Sweat Bath ABC

Date: 2024-12-23, 21:00
Organizer : Lithuanian Bath Academy

In Northern Europe, traditional bathing practices, such as sauna use, have long played a pivotal role in helping people endure harsh winters, recover from adversity, and maintain both physical health and mental well-being. Saunas served not only as a sanctuary for warmth and relaxation but also as vital spaces for hygiene, social bonding, and even spiritual renewal. For centuries, they were indispensable for communities during times of war, famine, and other upheavals.

This ancient practice is experiencing a revival worldwide, including in regions where it had largely faded from memory. While many people associate the term "sauna" with a Finnish tradition, every culture—be it Lithuanian pirtis, Russian banya, Turkish hammam, or Japanese ofuro—has its own unique bathing customs, each shaped by its history, climate, and resources.

Modern research has underscored the health benefits of sauna bathing, including improved cardiovascular function, stress reduction, and enhanced recovery after physical exertion. However, achieving these benefits requires an understanding of proper sauna practices. Unfortunately, not everyone takes full advantage of what a sauna can offer. Do we truly know how to bathe correctly to maximize these effects?

At the Lithuanian Sauna Academy, we have dedicated 20 years to promoting the art and science of sauna use. Over this time, we have trained thousands of enthusiasts and professionals, guiding them toward healthier, more informed bathing habits. Through education, we’ve witnessed a growing awareness of the importance of proper techniques, materials, and rituals. From questions about steam quality to cultural nuances, our experience has shown that the right knowledge can transform a sauna session into a deeply restorative experience.

By rediscovering and applying these ancient traditions in modern contexts, we not only honor our heritage but also equip ourselves to face today’s challenges with resilience, warmth, and clarity.

Traditional Lithuanian pirtis (sweat bath).

Presentation Overview

In this comprehensive presentation-lecture, we will take a holistic approach to understanding the sauna, exploring it from six distinct perspectives that reflect the interconnected nature of our world. These perspectives provide a unified framework for comprehending sauna practices and principles, offering both practical insights and philosophical depth.

During this 90-minute lecture, you’ll gain a panoramic understanding of sauna processes. We will uncover the foundational laws and principles governing steam bathing, which will help you navigate the vast and sometimes contradictory information about sauna use. This presentation will empower you to develop your own thoughtful approach to sauna practice, rooted in a balance of tradition, science, and personal experience.

Why This Lecture is Essential

In today’s world, sauna knowledge often swings between the poles of dry, clinical data and poetic abstraction. While both have value, neither provides a full understanding of the sauna’s rich interconnected processes. This lecture will bridge the gap, enabling you to make sense of sauna practices in a way that resonates with both logic and intuition.
We will also address some of the most frequently asked questions about sauna design, construction, maintenance, and use—questions you may have wondered about yourself, such as:

1. What is the ideal temperature for a sauna?
2. How long should a typical sauna session last?
3. What are the health benefits and risks of thermal bathing?
4. Are saunas safe for people with health conditions like high blood pressure or asthma?
6. What is the difference between electric, wood-burning, and infrared saunas?
7. How do I properly maintain a sauna stove?
8. What type of sauna constructions exist our there?
11. What is proper sauna etiquette in different cultures (e.g., banya vs. hammam)?
12. Is it necessary to shower before and after a sauna session?
13. Should I use sauna oils, herbs, or veniks (bath brooms)?
14. Can children safely use a sauna?
15. How do sauna rituals differ across cultures (e.g., hammam exfoliation, banya venik massage)?
16. Are there benefits to using ice or cold-water plunges between sauna sessions?

Further studies

After this webinar, you will be offered a knowledge check questionnaire to check if you have understood everything, and if so (60% response rate), you will be credited with the first theoretical training topic "Healthy Sauna Basics", and you will be invited to continue your studies.

Information about the scedule of other worksops is comming soon! Registrated users of the webpage will get invitations to their e-mails.

Start time

We start December 23, 9PM Vilnius time EET (UTC +2). This is also Helsinki time. The lecture will be recorded and those registred will have access to video on this very page (requires login to the page).

Theme covered

• 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 - Lithuanian bath master, whisking master, photographer

Birutė Masiliauskienė - Lithuanian bath master, story teller and poet

Thank you for participation in our first theoretical seminar. You may see the videorecording herebelow. This seminar revealed the first educatuobal theme „Sweat bath basic“. If have seen the video, you should be competent enought to take an individual quiz to eveluate you knowledge! You will find the link „quiz“down below or, alternatively, bu the theme „sweat bath basic“ on the „Registrations page of this „activity zone“ - look for the link „registrations“ on the right side.

Important. The quiz will be available 90 days after participation. Read more about your Learning guidelines.