9 min read
A well-guided sauna ritual can be an experience in which bathers find, alongside the usual sauna experience, peace of mind, deep relaxation and contact with nature. Precisely that kind of experience is offered by Sauna Herbal Cup Estonia, taking place at Elamus Spa from 12 to 13 June, where professional sauna masters create rituals using only natural essences, plants, infusions, whisks, scrubs and aromas.
According to Elamus Spa head sauna master Ksenia Komarov, the Sauna Herbal Cup differs from a classic sauna ritual precisely in its closeness to nature and its completeness. While the usual sauna rituals focus above all on distributing heat, towel techniques and spectacle, the Herbal Cup’s focus is on plants, aromas and uniting the bathers’ inner experience.
“The Sauna Herbal Cup focuses mainly on plants, nature and sensing. While classic Aufguss puts greater emphasis on towel technique and show elements, at the Herbal Cup herbs, the use of whisks, the creation of aromas and affecting the body and senses in a natural way hold an important place. This is not simply a sauna show but a complete ritual in which the atmosphere, the touches, the scents, the steam and the emotions the sauna masters create for the guest come first,” Komarov explains.
The Sauna Herbal Cup is an international competition series whose aim is to bring nature back into the sauna. The competition began in 2013 and has by now spread to 17 countries around the world. Nine sauna masters are expected to take part in the Sauna Herbal Cup Estonia competition at Elamus Spa, and the competition is judged by international judges. The judging pays attention to the use of natural ingredients, the harmony of aromas, the theme and creativity of the ritual, as well as heat management, hygiene, professionalism and the wellbeing of the bathers. The materials used at the Sauna Herbal Cup must be 100% natural, and the different parts of the ritual should form a unified, comprehensible and safe whole.
The Sauna Herbal Cup is an international competition series whose aim is to bring nature back into the sauna.
Although the ritual may seem soft, flowing and natural to a bather, behind it lies precise work and a long preparation period. According to Komarov, preparing one competition ritual can take weeks or even months. “The sauna master has to think through the whole story, the temperatures, the plants used, the aromas, the music, the lights and the movements. The technical side is very important too – how the steam moves, how the different scents open up in the sauna and how the guests sense it.”
With a herbal ritual it is not enough for the sauna master to choose a pleasant scent or suitable music, because the whole ritual has to be in tune with itself. “Every sauna master has to practise a lot to perform a ritual like this, because the ritual has to feel natural and flowing,” Komarov adds.
Sauna Herbal Cup Estonia consists of three rounds. In the first round the participants introduce the theme of their ritual, their chosen plants and natural elements to the judges and the bathers. This is done at an individually designed table, where both the content and the visual whole matter.
In the second round a 15-minute herbal ritual is carried out in an 80-degree Aufguss sauna. There, among other things, it is assessed how the sauna master doses the heat and the aromas, how they carry the warmth to the bathers and how the ritual affects the audience present in the room.
In the third round a body exfoliation ritual takes place in the steam sauna. Under the sauna master’s guidance the guests can use the natural products handed out to them and experience how the scent, texture and touch of plants affect body and senses.
An audience is welcome at the Sauna Herbal Cup too, and they can experience the rituals themselves under the sauna masters’ guidance. According to Komarov, a visitor can expect very different experiences, because every sauna master creates their own world in the sauna. “Every ritual is different: one calms and grounds, another gives energy or takes you on an emotional journey. Visitors can experience different scents, warmth, plants, whisks, music and atmosphere on an entirely new level.”
The Herbal Cup’s variety makes it an exciting experience for those who do not consider themselves great connoisseurs of sauna rituals too. According to Ksenia, you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy a deeper sauna experience. “You don’t have to be a sauna guru or a connoisseur of rituals to enjoy this. The Herbal Cup’s rituals feel very natural and comprehensible to a person who simply loves a good sauna and relaxation as well. Often it is precisely these people who get the biggest surprise, because they get to experience how much one well-made ritual can affect how you feel and your emotions,” Komarov notes.
For the health-conscious sauna lover, the Herbal Cup can offer the chance to experience the sauna in a more attentive key than usual. During the ritual it is possible to calmly notice how the body reacts to the heat, which scents you pick up, how your breathing changes and what emotion the whole environment creates. A well-guided ritual directs attention into the body, giving the chance to relax not only physically but mentally too.
According to Komarov, after such an experience many people acknowledge that this was a far deeper experience than an ordinary sauna visit. “A great many people say after the ritual that they had no idea a sauna could be such a deep experience,” she says.
At the Sauna Herbal Cup Estonia competition at Elamus Spa, the three best sauna masters are chosen, who will go on to represent Estonia at the Sauna Herbal Cup Baltic competition taking place in Latvia from 24 to 26 July. There the best sauna masters of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will be determined, who will move on to the international Sauna Herbal Cup competition taking place in the Czech Republic from 26 to 29 November.
Komarov recommends the Sauna Herbal Cup to everyone who is not yet familiar with sauna rituals as well. “Come with an open mind and allow yourself to experience. Don’t compare the rituals only by which of them was the hottest or the strongest, but notice the details, the emotions and the feeling the ritual creates in you.” She also recommends taking time for the whole experience. “It is a good chance to take time to rest, drink water and enjoy the whole atmosphere,” Komarov adds.
Sauna Herbal Cup Estonia takes place at Elamus Spa from 12 to 13 June.
Herbal Cup 2026 competitors
All sauna masters who have experience running sauna rituals and work as sauna masters can take part in the Sauna Herbal Cup Estonia 2026 competition.
Of Elamus Spa’s sauna masters, Ksenia Komarov, Heidy Tammel, Hanna-Lisett Koppel, Frederik Vilms Jamsa and Ivan Hudik are entering the competition.
Elamus Spa · sauna master
Ritual theme
The atmosphere of a home bakery
“My ritual took its inspiration from the cosy atmosphere of a bakery — malt, fresh white bread, cardamom and vanilla.”
Elamus Spa · sauna master
Ritual theme
A journey into the fairy forest
“New challenges are always lovely — I will take you on a pleasant journey into the fairy forest.”
Elamus Spa · sauna master
Ritual theme
Astronauts and space
“I chose astronauts and space as my theme — in space every material is reused as much as possible, which goes excellently with the Herbal theme.”
Elamus Spa · sauna master
Ritual theme
A little meadow at the edge of a birch forest
“My ritual took its inspiration from Estonian nature and simplicity. On a pleasant journey, birch, chamomile and nettle meet – plants that are modest in appearance but hide a great deal of usefulness and healing power.”
Elamus Spa · sauna master
Ritual theme
Viru bog
“The theme of my ritual is the Viru bog. What unites the sauna and walking in a bog is peace, closeness to nature and the chance to slow down for a moment. Since today’s pace of life does not always allow you to go into nature, I bring a fragment of the Viru bog’s special mood into the sauna.”
The best of Sauna Herbal Cup Estonia move on to the Baltic competition, and from there the best to the final, which takes place in the Czech Republic.
Stage 1
Sauna masters compete at Elamus Spa. The three best move on to the Baltic competition.
12–13 June 2026 · Tallinn, Estonia
Stage 2
The best sauna masters of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania determine the Baltic representatives for the international final.
24–26 July 2026 · Latvia
Stage 3
The world’s best sauna masters meet at the international final competition in the Czech Republic.
26–29 November 2026 · Czech Republic
Sauna Herbal Cup Estonia 2026 invites all sauna lovers to take part. Come discover how plants, aromas and professional sauna artistry create an experience that touches your body and senses.
According to Dr Annelii Jürgenson, a rehabilitation specialist at the regional hospital, the sauna has a positive effect on the muscles, the joints and the circulation. Dr Jürgenson notes that regardless of the type of sauna, their effect on our supporting and connective tissues is healing and positive. In the sauna the muscles relax and we get help with various connective tissue strains and overloads. The sauna also offers relief for chronic joint and muscle conditions as well as for back problems, nerve inflammation and nerve pain in the arms. With bone and joint diseases, however, one should be careful with post-sauna cooling processes, as these may actually aggravate the condition. Sauna treatments also have a direct effect on the heart and circulatory system. Blood vessels dilate, blood pressure falls and the pulse improves. As a result of all this, our body’s overall blood supply improves, and to give off excess heat we begin to sweat.
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