Aufguss: Performance Art in a Sauna

Last year, I decided to pamper myself with a stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel. They have recently opened a new spa, which I decided to try. Little did I know that I would experience an aufguss ritual that would make me question my knowledge of saunas.

Originally from Europe, this experience is now conquering North America. To better understand aufguss, I spoke with the World-Renowned Aufguss Master, Lasse Eriksen. With his help, we examine this ritual, its benefits, and why you shouldn’t hesitate to try it.

Origins of aufguss sauna

Aufguss comes from a German word meaning infusion. While sauna culture has been around for centuries, the modern aufguss ritual started in the 20th century in Germany, Austria, and nearby Alpine areas.

It began as a way to refresh the air. Every hour or so, people would open the windows, then pour water over hot stones and wave towels to spread the heat and humidity.

As towel-waving techniques improved, aufguss became a full-sensory performance, and a wellness ritual that’s now popular worldwide. Today, many hotels and spas have their own aufguss programs.

As Eriksen describes, there are five styles of aufguss sauna: classic, modern, show, freestyle, and ceremonial.

“Traditionally, aufguss was performed in silence. The classic aufguss honors stillness, breath, and awareness, allowing the sound of steam and the movement of air to guide the experience. This silence remains one of the most powerful forms of the ritual,” he adds.

Aufguss sauna ritual

So, what does the aufguss sauna ritual look like in reality? Let me quickly guide you through my experience.

I sat down with other spa guests, not sure what to expect. The sauna master explained a few rules, but mainly encouraged us to sing along, maybe dance, and just have fun.

Suddenly, I noticed oil-infused snowballs placed on the hot stones, and a wonderful scent filled the air. As the music began, the sauna master moved closer and started waving a towel. Each wave brought a gentle rise in heat, and it felt great. I relaxed completely, and before I knew it, I was singing along with the music.

Unlike the classic aufguss sauna, I experienced one with music. However, Eriksen emphasizes that music and movement don’t break the ritual — they can even deepen it. He further adds that relaxation in aufguss happens when everything comes together in harmony.

“Fire offers its power to heat the stones of the earth. These stones hold and transform that energy. When water is poured onto them, it rises into the air as vapor, becoming living steam. This steam then reaches the human being,” he explains. “When these elements work in harmony, they create löyly, a word meaning spirit or life force. Löyly is not simply heat or steam; it is the moment when the sauna becomes alive, and when we remember our place within nature.”

@thermeeuskirchen Heiße Rhythmen, paradiesische Aromen: Unser „Casa Cuba“-Aufguss bringt das Lebensgefühl Havannas direkt in die Sauna! 🌴🔥 #thermeeuskirchen #casacuba #aufguss #sauna #spa #euskirchen #metime ♬ Originalton - Therme Euskirchen

Why should you try it?

Eriksen recommends trying an aufguss sauna because it may improve circulation, relax muscles, and support open breathing. He adds that through rhythm, heat, and breath, the nervous system softens, and emotions that have been held often begin to release.

“Aufguss is about listening, trusting, and allowing the elements to do their work. In this way, it becomes meditative, ceremonial, and deeply nourishing,” Eriksen explains.

Professor of Science Education at the University of Missouri, PhD, Marcelle Siegel, adds that the aufguss sauna also creates a community experience, which may be good for your social brain.

“From a neurophysiological standpoint,” she clarifies, “aufguss introduces patterned sensory input that engages attention, autonomic responses, and emotional processing more actively than a traditional quiet sauna.”

If you find it hard to sit through a 15-minute session because of the heat, aufguss might be a better fit. Many people find it more entertaining than just sitting in a regular sauna. Fifteen minutes go by quickly when you’re caught up in the mix of scents, music, and towel-spinning.

Aufguss sauna benefits

Although the aufguss ritual originated in Central Europe, it is performed in a Finnish-style sauna. The main Finnish bathing practice is throwing water on the rocks to create steam. The temperature in this sauna is moderately high, ranging from 158 to 212°F (70 –100°C).

This type of heat comes with its own benefits. As Steve Kuzara, Owner of Sauna Business, suggests, Finnish saunas may provide support for a longer, healthier life. “Dr. Rhonda Patrick's research highlights that regular sauna use (4–7 sessions per week) may reduce cardiovascular disease risk by up to 50%, improve endothelial function, and trigger heat shock proteins that may enhance cellular repair and longevity pathways,” he notes.

However, the study he refers to only includes male participants. There is not much research done with females, and even the existing studies need broader follow-up. Yet, it shows potential that using a sauna may reduce stroke risk and cholesterol levels, and improve sleep quality and mental health in females.

Other types of saunas

If you got intrigued to try the aufguss ritual and want to explore even further, here are more sauna experiences you can try:

1. Turkish hammams offer higher humidity and lower temperatures. It focuses on dead-skin scrubbing and a full-body massage with aromatic oils.
2. Korean jimjilbang is a public bathhouse with various saunas, pools, showers, and a relaxation area, typically open 24 hours.
3. Even though Japanese onsen is not considered a sauna, it still offers a deeper, water-based relaxation worth trying.
4. Modern saunas use infrared panels that directly heat the body at lower, more comfortable temperatures compared to traditional, high-heat saunas.
5. Russian banya combines high heat and intense steam, with birch branches soaked in warm water used for a massage.
6. The Native American sweat lodge ritual has several cycles. In each cycle, water is poured over hot stones to make steam, and there may be prayers, chanting, or guided meditations.

Precautions

To fully enjoy any sauna, you have to follow a few rules:

1. No alcohol, as it increases the risk of dehydration
2. Replace lost fluids by drinking plenty of water
3. Limit your sauna sessions to about 20 minutes, and even less if you are a first-time user
4. Avoid the sauna if you are ill or have recently had surgery

Furthermore, some groups of people should avoid saunas or consult a medical professional before going to one:

1. Pregnant people
2. People with high or low blood pressure and heart problems
3. People with open wounds or severe skin conditions
4. Those who have heat sensitivity
5. Children or the elderly

Final thoughts

It doesn’t matter if you are a new or experienced sauna enthusiast, trying aufguss might expand your knowledge of them. With its different styles, aufguss can suit anyone's preferences, from those who want to sit quietly to those who prefer music during their ritual.

“Aufguss invites people to discover that the sauna is not limited to a single feeling or form. It is a space capable of holding many rhythms, emotions, and paths inward,” Eriksen sums up. And if your curiosity stretches further, the sauna world is bigger than you imagine — feel free to try others too, from Native American to Turkish.