thermal circuit

the three-phase thermal protocol that anchors the first stage of roadmap and underlies every subsequent stage of oxytocin.

the three elements

sauna — dry radiant heat, 80–95 °C. opens pores, dilates vessels, elevates core temperature. wood-paneled interior, helo heater. existing infrastructure.

hammam — wet steam, 40–50 °C. blue mosaic tile. sustained heat at lower intensity, gentler cardiovascular demand. existing infrastructure.

cold plunge — 10–15 °C immersion, 1–3 minutes. vasoconstriction, norepinephrine spike, the reset. the new addition that completes the circuit.

the protocol

one cycle: heat phase (sauna or hammam, 12–15 min) → cold plunge (1–3 min) → rest (10–15 min). three cycles constitute a full session.

the sequence is the product. the individual elements are components — the circuit delivers the full physiological response: elevated oxytocin release, improved heart rate variability, reduced cortisol.

capacity and scheduling

a single circuit session accommodates 4–6 guests. two sessions per day in stage-1. the constraint is the cold plunge — one installation services one session simultaneously.

the drinks counter (coffee, cold press, adaptogen teas) runs continuously between and after sessions — the thermal anchor draws the revenue tail on every visit.

relationship to membership

the thermal circuit is the entry point of the membership. every tier includes thermal access. the circuit is the trust-building loop: guests who come for heat and cold return as members who stay for everything else.

see services/README for the full services layer. see roadmap for the stage-1 build context.