The Alaska Club Fits Relaxation into Fitness with Nordic Spa
In a traditional Finnish sauna, the steam from water thrown on the rocks is a mystical lifeforce called löyly.
Photo Credit: The Alaska Club
Soaking in one of three hot tubs at the new Nordic spa at The Alaska Club, one can almost forget it’s rush hour. Just beyond the cedar fence, cars clog Tudor Road, but the hum of traffic fades under the soundtrack of bubbling pools and waterfalls.
The spa is The Alaska Club’s newest addition to its Eastside location. “We wanted to create a destination, a place where it was easy to get to. You don’t have to drive miles away; we’re right down the street,” says Debbie Cedeno, senior VP of sales and marketing for The Alaska Club.
Elevated Experience
The amenity at the East Anchorage fitness club draws from the same Scandinavian tradition that Alyeska Resort brought to Alaska in 2022, only closer to town. The “contrast therapy” model has guests move through a series of hot tubs and cold pools, a warming pool, a sauna, and a steam room—a ritual meant to improve circulation and support recovery.
Conceived as a value-added perk for members of The Alaska Club, the spa capitalizes on existing infrastructure, sharing locker rooms with the pool. Although the space for changing can get a little crowded, once guests emerge into the 6,072-square-foot spa area—with its heated sidewalks, fireside seating, and lounge area—the atmosphere is more relaxed. The eight-foot-tall fence really does block out the sound of traffic on Tudor Road, and the club’s existing landscaping lends the setting a forested ambiance.
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“Alongside investments in trampoline parks, splash parks, and state‑of‑the‑art weight rooms, the Nordic Spa at The Alaska Club represents our continued commitment to offering a comprehensive, elevated experience that supports long‑term health and performance for our members,” says Trent Bogh, vice president of membership development and personal training.
In 2024, The Alaska Club invested in a “super slide” to its indoor pool, largely appealing to kids; the 21-and-over spa has potential to interest young adults in maintaining a membership as they age out of their parents’ homes.
The addition of the spa is part of The Alaska Club’s intention to center itself as a “family club,” notes Cedeno. She highlights how members who came to the club as kids with their families are now grown up and bring their own children. Cedeno says, “[The Alaska Club] is forty years old, so we have had a number of members who said, ‘Oh, I used to be here when I was a kid. My parents used to drop me off here to play in the summer.’”
Access to the spa is included in club membership, but guest passes do not include spa access.
As an addition to the fitness club, the Nordic spa provides wellness-minded members with an easily accessed option for recovery days. The Alaska Club CEO Robert Brewster says a constant evaluation of how members use the facility, along with attention to how fitness culture has shifted, helped influence the development of new amenities like the spa.
“Recent research has emphasized the importance of engaging in recovery and mental health as a crucial part of overall well-being,” he says. “We are broadening our appeal and deepening the value for the members we serve. By delivering a more complete, well-rounded membership that comprehensively blends fitness, recovery, and recreation—all under one roof—we are transforming the member experience.”
Cedeno envisions club members building an additional day into their workout routines meant solely for visiting the spa for therapeutic recovery.
By adding a Nordic spa to The Alaska Club East, a recovery day becomes part of members’ fitness routine.
Photo Credit: The Alaska Club
“Fitness nowadays means rest, recovery, de-stress,” she says.
Access to the Nordic spa is included with Alaska Club Gold and Platinum memberships; non-members can reserve an hour at the spa for $65 using an online system. The Nordic spa is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at The Alaska Club East.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article erroneously attributed statements to The Alaska Club East spa manager Terri Ann Clark.
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