29. December 2023 11 min read

What is Aufguss? Aufguss is a sauna ritual experienced in the sauna that is never exactly the same twice

The idea of a sauna year began in 2019, when Maaleht journalist Rein Sikk declared on the radio that there could be a themed year dedicated specifically to the sauna. The idea did not come to life immediately, but it stayed in the air and, through the cooperation of good people, came alive in 2023. Some time ago Elamus SPA sauna master Johanna Jakobson spoke on Kuku radio’s morning programme about how the customs of going to and being in the sauna are broadening. So how were sauna rituals born, what is Aufguss, where and when do the next Aufguss World Championships take place, and did the sauna year on the whole advance sauna culture or not?

How were sauna rituals born?

Some time ago Elamus SPA sauna master Johanna Jakobson spoke on Kuku radio’s morning programme about how, with time, the customs of being in the sauna and of sauna rituals are being renewed and broadened. You can enjoy the sauna by throwing the steam and whisking yourself, but an even more pleasant sauna experience comes when a sauna master does all of it, adding various aromas to the steam water or to ice balls, using different whisks and techniques for directing the hot air. As a result, sauna rituals began to be held – 10–15 minute activities in the sauna. “The sauna master’s task is, through their actions, to offer the visitors in the sauna genuine relaxation – throwing the steam and directing the air currents, and using various incenses, aroma oils, music and whisks. In other words, to offer a genuine sauna experience,” she explains.

You can enjoy the sauna by throwing the steam and whisking yourself, but an even more pleasant sauna experience comes when a sauna master does all of it, adding various aromas to the steam water or to ice balls, using different whisks and techniques for directing the hot air.

Johanna points out that when there is a guided activity in the sauna, being there offers more enjoyment and also more joy. In addition, various aroma oils have a good effect on the airways and help body and mind relax more deeply. “Many people cannot stay in the sauna for long because it gets too hot for them, but when a sauna ritual is taking place, attention moves away from the heat and people can focus on what is happening in the sauna and do not even notice that they are too hot. So they can sweat more, whisk, let themselves go and relax,” she says.

Johanna Jakobson (Foto Karen Härms) — Johanna Jakobson. Photo: Karen Härms

What is Aufguss?

Elamus SPA sauna masters Johanna Jakobson and Karl-Peeter Kangur went to Germany in September to represent Estonia at the world competition of sauna masters of Aufguss, one of the organisations uniting the world’s best spa and sauna centres. Aufguss is a style of sauna ritual that originated in Italy, in which towels are used to move the air flow. Today an Aufguss association has also been created, uniting the world’s best sauna centres. It currently has 17 different countries – for example Japan, Canada and Italy. From Estonia, Elamus SPA is the only member of the Aufguss association. Elamus Spa is a new member of the Aufguss organisation, and as a result the sauna masters had the honour of presenting Estonia as a country with a strong sauna tradition, though not yet of competing officially. They will go to measure themselves against the world’s sauna masters in autumn 2024.

Johanna and Karl-Peeter performed a 15-minute sauna show in Germany in an 85-degree theatre sauna that held 200 bathers. They explain that the main part there was the moving of the air flow and the aromas with a towel, and the various towel techniques, towel throws and catches. Although only Johanna and Karl-Peeter performed, behind the whole presentation there was in fact a large team. For example, the director of several TV shows, Villiko Kruuse, was involved. The preparations lasted, as in almost every theatre production, 3–4 months. At first they thought through what the sauna show could be about, then they began putting together the story, the music, the costumes, the props, the aromas, the lighting and the sound engineering. It was a big job, and in the last month they just kept polishing details and rehearsing.

Towels can make the sauna much more alive

Aufguss is a sauna ritual experienced in the sauna, and no Aufguss is ever exactly the same.

It is mostly thought that Aufguss arose from the need to replace the sauna’s indoor air. When people are in a closed room and sweating heavily on the sauna bench, a need arises either to air the room or to step out for a moment. To restore temperature and humidity effectively, water is thrown onto the sauna’s hot stones and the steam is distributed with a towel spinning in the air – the ancestor of today’s Aufguss.

“The towel is an elementary element that goes with the sauna, be it for drying yourself or covering your body. Few people think, however, that towels can make the sauna much more alive and even more enjoyable. The simplest thing is to make wind with a towel using different movements so that the hot air and the aroma reach everyone in the sauna, but the more experienced can also do tricks with a towel and control the intensity of the air movement,” Karl-Peeter says.

The six elements of Aufguss:

Heat. The heat in the sauna is raised step by step. It is important that at the end of the ritual the temperature is brought to its highest point, which raises adrenaline to a peak and releases endorphins.
Essential oils. Essential oils give a scent experience, relaxation and all the benefits of the oils.
Towel work. Towel work is an art whose technique is trained. Waving a towel gracefully is very beautiful for the eye to watch.
Lighting/atmosphere. To create atmosphere, natural light or darkness can be used. Coloured lights can be used, for example.
Music. Waving a towel to the accompaniment of music makes the sauna experience perfect.
Style. The Aufguss master themselves must not be forgotten either – how they guide the guests through the experience and manage to fit all the elements together.

The six different types of Aufguss:

Classic Aufguss

The main aim of classic Aufguss is the relaxation of the participants, and the focus is on natural sounds: the sizzling of ice and water evaporating on the hot stones, the sound of the towel moving, the sounds of the sauna benches and of the grove, the participants’ sighs of contentment. Most often, pine, lavender, peppermint and citrus essential oils are used in classic Aufguss.

Standard Aufguss

Standard Aufguss is classic Aufguss with music added. Music helps draw attention away from the growing heat and makes the experience more enjoyable. Movements can be made with the towels that are less effective at getting the air moving but more choreographic.

Steam sauna Aufguss

In steam sauna Aufguss neither water nor ice is used, since the environment is already humid. During the steam sauna a number of different body treatments can be done. Body scrubs and face and body masks can be used, for example. Only imagination is the limit here.

Meditative Aufguss

Meditative Aufguss is a variation on standard Aufguss. The main aims are relaxation, focus and a spiritual experience. As musical sounds, various mantras or tribal music are used, or they are replaced with played instruments (Tibetan bells, drums, cymbals and so on). Meditative Aufguss can last 30–40 minutes. Simple, repeating movements are used when spinning the towel. As essential oils, essences reminiscent of the East are used, such as sandalwood, or aromas that help increase the ability to focus.

Entertaining Aufguss

The main aim is entertainment. Various towel techniques are used, and choreography, costumes, lighting and special effects are important factors too.

The Aufguss World Championships 2024 take place in the Netherlands

The Aufguss World Championships take place every year at a different spa establishment. In 2024 they take place in the Netherlands at Thermen Bussloo.

Through the Estonian championship it is determined who will go and represent Estonia at the Aufguss World Championships. The Estonian Championship takes place on 26–28 July 2024 at Mustamäe Elamus Spa.

There are seven different criteria for judging at the competition:

professionalism and the general impression of the Aufguss Master;
building up and distributing the heat;
towel technique;
the fragrances used and their doses;
the theme/story, the execution and the show elements;
emotions, creativity and atmosphere;
team spirit (taken into account only in the case of a team performance).

Johanna points out that points are also counted through the handling of the props. “For example, if a sauna master drops the towel, they get a minus point; if water or ice falls on the sauna floor, they get a minus point; if props fall; if the sauna master does not dry their sweat often enough with the towel designated for drying; if the sauna master does not notice that spectators are leaving the sauna, they get a minus point. There are plenty of these rules and more,” she explains.

The points are counted in the sauna by a jury who sit at different ends of the sauna during the performance and observe everything listed above.

At the competition one sauna master can compete twice – with a solo and a team Aufguss. “A sauna master who has won at the Estonian Championship and gathered at least the minimum points can go on to the World Championships. From the Estonian Championship it is possible to go to the World Championships with only one solo and one team Aufguss,” Johanna adds.

A sauna master who has won at the Estonian Championship and gathered at least the minimum points can go on to the World Championships.

The sauna year has greatly advanced sauna culture

The idea of a sauna year began in 2019, when Maaleht journalist Rein Sikk declared on the radio that there could be a themed year dedicated specifically to the sauna. The idea did not come to life immediately, but it stayed in the air and, through the cooperation of good people, came alive in 2023.
According to Raili Mengel, who has led the Estonian Rural Tourism association for 15 years, the association gave its heart to the sauna theme long ago – the Estonian Sauna Route had been created earlier, and the association has plenty of sauna fans who value sauna culture and introduce it to their visitors too. So at one entrepreneurs’ sauna training the idea was picked up, shoulders were put to the wheel and it was decided to call the sauna year into being. Here the chairwoman of the association’s board Raili Mengel stresses that it is especially important to start offering more guided sauna services, which could become Estonia’s Nokia.
The Estonian smoke sauna was taken into the wider world by the film “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood”. The short documentary “Saunapäev” and the student film “Sauna õndsus” were also completed.
Sauna themes reached reading enthusiasts too. Sauna-themed displays were set up in 60 libraries. Sauna stories that made it between covers: “365 küsimust” by Rein Sikk, “Saun. Ajalugu, kultuur, tervis, ehitus” by Urmas and Liisa Hõbepappel, Silja and Siim Nellis, “Hea enesetunne saunast. Saunafulness” by Carita Harju, “Sauna. The power of deep heat” by Emma O’Kelly. And two more sauna books are coming out soon!
The sauna was promoted virtually too – sauna articles, sauna games, sauna quizzes, 13 sauna videos, interviews and posts.
Sauna wisdom was passed on by the sauna university. From May to June 12 lectures took place. Ahto Kaasik spoke about the sauna in Estonians’ home history, Kaia-Kaire Hunt about health in the sauna, Marianne Ostrat and Anna Hints about the smoke sauna’s success on the world stage, Kristel Vilbaste about plants in the sauna, Jan Seepter about sauna rituals, Saunamaailm answered frequently asked sauna questions, Elis Seppius spoke about the sauna as a sanctuary of the body, Marju Kõivupuu about the sauna in the story of Estonians’ heritage culture, and Eda Veeroja about putting sauna lore to use in the present day.
Various sauna events took place. For example sauna marathons, music and summer festivals with saunas, guided saunas, and a national sauna day with the Finns.