NEW LENOX, IL — Matt Kucala doesn’t plan to hit the gym again.
It’s not that he doesn’t care about his health—actually, quite the opposite—but the 41-year-old Manhattan resident realized several years ago that he’d need to find innovative ways to maintain it. The New Lenox native’s father died of a sudden heart attack four years ago, bringing his own cardiac health into tighter focus.
“‘I should do something about my heart,'” he thought. “I don’t want to work out ever again. Getting me to go to the gym will never happen. I’ll never be caught in the gym doing any kind of workout, running, or lifting.”
The lifelong wrestler and former MMA fighter did his research, digging deep into alternative approaches to maintaining cardiac vitality. Wrestling and its impact had taken its toll on his body over time, inspiring him to seek out lower-impact methods.
“‘What can I do, without doing anything?'” he remembered thinking.
As he explored, he came upon infrared saunas, with some statistics saying that sitting in a sauna for 40 minutes is the exercise equivalent of running several miles, he said.
“I would love to go sit in a place for 30 minutes, collect my thoughts, sweat out all the bad stuff, and just feel better,” Kucala said.
His wife Megan, also a New Lenox native, said it quickly became about finding the best way to ensure his long life.
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“… It was important to find something that was like a cardiac workout, that was going to be helping him for longevity—and everybody else. Everyone in the family,” Megan Kucala said.
As more research surfaced and others began touting the health benefits of saunas, the couple decided it was a concept worth investing in. Owners of Edge Electric Technologies, LLC, the two are no strangers to entrepreneurship, and the idea of bringing a cutting-edge concept to their hometown just seemed right.
In 2022, they began pursuing their own The S’Wet Effect, an infrared sauna and cold plunge therapy studio. Located at 2360 E. Lincoln Highway, they pride themselves on being a unique addition to the New Lenox community.
They’re familiar faces in the area—Matt coaches wrestling, and Megan coaches cheerleading. The two have four children, ages 2, 6, 9, and 11 years old. As active members of the New Lenox, Manhattan, and Lincoln-way communities, they hope others will embrace their newest venture.
“There’s nothing in New Lenox like it, and we’re from here,” Megan said. “It’s the perfect spot to do it.”
After some obstacles along the way, the Providence Catholic High School alumni are ready for the community to see what they’ve been up to.
“I want people to come in here and just relax,” Matt Kucala said. “… I want you to have no stress when you leave here.”
“You should feel amazing,” Megan interjected. “You can be an athlete, you can be an older person. You can be somebody who doesn’t work out. You can just come sit in the sauna—each sauna session you can burn up to 600 calories, and you feel amazing after.”
Sauna use is shown to reduce all cause mortality, lower risk of hypertension, reduced heart disease mortality, and lower risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. It can also help with relaxation and mental health, weight loss and detoxification, muscle recovery, and overall immunity.
Cold plunge therapy can increase metabolism, boost dopamine, reduce inflammation, improve sleep, reduce swelling, and provide immune support.
The studio features options for sauna use, in individual sauna suites. The saunas are customized to accommodate either solo occupants, or several. The suites are equipped with screens enabled for YouTube, Hulu, or streaming services, as well as Internet access. Sauna guests can opt to unplug entirely, or multi-task during their visits, the couple said. Chromotherapy lights can be adjusted to maximize benefits, as well. From the sauna suites, customers can step into cold plunge tanks, with adjustable thermostats and timing.
Customers are welcome to wear athleisure attire, bathing suits or their “birthday suits” while inside a private sauna suite. Kucala recommends bringing a change of clothes to wear after.
They’re tried to think of everything—the studio provides a shower for rinsing, as well as a beauty bar for patrons. It’s stocked with essentials like makeup removal wipes and Dude Shower Wipes.
“A lot of people like to go to the gym,” Megan Kucala said. “They like to do their workouts. But now—it’s a place for athletes to use it, but also people who are not athletic. People who don’t really have the mobility, people who are recovering from accidents or have autoimmune disease.
“It’s the best thing you can do.”
The S’Wet Effect, 2360 E Lincoln Hwy, opens Monday, Nov. 11. Hours are Monday through Thursday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, and 8 a.m to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Pricing and other information is available on the business’ website.
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