{"id":128582,"date":"2023-12-29T08:33:47","date_gmt":"2023-12-29T08:33:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elamusspa.rktv.ee\/what-is-aufguss-a-sauna-ritual-never-exactly-the-same\/"},"modified":"2026-08-26T15:12:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T15:12:44","slug":"what-is-aufguss-a-sauna-ritual-never-exactly-the-same","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elamusspa.rktv.ee\/en\/what-is-aufguss-a-sauna-ritual-never-exactly-the-same\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Aufguss? Aufguss is a sauna ritual experienced in the sauna that is never exactly the same twice"},"content":{"rendered":"

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?<\/p>\n

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How were sauna rituals born?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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 \u2013 10\u201315 minute activities in the sauna. \u201cThe sauna master’s task is, through their actions, to offer the visitors in the sauna genuine relaxation \u2013 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,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Photo: GoodNews, Evelin Kruus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Photo: GoodNews, Evelin Kruus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Photo: GoodNews, Evelin Kruus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Photo: GoodNews, Evelin Kruus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Photo: GoodNews, Evelin Kruus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Photo: GoodNews, Evelin Kruus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Photo: GoodNews, Evelin Kruus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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. \u201cMany 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,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

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Johanna Jakobson. Photo: Karen H\u00e4rms<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What is Aufguss?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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 \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/em>, Villiko Kruuse, was involved. The preparations lasted, as in almost every theatre production, 3\u20134 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.<\/p>\n

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Photos: private collection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Towels can make the sauna much more alive<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Aufguss is a sauna ritual experienced in the sauna, and no Aufguss is ever exactly the same.<\/p>\n

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 \u2013 the ancestor of today’s Aufguss.<\/p>\n

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Karl-Peeter Kangur. Photo: Karen H\u00e4rms<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d Karl-Peeter says.<\/p>\n

The six elements of Aufguss:<\/strong><\/h3>\n