Aufguss Sauna Ritual: Everything You Need to Know
So, you heard about Aufguss and you’re wondering what’s up with it. Why is it all the buzz right now? I mean, how different can sauna experiences be? Well, let me tell you – this one is surely unique.
If you love the sauna and sauna culture as much as I do, you have to experience this German sauna ritual.
Aufguss takes a sauna session to the next level. It is not just a wellness practice but a cultural event. It’s performance art. There are even Aufguss competitions (!!!) around the world (more on this later).
Dive into this rich practice with me and see how close and connected the Aufguss community is. Sauna + community = happy people 🙂
Try Aufguss at my favorite hotel in Las Vegas!
What is Aufguss?
Okay first, what the heck is Aufguss? How can it be competitive? In short, Aufugss is a 15-minute (or longer) sauna ritual led by an Aufguss Master (or masters).
Aufguss translates to “infusion” in German, and refers to a guided sauna session by an Aufguss Master.
The Aufguss master pours water, essential oils, and ice over hot stones to heat the sauna. Once it’s steaming, they wave a towel around (using certain techniques) to distribute the scented steam throughout the room.
There is a lot of creativity involved in Aufgussing. From the essential oils chosen, the music, to the style and technique of towel-waving, each Aufguss experience is unique.
Some Aufguss are stripped-down and traditional (focused on health benefits) while some are more modern with music, lights, storytelling, costumes, and dance (which is more for entertainment).
Most are somewhere in the middle, striking the perfect balance of health, entertainment, & community-building. Whichever Aufguss version you experience all five of your senses will be stimulated.
Aufguss Evolution
Aufguss participants and masters used to make up a fairly small and close-knit community. Over the last 10 years, the practice has taken off. It’s now practiced around the world.
The evolution of Aufguss has been significant in this time. Each year the competition performances feature new waving techniques and towel tricks, accompanied by more advanced production.
There is a desire by some Aufguss masters to return to the roots of the practice, while others are excited by its growth and maturation.
One thing that is clear across everyone involved in this practice is how rooted it is in community and connectedness. It’s about bringing people together and making people happier and healthier.
The Aufguss Master
Also referred to as a “saunameister” or “Aufgussmeister”, is the person in the sauna leading the Aufguss experience. All Aufguss masters incorporate the core elements of an Aufguss, and may also choose to incorporate more modern elements and style, making every experience unique.
According to many Aufguss Meisters, they are driven by the power to create transformative experiences for people that foster connection, clear their minds, and make them happy.
For the sauna meisters, Aufguss is a form of creative expression. They dedicate much of their life to studying and even competing in this cultural ritual.
Many of them incorporate storytelling to transport people, pass down knowledge, spark joy, and allow them to forget their problems. Giving people 15+ minutes of peace and relaxation makes the world happier, so they say.
Interested in other global wellness practices? Check out Temazcal ceremonies and cacao ceremonies.
What is the Purpose of Aufguss?
Well, the literal purpose is to distribute heat around the sauna evenly. This practice was thought to have begun out of necessity when it was believed that the air in a sauna should be replaced frequently.
After each session, sauna goers would open the doors and windows to allow fresh air to circulate throughout the room.
Of course, the fresh air coming in was cold so a sauna master would then pour hot water over the stones to raise the heat and humidity, and then wave towels around to distribute the hot steam quickly.
Over time, its purpose became more communal; more of a shared social experience. Aufguss is done in a large sauna with space for 10+ people (up to hundreds!!), and people actually engage with each other! It’s a beautiful thing.
So the purpose is general well-being — a means to several health benefits and a social gathering place that builds community. Plus, when you are being entertained in the sauna time flies!
Elements of Aufguss
Heat: At the core of this sauna ritual is of course heat. The steam and towel-waving help heat the sauna to 190 to 200 degrees (85-95 Celsius) fast.
Water and Ice: Sauna Masters will use water and/or infused snowballs to create steam to heat the sauna. Sometimes they will hand snowballs to the sauna goers as a cooling mechanism.
Essential Oils: Another core element of Aufguss, essential oils are mixed into the water or snowballs and poured over the hot stones for an aromatherapy experience.
Towel Waving: At the very core of Aufguss is towel-waving. This is a technique used to distribute the hot-scented steam around the sauna. This increases the temperature in the sauna, helping it reach those hot temps up to 200+.
Lighting: Not a core element but a more modern element of this German sauna ritual, Saunameisters will incorporate lighting to enhance the multi-sensory experience and create an ambiance.
Music: Music is chosen by the sauna meister to create an atmosphere, help tell a story, and contribute to the multi-sensory experience.
Dance: The towel-waving is choreographed and sometimes the saunameisters (or multiple saunameisters) perform a choreographed dance.
Storytelling: Sometimes the sauna is used as a place to tell stories. Sharing stories is an ancient oral tradition to pass down wisdom and lessons. Sometimes the Aufugss storytelling serves this purpose and resonates on a deep and spiritual level. Other times they can be fun and light-hearted.
The History of Aufguss
As I mentioned earlier, Aufugss is thought to have originated out of necessity. After many people heavily sweat in a sauna it was common to re-oxygenate the room and then a subsequent need to reheat it quickly.
Over time, this practice became more refined. Instead of hastily waving a towel around, people began to create techniques that became more and more complex and eventually developed choreography.
Then came essential oils, music, storytelling, and lights to enhance the experience. What was once a strategy to replace and reheat air in the sauna became a rich cultural tradition and social experience. Today it is a means to wellbeing and community building.
Benefits of Aufguss
Any sauna practice comes with many benefits. When the body heats pores open up and release toxins to detoxify and cleanse the body.
The high temps and sweat accompanied by breathwork can activate parasympathetic thermoregulation and stimulate a deep state of relaxation.
High temps also help strengthen the immune system by putting the body in a feverish state for a short time. Some studies show that sauna practices can increase longevity and reduce the chance of some diseases.
The introduction of aromatherapy through the use of essential oils can also impact relaxation, emotion, and energy.
The lights and music enhance the experience by matching the rhythm of the towel-waving and yielding a sense of awe, inspiration, and transcendence.
The community aspect of Aufugss is a really big part of this ritual and strong community ties tend to correlate with social health and longevity.
All of the elements combined can stimulate cathartic, meditative, invigorated, relaxed, and joyful feelings.
Where to Try Aufguss
While Aufguss is more commonplace in Germany, Austria, and Italy, it’s gaining steam in North America, especially at luxury wellness resorts and wellness centers.
Below are a handful of places you can try it in the US, including my favorite hotel in Vegas! I’ve also included some incredible European hotels where you can experience Aufguss if you fancy.
AWANA SPA at Resorts World Las Vegas
Resorts World is actually my favorite hotel in Las Vegas and it just happens to have an incredible spa that offers Aufguss (one of only a few in North America!!).
Their “event sauna” in the brand-new AWANA Spa can seat up to 40 people. If you go to Vegas I highly recommend you stay here and try this unique sauna ritual.
Hewing Hotel Minneapolis
This stunning downtown Minneapolis hotel offers guided sauna rituals in its rooftop spa every Sunday. One of only a handful of places to try Aufguss in the United States, this is not a bad place to stay 🙂
Bathouse in New York
Bathhouse is a wellness center in New York. Patrons can enjoy thermal pools, saunas, steam rooms, cold plunges, and massages. They host daily sauna rituals in their large event sauna.
Olympic Spa Hotel
If you’re going abroad, specifically to Italy, you have to stay at the Olympic Spa Hotel. Surrounded by the Dolomites, it features a wellness center with an Aufguss sauna, and an outdoor heated pool, and is steps from skiing in the winter and hiking and mountain biking in the summer.
Hotel Quelle Nature Spa Resort in Santa Maddalena, Italy
While you’re in Italy, you MUST visit Hotel Quelle Nature Spa. This resort features a massive wellness center with 8 indoor and outdoor pools, TWELVE – yes 12- different types of saunas. Of course, they offer Aufguss and everything else you can imagine.
With panoramic views of the Dolomites, warm upscale rooms, and exquisite service, this is a bucket list hotel.
FAQ
A sauna set to 200 degrees Fahrenheit can be safe if used cautiously. Start with shorter sessions if new to high temperatures, hydrate, and listen to your body for signs of discomfort.
Despite the high temperatures, you typically don’t get burned because the air itself is dry and not conductive like water or hot metal. Additionally, the high humidity level in a sauna helps prevent the skin from drying out too quickly, which reduces the risk of burns.
Start with 10-15 minute sessions and gradually increase time as you become more comfortable. For optimal benefits, 20 minutes a day is sufficient. You can do longer though.
The hottest seat in a sauna is typically the one closest to the heat source, which is often the upper bench. Heat naturally rises, so the higher you sit, the hotter it will be. The lower benches tend to be cooler.
Deep relaxation, stress relief, improved circulation, flushes toxins, supports respiratory system, improved social health
Aufguss originated in Germany. The term “Aufguss” translates to “infusion” or “pouring over” in German, reflecting the practice of pouring water mixed with essential oils over hot sauna stones to create an aromatic and intense burst of steam.
Wrap-Up
Aufguss offers a unique blend of tradition, creativity, and community, transforming the typical sauna session into a multi-sensory experience.
From its humble origins as a practical solution for evenly distributing heat, Aufguss has evolved into a rich cultural ritual that emphasizes well-being and social connection.
Whether you experience a traditional scaled-back Aufguss or a modern interpretation filled with music, lights, and storytelling, the practice promises a deeply relaxing and invigorating experience.
As Aufguss continues to gain popularity worldwide, more people can enjoy its numerous benefits, from improved physical health to enhanced mental clarity and a stronger sense of community.
So, if you haven’t yet tried Aufguss, seek out a session at a wellness center or luxury resort on your next trip! It’s a great practice to carve out time for when traveling.
Disclaimer: Everyone should speak to their health professional before trying the sauna for the first time. I am not a professional.
