Today we’d like to introduce you to Debra OBanion.
Hi Debra, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story starts during the most difficult time of my life. My son was critically ill and on life support. He spent six months in the hospital, followed by four more months in outpatient rehab. His survival is considered a miracle in the medical world.
Living through that changes you. You spend months holding your breath, hoping for the next good day, and when it’s finally over, you’re not the same. I kept asking myself, “What do you do with this? How do you go through something so big and not feel called to do more with your life?”
I didn’t have the answer right away. What I did know was that I needed space — to think, to breathe, and to make sense of what had happened. That need took me on a solo trip to Finland.
I knew nothing about sauna before that trip. But in Finland, sauna is a way of life. I sat in the heat. I swam in the Baltic Sea. I swam in forest lakes. The physical effect was immediate, but the mental and emotional healing was even more profound. For the first time since my son’s illness, I felt grounded, clear, and strong.
I returned to Finland several times. I attended the World Sauna Forum. I immersed myself in the culture, learning about contrast therapy — the heat, the cold, the reset — and experiencing its ability to restore not just the body, but the mind and spirit.
When I came home, I knew I wanted to bring that experience to Dallas. I researched builders and found a third-generation Finnish sauna builder in Duluth, Minnesota. In the fall of 2024, I traveled there, met with the design team, and together we created a fully authentic, wood-burning cedar sauna — custom-built on a custom trailer so it could be mobile without compromising tradition or quality. Every detail was intentional. It was completed and delivered to me in March of 2025.
I didn’t just build a sauna — I built a way to bring authentic Finnish wellness to people who’ve never experienced anything like it.
That build became The Ritual Dallas — a mobile, authentic Finnish sauna experience. My goal is to give others a place to reconnect with themselves, learn the benefits of authentic sauna, and experience the emotional and mental restoration that changed my life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all. Bringing something this unique to Dallas has come with plenty of challenges.
One of the biggest hurdles has been the learning curve of running a mobile sauna business from the ground up. I had to figure out how to haul an 11,000-pound custom unit, set it up on-site, maintain it, and handle every part of operations on my own.
Another challenge has been the market itself. Dallas is not Finland, and most people here have never experienced an authentic, wood-burning sauna. A lot of my work has been education — helping people understand the culture, the benefits, and how different this is from what they think “sauna” means.
There have also been major logistical roadblocks. Insurance, registration, licensing — none of it had a clear path. Because this doesn’t fit neatly into any existing category, I’ve spent months explaining what it is, why it’s mobile, how it operates, and where it belongs in city systems that have never seen anything like it. Nothing about this has been plug-and-play.
And as a solo founder, I carry all of it — designing, hauling, setup, hosting, marketing, administration, and building community partnerships. It’s fulfilling work, but it’s demanding.
But every time someone steps out and says, “This is epic,” or “I’ve never felt anything like this before,” or “This exceeded my expectations,” it brings me back to why I started. The smiles, the connection, the sense of community — it’s a business that never disappoints. The joy it brings me is beyond what I ever imagined.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Ritual Dallas ~ Mobile Sauna. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Ritual Dallas is an 8-seater, mobile, authentic Finnish sauna designed for small groups, families, friends, and communities who want a meaningful and healthy way to gather. Built by a third-generation Finnish sauna builder and custom-designed on a custom trailer, it brings a traditional wood-burning sauna environment directly to neighborhoods, recreation centers, wellness events, and private gatherings.
I specialize in guiding groups through the rhythm of heat, cool, rest, and reset — a cycle that supports emotional clarity, stress reduction, mental grounding, and physical recovery. People notice the impact immediately, and it creates a natural space for connection, conversation, and shared experience.
The Ritual is the only luxury, guided, authentic Finnish mobile sauna experience in Dallas. What sets it apart is the intention behind every session. I guide each group through the full heat–cool–rest–reset cycle so they can experience the true mental, emotional, and physical benefits of sauna. Traditional Finnish löyly — steam created by throwing water on the rocks — is always part of the experience, and aromatherapy can be added upon request to deepen relaxation and enhance the sensory environment.
The Ritual is a strong complement to wellness events, recreation centers, small-group celebrations, neighborhood gatherings, and private sauna parties. It offers a new way for people to socialize in a holistic, grounding, and restorative environment.
Brand-wise, The Ritual represents connection, clarity, and reset. I am most proud of creating a space where families and friends can come together in a healthy, meaningful way while supporting their emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing. It brings something new to Dallas: a luxury, mobile Finnish sauna devoted to authentic tradition and guided wellness.
What I want readers to know is simple: The Ritual is an authentic, guided, luxury mobile sauna experience that brings holistic wellness and a new way of gathering directly to your event, recreation center, or small-group celebration.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
What I want readers to know is that The Ritual is more than a sauna — it’s a new way to gather. In a world that moves fast and feels loud, this experience slows everything down. It gives families and friends a healthy, meaningful way to connect, reset, and feel good again.
You don’t need to be a wellness expert or know anything about sauna. You just show up, breathe, follow the guided rhythm, and feel your whole system shift. People are surprised by how quickly it happens — the calm, the clarity, the emotional lift, the sense of being grounded again.
Dallas is ready for this. Ready for experiences that feel real. Ready for ways to socialize that support mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Ready for something that brings people together in a way that lasts long after the heat fades.
The Ritual brings that to your doorstep — an authentic Finnish sauna experience designed to restore you, reconnect you, and remind you what it feels like to feel good.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theritualdallas.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theritualdallas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576753415153
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-ritual-885970368/
