Everybody wants to be outside when it’s sunny. Not everybody wants to be outside in January, February, March, when it’s
raining and cold – and those are actually my favorite months to be outside now,” she said.
Foushee is passionate about reclaiming winter as a time to gather and connect. She remembers dreading the cold and noticing how local parks would sit empty most of the year. But something changed when she committed to contrast therapy.
“I am no longer that cold person,” she said. “That’s definitely helped change my core temperature and just make it more bearable through the rest of the year.”
She describes the winter water as “so special” – clear, crisp, and fresh – each session is unique. Summer’s low tides bring their own magic, but it’s the ebb and flow of the elements that makes Fire + Floe so compelling. “The tides are a challenge, but also one that I welcome,” she said. “You could be here for an hour and 15 minutes, and your first time out in the water and in the sauna will feel one way, and then the next time you go out there, it will feel and look totally different.”
People are often surprised by how much discomfort they can endure and how quickly their tolerance grows. “I think a lot of people surprise themselves, like, ‘Oh, I wasn’t planning on going in the water because that’s cold or that’s scary,’ but you know, by the end of it, they’re totally underwater, and they’re coming back and they’re like, ‘This is amazing’,” she said.
For Foushee, contrast therapy is as much about mental clarity as physical wellness. As a busy parent, she turns to cold plunging as a powerful equalizer – a way to release tension, clear the mind, and reset. “It’s so great if you are having a really stressful day to go out into the water or the sauna, and that all just completely clears itself,” she said.
She also hears from others about the unexpected benefits: deeper sleep, more energy, and a profound sense of relaxation. “People tell me they sleep better than they have in ages,” she said. “I love hearing that.”
Science backs her up – regular sauna use improves cardiovascular health, supports recovery, and reduces inflammation. “I have a lot of athletes that come for recovery,” she said.
But perhaps the most underrated benefit of Fire + Floe is the community it fosters. “I’ve got a good chunk of people that come just for some social interaction, because they work from home by themselves, or they don’t have any family close by, and they come here to meet people, to get out of the house, to interact with others,” she said.
What began as a personal project has evolved into a welcoming, inclusive space where strangers often become friends. “One of my favorite parts is having these disparate groups all come together, and at the end they’re exchanging phone numbers, or they’re hanging out afterwards, or now they plan sessions to come when they’re here together,” she said. “I think that is something that’s really important for me, to help foster that community.”
Foushee loves to see people’s initial trepidation turn to something more confident through their sessions. “I always want to take a before and after photo, because their faces are kind of like, ‘What are we doing here? This sounds terrifying or exciting’,” she said.
That hesitation usually gives way to joy and repeat visits. People frequently ask about memberships and that is something she hopes to offer in the near future. “It’s such a special place,” she said. “It’s so healing, just being in nature by itself, and the more time you can spend outside, the better, especially doing it with other people in a beautiful place.”
Fire + Floe has also become a hub for private events and creative collaborations. From wedding parties and family reunions to birthday celebrations and beachside wellness experiences, Foushee has partnered with chefs, acupuncturists, and other local businesses to create immersive offerings.
“It gives people a way to connect that isn’t centered around food or drink – just being together, relaxing, and enjoying the moment,” she said.
Whether people come for recovery, reconnection, or simply curiosity, Foushee hopes they leave feeling better than they imagined – and surprised by their own strength.
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