Level 1. Bath masters basics

Date: 2024-05-27, 14:00
Organizer : Lithuanian Bath Academy

Location: Ilgutis pirtis
Map: Aluonos k., Trakų raj., Lithuania

This is an intensive and fun introductory course of healthy sauna basics and whisking. It is targeted to zero-experience users but also suits the more seasoned sauna goer. Lithuanian and Baltic sauna traditions incorporate steam, leaf whisking and various natural bathing practices.

A sauna attendant is not only a back rubber but, at the very least, a sauna guide and sometimes a bit of a shaman. A good master considers the person's state of mind - he tries to make him feel better, relieve pain, and drive anxiety away. A good sauna should be organized so that the person is central and the sauna is secondary. Sometimes people bring too many rules with them when they go to the sauna - even about the sauna itself.

Believe us, this excessive knowledge and regulation could be better. Instead, he needs to learn to improvise how nature improvises - the season's change but do not repeat themselves. A good bath-taker can go on a separate journey with each person, which can be one thing but also be another... A bath-taker must avoid injuring the human body with too much heat or the mind with too much verbal intervention, and he must allow the person to be in the bath... We will teach you how to work in the sauna by combining technical skills with a holistic understanding of the sauna ritual.

During this course, you will learn how to work individually with your sauna guest during a classical sauna treatment with a few simple tools, helping them to adapt to the sauna environment and open up to a transformative sauna treatment.

Course schedule*

1. May 27, 16:00 - 21:00. The ABC of Lithuanian Pirtis. Introduction to four-fold structure of traditional holistic Lithuanian pirtis, lead by the most experienced bah-master.
2. May 28, 10:00- 16:00. Introduction to whisking and sauna bodywork. Preparig whisks; ergonomics and safiety of sauna bodywork; working with steam, creating holistic scenario of leaf whisking; relaxing honey treatment.
3. May 29, 10:00- 16:00. The light whisking and whisking techniques. Improving the techniques; movments of whisking. 

*The schedule is preliminar, changes and adjustments are possible acording to the needs and size of the group. E.g. if the group would be bigger, for practical part of training it might be splited into 2-3 smaler subgroups of 3-4 persons. 

You will learn self whisking for your own benefit

During the first day we'll explore our senses and get real experience of traditional Lithuanian steam bath. We'll do the first step in learning leaf whisking trying fun and playfull self-whisking technique.

On the second day you will learn sweet (yes, because we use honey for it...) traditional Lithuanian bath massage and will do simple, but effective back whisking.

During the third day we'll go deeper, exploring techniques and movements, which will make you work easier and more conscious.

Our sauna philosophy is based on a holistic understanding of the processes that take place in our bodies. During our classes we develop students' conscious approach to work and draw on science and our rich experience.

Take a chance to open new understanding of sauna and bodywork!

Continuation of the studies

For those coming long way to Lithuania and wanting to get the most from the stay we recommend to pay attention to the possibility of continuing studies at our „Plants and senses. Lithuanian Bathing Culture Summer Camp“

Feeling ready for Level 2?

Feeling ready for more? We can offer an extra Level 2 just after finishing Level 1. 

The dates of level 2:

• May 30, 9:00 - 14:00. Home SPA. Making your own natural body scrubs and practicing whole body cleaning.
• June 1, 10:00- 16:00. Full classical whisking. Whisking of both sides of the body following the safe and ergonomical bodywork sequence
• June 2, 10:00- 16:00. Leading smalll group ritual. We sum up all acquared skills and learn how to conduct the traditional steanm bath ritual for the small group. 

Price - 390€. This offer doesn't include accomodation, and it will be organized in other place (in Vilnius or near Vilnius), if at least 3 people would be readyy to participate. 

If you are interessted in this offer, please, contact us via email.

The venue

You will stay at remoted tourist farm in the woods. It is a value of its own.

Lake shore

View to the lake

View to lakeside pirtis

Lonely tree in the garden

Rustic romance

Themes covered

• Introduction to whisking

  A practical theme to learn and test the work of a sauna master. The first steps towards a new profession take place in a safe environment, in a good sauna, with the help of an experienced trainer. This topic is usually taught in the form of a sauna evening (a practical session in the sauna), during which the teacher introduces and demonstrates the main points of practical work in the steam room and the students try it out in practice. In this way, they have the opportunity to test themselves as future sauna practitioners and get a better idea of the level at which they would like to learn the sauna trade.

  
  A student washes clients body in a steam room for the first time.

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  This theme has additional information available only to logged in users.
• Light whisking techniques

  
  Dry training  - individualized teaching of effective movements

  We teach a student the basics of warming: to warm the client's body safely and evenly and gradually cool him so he can safely and calmly leave the hotroom without the supervision of a bath master. Such treatment can also be performed as a full bath procedure in cases when the client is tired and wants to rest and relax.

  Content of the training:

  1. Basic whisking movement clacification
  2. Contactless techniques
  3. Light superficial techniques
  4. Warming of the underskin and muscles

  We work with small group and provide individual training.

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• Self whisking

  Important theme and one of major aspects of sauna education that is very often neglected by even prominent bath mastership teachers. Yet it is even more complex then whisking other person.

  This theme covers

  • initial warming of the feet
  • enhancing blood circulation
  • self massage with whisks
  • self whisking of shoulders, sides, back
  • ergonomics of self whisking
  • different postures: sitting, laying
• Steam bath basics

  Theoretical theme. Contens:

  • Definition of steam bath
  • Purpose of bath procedure
  • Body reaction to heat
  • Quality factors of healthy bath
  • Correct heating and cooling
  • Safe behaviour in sauna
  • Eating and drinking in bath
  • Most comon mistakes

  This theme belongs to  Healthy steam bath ABC seminar and opens the whole course of bath mastership studies.

Rimas Kavaliauskas & Birutė Masiliauskienė - experienced international steam bath mastership coachers and instructors.

Registration is open for everyone.  The number of places is limited to 8 because of individual style of studies, however the might be a few more students on the first day.

If you want to participate in Level 2 training, which takes plase the same time (May 27-29, 2024), please, contact us. If there will be a request, an additional Level 2 training group could be offered. 

Early bird booking till May 1 - 450€, after - 550€.

Every participant have to pay 100€ in advance for securing the place in the course. The rest of the sum has to ne paid in cash strictly upon arrival (patticipants have to secure they have required amount beforehand)

This offer includes accomodation in the place of the training, the hollyday cottage on the shore of the lake (see more at www.ilgutis.lt/en), 12 km from Trakai and 35 km from Vilnius. If you need transfer to the venue, please, let us know. Food is not included into the price (we'll offer only light snacks), there is possibility to order or use the kitchen of the cottage. 

• New participants register on this page by filling the form. Then they will receive a link to credit card payment link. When paymen is made - your place is secured.
• Existing readers of our page will find the registration link on their activity page  - this requires loging in.

Any questions are welcome.

Contact persons:

Rimas Kavaliauskas, email - rimas@pirtis.lt, Phone/WhatsApp +370 687 11601
Birutė Masiliauskienė, email - registracija@pirtis.lt, PhoneWhatsapp +370 689 56969