Leelanau’s own wellness startup, Fox & Flame Sauna - the brainchild of health enthusiasts Joe Buteyn and Crystal Mason - is gearing up for a busy winter (prepare for a permanent cold-plunge tank) with upgrades planned for January and beyond.

Born of the pair’s post-isolation search for a health-focused family activity, the Elmwood Township spot launched in spring, following nearly five months of construction. Says Mason, “I kept bugging Joe (a veteran builder and furniture-maker) about building a sauna for our family as a way to get healthy and connect.”

In an effort to maintain authenticity, the two set their sights on a wood-burning sauna, which Mason experienced as a child in the “sauna belt” of the Upper Peninsula. The search led the pair to northern Minnesota - and an expert in sauna construction - whose online cohort introduced them to the ins and outs of a custom build. “He shared with us how to move through the logistics of the whole process,” says Buteyn, “and that sparked [the idea] of doing something bigger.”

Fox & Flame’s wellness space comprises a 12-by-8-foot sudatory (that’s the heated room), which Buteyn built with recycled wood, including Northport-sourced Redwood and cedar elements. There’s also a firepit and camp-style seating, for what he calls the “cold punch” of sauna practice.

For the unfamiliar, a traditional sauna “round” starts with 10–15-minutes of heat, followed by some time to cool off. Amidst Fox & Flame’s forest surroundings, that could look like stepping outside (Michigan weather depending, of course), or taking a cold bath or shower. “Then, you rest and rehydrate,” says Mason.

At Fox & Flame, each wellness experience (which are booked in 75-minute slots) starts with a quick informational session, wherein each group meets their guide - “that’s usually Joe or myself,” says Mason - for an overview of safety precautions and health benefits for their time in the sauna. “Then, we’re just there to help guide you,” she says.

Within that general framework, the pair explain that each sauna session is individual. “How I feel and how long I can be comfortable inside before I’m ready for a break is always different,” says Buteyn.

This often depends on physical factors, like hydration levels and when you last ate; as such, they encourage their guests to stay in touch with their bodies whilst in the sauna. Says Mason, “It’s all about taking a break and grounding, and listening to what they need in the moment.”

She also highlights human connection as an overall aim of the business. “We were all so isolated after the pandemic,” says Mason, “so the idea of being healthy together was something that got us excited.” As part of that, she and Buteyn look forward to forging a community space where guests can gather to support their health. Saunas are also inherently tech-free, making them the ideal environment to ground one’s self in other people. “As a host, I love that [clients can move] from the fast-paced world to a slower rest of their day,” she explains. “It brings me a lot of happiness to see how much joy other people get from the experience.”

Fox & Flame also offers custom saunas for individuals’ at-home use. Outdoor units are the standard (though Buteyn’s dabbled in basement builds), and each is constructed -from studs to stove - to match each client’s style and preference. “The goal is to help people find their vision, so [each unit] is very much designed for that individual,” he explains. “It’s always fun, and everyone comes out happy.” In fact, the pair hope to expand this branch of the business with mobile units completed off-site and delivered to each client’s location.

Other coming additions at Fox & Flame include a 16-foot deck extension, as well as a partially-covered roof, to serve as the sauna’s home “docking” station. “I think it’ll be a really cool hang-out space,” says Buteyn. He also informs the Leelanau Ticker that there’s a larger sauna in the works, which is designed to host parties of 10-12;though it’ll stay on the backburner for now. He says, “We’re focusing on our smaller unit now and [making] that experience perfect.”