Community Bath Master: Part 2. Individual bodywork.

Date: 2026-05-20, 15:30
Organizer : Lithuanian Bath Academy

Intensive 2-Day Training: Effective Whisking Techniques & The Art of Body Scrubbing

Following our highly successful first module exploring the "ABC of a Healthy Pirtis" and "Holistic Whisking," we are thrilled to invite you to the second part of the Community Bath Master training in Norway.

This 2-day intensive weekend is designed for sauna enthusiasts and practitioners who are ready to refine their physical craft, protect their own energy in the heat, and learn deeply restorative traditional body treatments.

Day 1: Effective Whisking & Non-Verbal Communication

To be a true bath master, your work in the steam room must be sustainable. On this day, we will focus heavily on whisking ergonomics, teaching you how to whisk simply, lightly, but entirely professionally without exhausting yourself. We approach whisking not just as physical work, but as a powerful tool for non-verbal communication and empathy with your guest.

In this practical hands-on session, you will learn:

• How to efficiently bring down the steam and warm crucial body areas
• The ergonomic "touch twice with one swing" technique
• How to deliver soft, gentle strokes even when using rougher whisks
• Strategies for the pirtis master’s self-protection and safe stances in the heat
• Conscious control of the whisking effect to transform the procedure into a profound dialogue with the body

Light Whisking — the Foundation of Control

Light whisking is where real mastery begins. Before any stronger technique, you learn to prepare the space, the steam, and the person. The goal is simple: make the body relax into the heat without resistance.

• Workplace awareness: positioning the client comfortably, checking ventilation, water, tools, and your own stability before starting
• Steam “pillow” formation: building a soft, breathable layer of heat above the body and controlling its level before contact
• Non-contact aeration: gentle fanning from feet to head to introduce heat gradually, without shock or tension
• First contact  “vibration”: light rhythmic touching of the whole body to awaken circulation and establish trust
• Soft stroking: calm, continuous movements that settle the nervous system and prepare for deeper work
• “Butterfly” technique: efficient full-body warming using wrist-based motion — the key to working longer without fatigue

You will also learn to avoid common mistakes: overusing arm strength instead of wrists, breaking the flow of movement, or collapsing the steam too early. Mastery here means precision, calmness, and consistency — not force.

???? Day 2: The Art of Natural Body Scrubbing

The most ancient and primary function of the traditional sweat bath was hygienic: to deeply warm and cleanse the skin. In this module, we approach body scrubbing not as an “extra,” but as a structured and essential part of the full pirtis procedure — connected to timing, temperature, and the overall flow of the session.

In the sauna, we work exclusively with natural, eco-friendly materials. Most often, scrubs are composed by combining several complementary ingredients, allowing both mechanical and chemical effects to act together on the skin.

• Mechanical scrubbing: using texture and friction (grains, ground plants, gloves)
• Chemical action: using active substances (honey, soda, clay) to soften, cleanse, and nourish the skin
• Combined effects: materials like birch whisks, ground chestnuts, or natural sand that simultaneously stimulate and treat the skin

This is a practical, hands-on training where you will test different scrub compositions and understand how their structure, moisture, and temperature influence the body.

You will learn:

• How to properly prepare the skin - warming it to the right level before any scrubbing begins
• The technique of body scrubbing: pressure, direction, rhythm, and adapting to different body areas
• How to compose natural scrubs - salt, ground plants, honey, clay, and other materials into functional mixtures
• The use of body masks and oils - when and how to apply them for recovery and nourishment after heat exposure
• Basic hair care principles in the sauna environment

Special attention is given to where and when scrubbing happens within the procedure. In practice, these techniques are performed on the lower bench, where the temperature is milder and the body can be worked on more safely and precisely. This zone is used for cooling, washing, and more delicate treatments. You will also learn how to integrate scrubbing into the full session structure — understanding the right moment between heating phases, how to transition from steam work to washing, and how to return the person back into the heat without disrupting the overall rhythm. The goal is not only to perform scrubbing correctly, but to understand its role in the entire pirtis experience - as a bridge between heat, cleansing, and recovery.

Location

Holmestrand Sauna (Fjordveien 19b, Holmestrand). Enjoy a modern traditional pirtis setup right on the fjord's edge, complete with beautiful views and a jacuzzi for relaxation between sessions.

Step further onto the Pirtis Path. Master the techniques that will allow you to guide unforgettable, deeply restorative steam rituals for your community while keeping yourself healthy and energized.

Themes covered

• Basic whisking therory

  Whisking is a fundamental ritual within the tradition of steam bathing, a practice that goes beyond mere heat application to create a deeply immersive, sensory experience. It is not just a technique but a philosophy—a means of connecting with heat, touch, and nature while enhancing the sauna’s therapeutic effects. In this theme, we explore the history, methods, benefits, and nuances of whisking.

  This theme has additional information available only to logged in users.
• Skin in thermal bath

  What is skin? 

  As Lithuanian philosopher Vydūnas eloquently stated, “Skin is the truest mirror of human health… a third brain where body and world meet, reflecting vitality and spirit.” More than a mere covering, skin mediates between our inner selves and the outer environment, channeling sensations and safeguarding life. In the sauna, this remarkable organ—spanning 1.5-2 square meters and weighing 5-10 kg—comes alive. Heat awakens its 2 million sweat glands, flushing out toxins (up to 3.5 times more than the kidneys or intestines) and softening its surface for care. With a quarter of our blood circulating through it, skin in the sauna reveals its power as both protector and healer, glowing with youth and beauty when nurtured well.

  Fascinating Skin Facts:

  Largest human organ, 0.5-4 mm thick.
  Circulates 25% of the body’s blood.
  Releases 100-150 g of sebum weekly via sebaceous glands.
  A natural detox powerhouse.

  Discover how the sauna transforms this living shield into a canvas of wellness.

  This theme has additional information available only to logged in users.
• Skin peeling

  Practical topic covering the following subjects:

  • Production of sauna scrub mixtures,
  • Ergonomics of working with the body in the sauna,
  • Body scrubbing and rubbing

  In the sauna, moisture and heat soften the skin, allowing the top layer of dead cells to be easily removed, along with any accumulated impurities. Exfoliated skin becomes smooth and soft, and the pores open up – now it is ready to absorb nourishing products and masks. Dry and thin skin should be exfoliated carefully, using gentler products, while oily, acne-prone, and impure skin simply needs exfoliation – it helps to restore its cleanliness and oil balance. However, this product should not be overused. By exfoliating the skin too often and too vigorously, we risk irritating it and upsetting its natural balance. For most people (remember, our skin is different), gentle exfoliation once a week is sufficient, while deep exfoliation should be done once every two weeks or even once a month.

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• 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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Rimas Kavaliauskas. He has spent over 22 years teaching, researching, and systematizing the Lithuanian pirtis tradition. He is the founder of the Lithuanian Bah Academy and has trained practitioners across Europe — from the Ireland to Scandinavia.

Rimas does not lecture at you. He works with you — adapting the material to your questions, your space, and your goals. Whether you have a cabin by the fjord, a mobile sauna, or simply want to transform the way your family experiences the badstu, the training meets you where you are.

During the weekend, you will also have the chance to meet local alumni of the International Bath Academy who are already practicing in the region.

Participation is reserved to members of the group.

300€. The payment of 100€ is required to secure your place and the rest is to be payed immediately upon arrival or before.

This payment covers: 2 practical sessions in the hot sauna, access to theory and knowledge quiz and post seminar video materials. Paymet DOES NOT cover travel, accomodation, catering. Modest accomodation is possible on agreement but places are few - first come, firs served,

Group size: Maximum 6 participants. There is no hiding in the back row.