Do I need prior sauna experience?

No — the sessions are guided and accessible; hosts provide instruction for safe use and cold-plunge options are optional.

What is the refund policy?

All bookings are non-refundable per the event listing.

Is the experience open to everyone?

This specific event is open to women only and guests must be 21 or older.

What should I bring to the retreat?

Bring a bathing suit, journal, pen, dry clothes, and footwear you can move in; towels and robes are provided.

How big are the groups?

Group size is limited to 12 to keep the experience intimate and supportive.

Are cold plunges safe if I have health conditions?

Consult your physician if you have cardiovascular or other serious health concerns; hosts will offer guidance but medical clearance is your responsibility.

The Common Hearth: Winter Sauna, Cold Plunge & Somatic Retreat near Belleville, WI | Workshop | Eco Tour

Southern Wisconsin’s river valleys and quiet farm roads set the scene for Off Menu Mid-Winter Retreat (for Women): The Common Hearth, a half-day reset that threads sauna steam, cold plunge, movement, art, and seasonal food into one restorative package. This one-off event gathers on Sunday, Feb 1, 2026 at locations near Paoli and inside Seven Acre Dairy in Belleville, creating a short pilgrimage from riverbank heat to kitchen table conversation. Led by Otehlia Cassidy, Lynsey Genevieve, and Kristin Klingman, the retreat centers around Tuli Sauna and Plunge on the banks of the Little Sugar River—a wood-fired sauna that opens onto river and hardwoods—and then moves into Seven Acre Dairy for herbal learning, somatic practice, and a locally sourced lunch by Little Cloud Cafe. Expect two guided sauna sessions with an optional cold plunge, collage-based art and journaling prompts, a somatic regulation session, and a light but grounding Cuba rueda dance practice. The small group (limit 12) keeps the experience intimate and attentive. What makes this offering stand out in southern Wisconsin is the cultural threading: acute respect for Northern European communal bathing traditions paired with Indigenous ancestral foodways and herbal infusions guided by an Anishinaabe somatic practitioner. That combination creates a restorative arc—sweat and shock, slow movement, and shared sustenance—rooted in land-based reciprocity rather than a commercial spa model. Practical details are straightforward: arrive by 10:45 for an 11:00 start; bring a bathing suit, journal, pen, and dry change of clothes—towels and robes are provided. Early bird pricing is $159 before Jan 18, 2026; $179 thereafter. Note that bookings are non-refundable and participants must be 21 or older. The itinerary flows from intention-setting with tea and mezcal to two sauna rounds interleaved with art, a somatic practice with Kristin, movement with Otehlia, and a shared seasonal lunch. Photographers will appreciate the contrast between the glowing cedar interior of the sauna, crisp river ice and bare-branched trees, and the warm light spilling into the dairy kitchen. Beyond the tangible comforts, this retreat works because it privileges simple human economies—shared heat, shared food, and shared presence—as tools for resetting a worn nervous system. If you want a focused, local day that trades checklist tourism for embodied care and community, The Common Hearth is a rare winter offering to book when you’re in the Belleville–Paoli corridor. Small logistical notes: the event is designed for accessibility to newer wellness seekers—no prior sauna or somatic experience is required—but it supports deeper practice for those bringing thermal-bathing familiarity. Hosts provide towels, robes, a take-away gift, and guidance for safe cold plunges; the rural setting offers quiet walks along the Little Sugar River after lunch for anyone who wants to extend the pause before returning home again.

About Madison Eats

Madison Eats is a Madison, Wisconsin–based culinary tour company that offers guided food and drink experiences highlighting local chefs, restaurants, and producers. Specializing in neighborhood walking and biking tours, Madison Eats curates tastings, drink pairings, and behind-the-scenes stories that showcase the city's diverse food culture.

Tours include the Bike n Bites Tour, a three-hour electric-assist bicycle route with seven food tastings and two drinks; the Willy Street Global Eats Food Tour, featuring generous tastings from Indonesian, Latin, East African, and Pakistani cuisines across five stops; the Capitol Square Downtown Tour, which pairs classic Wisconsin dishes like cheese curds and pizza with a Capitol visit; and the Holiday Cocktail & Food Tour, offering seven seasonal tastings and three festive drinks including a cocktail from a James Beard Award-nominated chef. Madison Eats also partners with local producers for special events such as the Cheese Camp, a one-night summer experience presented with Camp Trippalindee that includes tastings from Landmark Creamery, cheeseboard-making instruction, and curated drink pairings.

Guides focus on food history, sourcing, and culinary craft, and itineraries highlight the people behind Madison's restaurants and growers. Reservations are available for public tours and private groups, and each experience emphasizes generous portions and storytelling. Madison Eats builds trust through transparent partnerships with local businesses, clear tour descriptions, and consistent public programming that connects visitors and residents to Madison's culinary scene. Public schedules, booking policies, and accessibility details are posted online to help guests plan. Group bookings and private tours are available on request. Seasonal options.