We know.
Another recovery trend in Denver. It feels like there’s a new one every other day. A fresh cold plunge spot, an infrared sauna, red light therapy, blue light therapy, green light therapy…is that even a thing? As much as the Denver fitness scene has exploded, the wellness sphere has kept its pace. Granted, recovery isn’t just an add-on anymore — it’s the rightful cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. But, in a city where everything seems to have been done, the real question becomes…
Where does something different fit in?
That’s where Traverse Fitness and their steamy Thermotherapy classes come in. Located just off of South Broadway, Traverse Fitness opened in 2019 with a mission to push the limits of Denver’s workout scene. Owners Jim Gerber and Kris Peters made their mark with their high-intensity interval training classes and standout Altitude studio – a class format that takes place at simulated elevation that can go as high as 20,000 feet and pairs low-impact cardio with strength training.
Only a year ago, Traverse expanded their reign into the studio right next door. They launched a new era of Strength classes held in a world-class performance facility and introduced something practically unheard of in the Mile High — a Thermotherapy space.
Thermotherapy at Traverse takes place in their outdoor oasis, a wellness hideaway featuring an 18-person sauna, two cold plunges and plenty of space to lounge and chat amongst friends. While members can use the space freely, Traverse has gone a step further by incorporating the sauna and plunges into actual class formats. This elevated approach has gained popularity across the globe like in Canada and Europe, but now, Traverse has officially brought it stateside right here in Denver.
Leading the Thermotherapy charge at Traverse is Alycia Wong, Denver’s first and only certified sauna master who specializes in the traditional Aufguss sauna ritual.
Aufguss, derived from the German word “infusion,” is rooted in European wellness culture and transforms the standard sauna routine into a full-on experience. Think curated essential oil blends, choreographed towel waving that manipulates heat around the room and a meditative experience that’s part performance and part recovery. While Aufguss is just starting to gain traction in the United States, training and certification still require a trip overseas. Wong’s expertise is all the more rare.
Wong herself trained under Lay Pang Ong, five-time sauna Aufguss Danish Champion, and Deborah Carr, Director of the UK Sauna Society. With an extensive background in competitive dance and years in the fitness industry, she is now pioneering her own signature take on the practice, which she’s dubbed “Somatic Aufguss.”
Wong blends breath-work, light movement and mindfulness with all of the heat and ritual of traditional Aufguss. Her classes are immersive, sensory and unlike any recovery class in Denver right now. And yes, she gave 303 Magazine a first-hand look, or sweat, into what it’s all about.
Wong’s class began with a grounded stillness. Aromatherapeutic blends of bergamot and cedar welcomed students as Wong guided them through a dirgha pranayama technique, a slow, three-part breath starting in the stomach, working up towards the collarbone that encouraged awareness of any rising bodily tensions. Wong stayed observant with presence and intention as the scents drifted through the heat while the room fell into a quiet, steady focus.
As the next scent blend of sweet orange, peppermint and cinnamon danced in the air, the energy subtly awoke. Wong introduced a qigong body tapping experience, which started at the head and slowly made its way down towards the feet. The movement built rhythmically yet gently. Wong brought the next layer of practice in with a kundalini-inspired twist that encouraged movement and release as internal temperatures rose.
Then came the shift. Wong introduced a bold blend of cardamom and clove with the room fully heated and sweat actively pouring out. The tension increased as breathwork and movement became one. Wong reminded her students to stay connected in their bodies through the side stretches and eagle arms, despite the discomfort they may have brought. “Sit in the experience,” she prompted, gingerly holding space for whatever surfaced.
After reaching a near boiling point, the class was met with a cooling sigh of relief, the cold plunges. Students stepped outside and took turns in the tubs, each aiming for two minutes, but as Wong reminded them, “any amount you can do is enough.” Some held stoic faces. Others moved their limbs through the water. One or two even let out a cathartic war cry. With the plunges placed face-to-face, it became more than just a personal release but a moment of communal strength.
To close, Wong brought the group back into the sauna for one final round of breathwork, stretching and grounding. A final aromatherapy blend of ylang ylang and black pepper filled the space as Wong guided students through alternate nostril breathing to restore a sense of balance. The night ended in stillness and clarity with a quiet insight humming underneath, the kind that lingers long after the last drop of sweat has fallen.
Wong’s classes, complete with performative towel work, layered aromatherapy and breath-driven movement, verge on the spiritual. Her energy is both commanding and calming, a steady presence that holds the space with care.
For Wong and Traverse Fitness, this is just the beginning. Through her Somatic Aufguss practice, she hopes to help redefine what recovery can look like in Denver. Not just as a physical reset but as a way to build resilience and foster connection. In a world that rarely slows down, Wong offers something simple yet radical, a space to breathe, move and remember what it feels like to come back to yourself.
A new wellness trend in Denver that’s actually different.
We swear.
Traverse Fitness is located at 2449 South Broadway, Denver. It is open Monday – Thursday from 4:45 a.m. – 7:15 p.m., Fridays from 4:45 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Saturday – Sunday from 6:45 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Starting in July, Alycia Wong’s Aufguss classes will be held every Tuesday at 4:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
All Photography Courtesy of Kyle Kennedy.
