How Using a Sauna Changed Rick Rubin’s Life

In the late 90s, Rick Rubin produced the Beastie Boys and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Today, he’s a household name whose credits include Kanye West’s Yeezus, Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP 2 and Johnny Cash’s American Recordings series.

But even before he was famous for his work with some of music’s biggest artists, Rubin had an unusual hobby: he liked to spend time in an outdoor sauna.

And now he wants everyone else to try it out too — at least once in their life.

The famed hip-hop producer is a sauna enthusiast.

Rick Rubin is a sauna enthusiast.

In fact, he’s been using the traditional Finnish therapy for over 15 years and has even built a dedicated traditional sauna at his Malibu property.

“I love how it makes me feel,” Rubin tells Well+Good.

“It organically helps my mood and energy level, which helps in all aspects of life: work, relationships and so on.”

Rubin uses his saunas in the morning to wake up—and also at night to wind down after a long day of working with artists like Kanye West or Eminem.”

He and his wife, Veronica Ferres, bought a Russian bathhouse in Los Angeles.

In October 2006, Rubin and his wife, Veronica Ferres, purchased a Russian bathhouse in Los Angeles.

“We were looking for something very authentic and found this place on the Internet,” Rubin says.

“It was in Glendale and it was falling apart; the roof had fallen off and it wasn’t really inhabitable anymore. But we saw that there was potential to restore it to its former glory.”

He did just that by hiring architect Thomas Phifer to build a sauna on his Malibu estate.

The 2,000-square-foot space has an indoor swimming pool and two Finnish saunas: one for men only (I forgot to ask if there were any signs indicating how long one should sit in each), as well as one shared by both genders (but don’t go thinking this is some communal hippie hangout—people are asked not wear bathing suits).

Rubin also built one on his Malibu property.

But he hasn’t stopped there.

Rubin has gone on to build his own sauna at the Malibu property he owns, and it’s a sweet deal. As he told the Times, “The thing I like about this is that it’s not very expensive to build.”

He also said that he likes being able to “walk outside and do a few sets of pushups,” something that’s not always possible when you’re in New York or LA.

Of course, having your own private sauna isn’t all fun and games; you must use it (and work out) if you want the health benefits.

Rubin uses his regularly, but only after working out: “[I] go for a run or walk first thing in the morning and then jump into a hot bath.”

As for whether other people should be building their saunas? Well …

The sauna’s steam room is best for muscle recovery.

The sauna is a great place to relax and unwind.

In addition to the steam room, a sauna can have a cold plunge pool and perhaps even an ice bath—all of which help people recover from exercise.

The heat helps muscles recover more quickly after a workout and can also help you sleep better if you’re struggling with insomnia.

The sauna’s steam room is best for muscle recovery because it increases blood flow back into your heart while relieving tension throughout your body.

When we exercise, our muscles contract (this is what happens when you lift weights), but blood flow is restricted during this process in order to protect the body from injury or damage caused by swelling tissue.

As soon as exercise ends, however, blood flow needs increased so that oxygenated blood can reach those tense parts of our bodies where we held out during our workout!

The steam room allows us to safely increase blood flow into our hearts without increasing pressure too much at once—thus reducing muscle soreness post-workout!

Rubin says the sauna eases his anxiety and helps him unwind.

Rubin says the sauna helps him relax and unwind.

“I use it for that purpose,” he said. “I don’t go there just to sweat; I go there because I’m not going to be thinking about other things.”

Rubin uses the sauna at home, in his backyard and at work because they all have different temperatures, which he says are important to his mental state.

He recommends using a sauna to other creative people who need help coming up with new ideas.

The sauna is typically relaxing and meditative for Rubin.

The sauna is typically relaxing and meditative for Rubin. It’s a place to unwind, think, and have new ideas.

While the heat can be difficult to withstand at first, it’s also an incredible tool for relaxation. “It relieves stress in your body and mind,” says Rubin.

“It helps you sleep better—you sweat out all of these toxins that are making you feel tired or anxious or stressed out.

And when you sweat those things off your body, it just feels so good! You feel like you got a massage—like someone just rubbed their hands all over your body.”

He uses it to come up with new ideas.

Rubin’s sauna is one of the most relaxing spaces in his home. It’s where he unwinds and can think about things.

“It’s a creative space for me,” he says. “I go there when I have ideas for music or movies, or just new things that I want to do.”

For Rubin, it’s not just about getting into a comfortable space—it’s about creating an environment that helps him think differently than he normally would.

“I go into the sauna and try to stay there as long as possible,” he explains.

“I can’t hear anything else going on around me; it’s just me and my thoughts.”

Rubin believes any creative person should have a sauna in their home or place of work.

“I don’t know if it’s the sauna or just being around really good people, but over the years, I have become more relaxed, calm and less anxious than when I was younger.

In Finland, they say that saunas are part of everyone’s DNA—like eating or breathing.

They believe that if you want to be creative and productive as a child (and even an adult), then you should get into a sauna as often as possible.

At first this concept seemed strange to me: A hot room full of strangers sweating together?

It didn’t sound very appealing at all!

But after trying it out myself and seeing how my body responded positively from regular sauna use… well let’s just say now I can’t imagine life without them!

Rubin is a big advocate for saunas, especially if you’re working in the creative field.

Because of his own experience with saunas, Rubin has come up with some great ideas that have helped him be more productive and creative.

If you’re looking for a way to improve your creativity, consider adding one of these rooms into your home or office space!