Recovery at Cultivate
Relaxation and recovery centered around community and wellness. Sauna and cold plunge in downtown Asheville, with a brand new bathhouse coming to the South Slope in December.
Our recovery spaces
Every Cultivate recovery space comes down to the same simple ritual: a hot sauna, a cold plunge, and room to sit and reset between rounds. Come after a workout, before work, or just because. Pick the spot that fits your day.
Phase 1 opens December 2026
A 6,000 sq. ft. bathhouse on the South Slope with two saunas, six cold plunges at a range of temperatures, guided sauna sessions, and a non-alcoholic bar. Bathhouse memberships are separate, with discounted passes for Cultivate members.
230 Short Coxe Ave
Opening November 2
Downtown Asheville’s sauna and cold plunge, inside The Bunker. A 180°F traditional sauna, two cold plunges (40–45°F and 55–59°F), three showers, and plenty of space to relax between rounds.
45 S French Broad Ave
How contrast therapy works
Contrast therapy just means moving between heat and cold. Most people do two or three rounds. Go at your own pace, and get out whenever your body tells you to.
01
Shower before your first sauna round, and again before you get in the plunge.
02
10 to 15 minutes in the sauna. Sit low on the bench if it’s your first time.
03
1 to 3 minutes in the plunge. Get in slowly and focus on long exhales.
04
Sit until your breathing settles, drink water, then go again.
Benefits of sauna + cold plunge
You don’t have to be an athlete, or a recovery nerd, to get something out of this. Here’s the short version of why it helps.
Heat brings blood to tired muscles. Members report quicker recovery with consistent use.
Cold water asks you to breathe slowly under stress, a skill that carries into everything else. Short dips, long exhales, repeat.
Contrast therapy is as much about winding down as it is about the muscles. Twenty minutes here and the day looks different.
Before you come in
Sauna and cold plunge aren’t for everyone. Education matters more than toughness here.
Sauna + cold plunge in Asheville
Cultivate’s recovery spaces are opening around Asheville. The Lounge @ The Bunker is in downtown Asheville at 45 S French Broad Ave, and opens November 2. The Bathhouse is a standalone sauna + cold plunge facility on the South Slope at 230 Short Coxe Ave, with phase 1 opening December 2026.
Contrast therapy means moving between heat and cold: time in a hot sauna, a short dip in a cold plunge, then rest. People use it for muscle recovery, to wind down after a long day, and to practice staying calm when things get uncomfortable. It’s been part of sauna culture for centuries, and it’s simple enough to try on your first visit.
Most people do two or three rounds. Start with 10 to 15 minutes in the sauna, then 1 to 3 minutes in the plunge, then rest until your breathing settles. Repeat as many times as feels good. Rinse off before the plunge, and drink plenty of water throughout.
Start with 10 to 15 minutes in the sauna and 1 to 3 minutes in the cold plunge. If you’re new, shorter is fine. Thirty seconds is a real first plunge. Get out whenever you feel dizzy, lightheaded, or just done.
At the Lounge @ The Bunker, the sauna runs at 180°F and we have one cold plunge that sits between 40 and 45°F and one between 55 and 59°F. The Bathhouse will have six cold plunges at a range of temperatures, so you can start warmer and work your way colder.
The Lounge @ The Bunker has a traditional dry sauna. Traditional saunas heat the air around you and run much hotter than a typical infrared sauna, so you sweat faster and the contrast with the plunge is sharper. We’ll share full sauna details for the Bathhouse before it opens.
People use sauna and cold plunge to ease sore muscles, wind down after hard training, sleep better, and clear their head. Our members report quicker muscle recovery, more mental resilience, and an overall better sense of wellbeing with consistent use. The research is still catching up on some of the bigger claims, so we’ll leave it there.
It’s one of the easiest recovery habits to build. Heat brings blood to tired muscles, and a short cold plunge helps take the edge off next-day soreness. Pair it with water, food, and good sleep after a hard workout, a long run, or a day on the trail.
No. While memberships are available for The Lounge (via a Bunker membership) and will be available for the Bathhouse, day passes are also available. Each location’s page has current rates.
Not at the Lounge @ The Bunker. Check in at the front desk and stay as long as you like, with no time limit on your visit. We’ll share booking details for the Bathhouse before it opens.
The Bathhouse is a standalone, 6,000 sq. ft. bathhouse built around recovery, with two saunas, six cold plunges, guided sauna sessions, discounted massage for members, wellness programming, and a non-alcoholic bar. The Lounge is a smaller sauna and cold plunge space inside The Bunker, made for a quick reset before or after a workout or class.
No. Plenty of people come just for the sauna and cold plunge. The Bathhouse has its own memberships with no climbing attached, and you never need to set foot on the wall to enjoy the Lounge.
Bring a swimsuit (or athletic shorts and a sports bra), a towel, flip flops or sandals, and a water bottle. Skip lotions and oils, since you’ll rinse off before the sauna anyway.
Shower before your first sauna round and before you get in the cold plunge. Sit on a towel. Keep conversation low so people who came to decompress can.
Not for everyone. If you are pregnant, have a heart condition, have high or low blood pressure, or take medication that affects circulation or body temperature, talk to your doctor before your first visit. Get out if you feel dizzy or lightheaded, and never plunge alone if you are unsure how your body will react.
You must be 18 or older to use the Lounge @ The Bunker. We’ll share age guidelines for the Bathhouse before it opens.
Start with the sauna and get warm first. When you get in the plunge, go slow and focus on long exhales. Thirty seconds is a real first plunge. You can build from there, and there’s no prize for staying in longer than feels right.
Still have a question? Ask at the front desk or email mail@cultivateclimbing.com.
Move. Connect. Thrive.
Sauna and cold plunge, now open in downtown Asheville with more on the way. Find the location that fits your day.
We’re pausing towel service while we work on getting our new laundry room outfitted. The Bunker shower will remain operational, just please plan to bring your own towel!
Jacqueline first fell in love with yoga at 14, squeezing in an after school practice with a tiny group of teenage girls. By college, she had delved deeper into her practice through the disciplined style of Ashtanga Yoga. In 2018 Jacqueline became a RYT 200 and started teaching yoga and its philosophies to teenage girls. Jacqueline’s teaching styles include beginner, vinyasa, power, yin, restorative, meditation, and philosophy. Today, she focuses on living the practice off the mat as much as on and is currently pursuing her 300 YTT at Asheville Yoga Center. She loves to guide her students into linking their breath and movement together into a deep class with a great beat
Claudia started practicing yoga in 2015 as part of her journey of rebuilding her relationship with exercise. In yoga, she discovered the joy and pleasure that can come from movement. Yoga taught her to be flexible with herself, celebrate her body and listen to her intuition. Claudia received her RYT-200 certification in 2019 from Ganesha Yoga, where she trained in vinyasa, yin and restorative styles. In 2023, she completed training in Yoga Sculpt at Down Dog. Claudia is passionate about helping students connect with their body and find joyful movement in their lives. Yoga Sculpt and Restore are Claudia’s favorite styles of yoga to teach. You can expect carefully curated playlists that support, encourage and energize you throughout your practice. In addition to yoga, Claudia is a self-proclaimed foodie, who also enjoys hiking, snowboarding, reading, and crafting.
Trish is an ACE certified fitness instructor specializing in Pilates inspired, core-focused, and strength-training sequences. Pilates Strength is a full body low impact workout utilizing props and weights for added resistance. You will get stronger moving along with fun beats!
Trish began practicing Pilates as a teenager which has complemented a background in dance, barre, and hot yoga as well as teaching stretching, HIIT, and strength training classes. She is also certified in functional nutrition, behavior change, and corrective movement for chronic pain. Trish runs a pet sitting business and enjoys cooking, Stand Up Paddleboarding, traveling, and photography.
Lindsey has been teaching since 2021 after completing her 200 hour YTT at Yonder Yoga in Atlanta, GA. In her classes, you can expect a great workout, eclectic playlist, and to play around with unique postures. Yoga found Lindsey at a time where she needed it the most and immediately fell in love with both the mental and physical challenge that comes from being on the mat. When not in the studio, you can find her hiking, hanging out with her dogs, or drinking coffee.
Lauren first started doing yoga with her mom when she was a child, but truly got into the practice when she was 17. While the cadence and style of her practice has ranged over the past 8 years, Lauren’s love for yoga stems from it being something she can always return to and can always look at with fresh eyes. In 2022, Lauren received her 200hr teacher training in Ecuador — where she attended a program that focused on asana, pranayama, and Shamanism. In her classes, Lauren aims to provide a space where people can tune into their body and develop a deeper relationship with themselves. She also aims to add levity to her classes, and encourages laughter and silliness as a key part of the practice. When she’s not teaching or practicing yoga, Lauren loves to throw pottery, climb, and play a good game (whether it’s a board game, card game, charades, etc — she’s there).
Hannah is devoted to creating spaces of connection, curiosity, and care. Rooted in the belief that healing happens in relationships (both to self and to others), Hannah’s classes blend intuitive movement, nervous system awareness, and a gentleness that invites people to come exactly as they are. She completed her 200 hour training with HereNowYoga in 2019, Acro Love certification in 2021, and is currently enrolled in Chromatic 300 hour yoga training to continue deepening her knowledge for her students. While not in class, you can find Hannah practicing one of her many joyful hobbies: acro, slacklining, flow arts, or cooking. You may also find her simply soaking up time in nature, gathering with friends, and exploring new ways to move, connect, and create. These practices off the mat continue to inspire the playfulness, presence, and curiosity she brings into every space she holds.
Sophie began practicing yoga in 2011 and has been teaching since 2014. She holds over 500 hours of certification, including a 200-hour training from Konalani Yoga Ashram, a 300-hour certification from School Yoga Institute, a 200-hour LYT Anatomy Training, and several adaptive yoga trainings. She enjoys leading classes that emphasize functional movement in a safe and supportive environment, empowering students to explore challenge at their own pace. Sophie is passionate about creating inclusive spaces where individuals of all abilities can connect to their mind, body, and breath. While Sophie loves teaching functional flows, most of her time is now devoted to sharing adaptive yoga for children, teens, and adults with disabilities. Outside of teaching, Sophie enjoys backpacking, swimming in oceans and waterfalls, and spending intentional time in nature.
Morai is a long-time yoga teacher with a playful, grounded approach and a deep respect for the body’s natural intelligence. Morai completed her 200 hour certification with Jaya Yoga in 2017 and is also Sustainable Yoga Asana Foundation (SAYF) certified. With nearly a decade of experience, she teaches classes that range from restorative and nervous system-supportive to strength-building and mobility-focused. Her style is welcoming, intentional, and rooted in sustainable movement that meets students where they are. Her classes support recovery, joint stability, and full-body integration to help you move better, feel stronger, and stay injury-free—whether you’re sending routes or seeking balance in your body from daily life. When she’s not on her mat, you can find Morai climbing at the gym, doing ceramics, dancing, and baking.
Ana practices yoga as a means to find presence and embodiment. She started the practice through college gym classes, and then made her way through all the new student specials that local studios had so she could get her fix. She completed her 200 hour training through School Yoga Institute in 2021, then dived into teaching free park yoga and a weekly vinyasa class at her then-climbing gym in Gainesville, FL. Ana found community in yoga through teaching hot vinyasa classes and machine pilates in Chattanooga, TN before moving to Asheville, NC. When she’s not teaching yoga or in a workshop for her 300 hour training at Asheville Yoga Center, you can find her fixing bicycles and leading rides at Gravelo Workshop. She loves to move her body, make food, and hangout with her cat. Through her classes, she hopes to create an immersive experience that holds space for breath, movement, and connection to the self while providing plenty of opportunities to strengthen!
