Stephanie Spear 
Time and again, people cite the dynamic international community in the area as one of the best parts of living in Northern Virginia. Different cultures share what they love, and we’re all the better for it. One Ukrainian family is sharing their love for wellness and the sauna through their business, Steam + Chill. Steam + Chill is a mobile sauna business serving Northern Virginia, and bringing a bit of Ukraine along for the ride. Read on for more about Steam + Chill and how to book this experience for yourself.
Photo courtesy of Steam + Chill
About the Company
Ukrainian-born Alina Mills and her father, Oleh Kasianenko, noticed a lack of traditional, wood-burning saunas in Northern Virginia when they moved to the area. “Most saunas here use electricity,” Alina said. “It’s a different kind of heat when you use wood. And you get the sound and smells of a crackling fire.” Oleh, a lifelong athlete, believes deeply in the health benefits of the sauna.
In their native Ukraine, and in many Slavic and Northern European countries, the sauna is part of the culture. “It’s something you do with friends, you go regularly,” Alina said. “It has health benefits, but it’s a social thing. Many people have one in their house.” They looked into building a sauna of their own, and their research led them to a company in New Jersey that built mobile saunas.
The mobile sauna could serve two groups of clients. First, those who want an at-home sauna experience, and second, the growing community of people using heat in their workouts. “Heated yoga, Pilates, all of these different groups of people are working out and want heat,” Alina said. “Same with detoxing, people are looking for new ways to detox.”
Read more: Making Yoga Rock in Northern Virginia
The pop-up model made sense as it offered more flexibility than a fixed sauna. They purchased the mobile sauna in January 2025 and Steam + Chill was born, starting off working with private clients and some gyms and fitness studios.
The Experience
The barrel-shaped sauna is pulled on a trailer, and Oleh and Alina will deliver it to your location. The sauna itself can fit up to six people, and the rental includes six lounge chairs + a table, two packs of firewood, a small refrigerator stocked with water, oak leaf branches, and the traditional hats worn in the sauna. There is also an add-on option of a cold plunge pool.
“Depending on the outside temperature, it takes between 30 and 60 minutes to get the sauna to the right temperature,” Alina said. Oleh, the sauna guru, says the ideal temperature is 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Oleh builds the fire and will show customers how to maintain it. “The sauna is well-insulated, so it keeps the heat in really well,” Alina said. But there is extra wood in case customers need it.
All the guests need to do is walk into the sauna and stay hydrated: the team manages the sauna from setup to teardown. The oak leaf branches are part of the routine, too. “You soak them in water, and then hit yourself with it,” Alina said. “It helps with circulation.”
Alina and Oleh agree that while the sauna is for everyone, first-timers in particular need to be mindful in their approach. They recommend first-timers take two to three short rounds, a few minutes each, in the sauna. “People do drink in the sauna or when they’re doing sauna, but we don’t recommend it,” Alina said. “The combination of alcohol and heat is too much.” They say that being prepared for the experience will make it better for customers, especially first-timers. “It’s important to listen to your body, and not overdo it,” Alina said.
What’s Next
Alina and Oleh say that as more people are interested in wellness, sauna culture is growing in popularity in the US. “It’s not just heated workouts and detoxing,” Alina said. “It’s people who want to hang out with their friends and do something different,” They recounted that one of their recent clients was a college student who rented the sauna as a part of an event to showcase different cultures.
See more: Cars and Coffee: A Weekend Tradition Throughout Northern Virginia
They love the feedback they get from customers. First-timers in particular are impressed by the experience, while seasoned sauna-goers remark on how authentic the experience is. “They all say how refreshed they felt,” Alina said. To book Steam + Chill, contact Alina + Oleh through the company’s website or social media.
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