PHOTOS AND VIDEOS: Estonia’s best Aufguss sauna masters have been chosen

From 26 to 28 July, Elamus SPA hosted for the first time the sauna masters’ Aufguss championships, combining sauna, aromas and theatre, where 22 performances could be seen over three days. During the event the best sauna master and team were chosen to represent Estonia at the world championships in the Netherlands.

Photos: Kaido Parv

Nine competitors measured their skills at the sauna masters’ championships held in Elamus SPA’s newly opened ritual sauna, which seats 100 bathers. 

The masters competed for the right to represent Estonia in the individual and team categories at the annual Aufguss world championships held in September in the Netherlands.

What is Aufguss?

Aufguss is a style of sauna ritual originating in Italy, in which the performer, the sauna master, uses towels to move the air current in order to spread heat and aroma in the sauna. This ritual is growing in popularity all over the world, combining sauna culture and performing art. The aim of the style is to offer bathers a unique and memorable experience, in which the sauna master performs a 12–15-minute story in a 70-degree sauna using theatre art, costumes, music, aroma oils, towel and fan techniques and visual effects.

Photos: Kaido Parv

Already familiar with Estonian sauna culture from earlier times, the vice-president of the Aufguss association Lasse Eriksen described the feelings the competition evokes: „You are undressed. You do not have the shield that is usually around you, and that makes you emotionally vulnerable. You feel scents and heat that create an interesting feeling, and then you see a story, a beautiful performance. All of this together, and the energy inside you, take you on a journey.”

The individual win went from receptionist to dancer

As a result of the three-day championships, the international jury chose as Estonia’s best sauna master in the individual category Ksenia Kolkina, who decided to step out of her role as an Elamus SPA receptionist only a few months before the competition.

Ksenia herself admitted that 17 years of dancing helps in the new field, but an even greater help was the director of the theatrical side of the ritual, Villiko Kruuse. 

According to Villiko, the content of sauna performances is varied, offering something more than just a sauna visit. In their productions the sauna masters use various aids, such as towels and whisks, to direct the hot air towards the audience and create a more intense sauna feeling. „The sauna temperature reaches 75 degrees, which adds challenge and authenticity to the performances,” Villiko noted.

As for choreography, Villiko stressed that the sauna stage is a special space where high temperature and limited room require movement to be adapted. He added that even for experienced dancers and actors, performing in such an environment can be difficult, as the high temperature affects body and mind by reducing the availability of oxygen in the brain.

Speaking about future plans, Ksenia is sparing with words, adding only that sauna masters’ performances can be seen at Elamus SPA every week and that new programmes are to be expected.

Travelling to the Netherlands to defend the title together with Ksenia are sauna masters Karl-Peeter Kangur, Brianna Berens and Johanna Jakobson, whose team ritual show inspired by horror films brought them the win.

An unprecedented sauna experience in Estonia

Elamus SPA in Mustamäe is the first place in Estonia to bring the novel Aufguss ritual to sauna lovers. The spa centre’s newly opened ritual sauna, intended for up to 100 people, is equipped with video, sound and lighting technology and a four-metre-long sauna stove.

According to Elamus SPA’s head of experiences, Margit Kurn , they have been practising towel techniques with bathers in small saunas for some time already. However, being the only member of the Aufguss association in Estonia, the centre needed a considerably larger sauna, which from now on will remain open to everyone. 

Over three days the championships brought together at Elamus SPA nine competitors and 15 different sauna masters from both Estonia and abroad, who gave a total of 22 sauna performances. The audience was enchanted by laughter, tears, a Viking show and even a UFO-themed performance. „The Estonian people have taken Aufguss to heart,” Margit said, adding that these three days brought thousands of emotions.

WATCH THE TRAILERS OF THE SAUNA PERFORMANCES!

Trailers of the sauna performances

“The fall of mother nature”

“Possession”

“Path to Valhalla”

“Everything is possible”

“Entering the Avatar state”

“Connection”

“Breakdown/dawnbreak”

“Space chef”

“Potion of youth”

SCHEDULE OF SAUNA RITUALS: