During the summer when I’m frequently irritable from the heat, the last thing I want to do is go hang out in a hot, humid place. Once fall starts to arrive and the weather begins to cool, however, one of my favorite places to be is at The Hothouse Spa on Capitol Hill.

The Hothouse is a women’s only bathhouse featuring a hot tub, a cold plunge shower, a quiet meditation/relaxation area, a sauna, and a steam room, all in a low-key, soothing environment. Bathing attire is acceptable for the shy but most women prefer to be nude so the very shy might be a little uncomfortable at first. I’m all for nudity myself–I’m actually on the hunt for Naturalist events I can attend.

The physical benefits of the spa are impressive–hair and skin are soft, lush and super-clean after a session, aches and pains are reduced or eliminated (an optional massage for an additional charge can also help with these issues)–but the mental/emotional benefits are important, too. No matter how stressed or depressed I am when I go in, I invariably leave feeling calmer and more at ease with myself.