LEARN THE ART OF FINNISH SAUNOTUS
Immersive sauna practioner training in traditional Finnish sauna rituals, authentic smoke sauna culture and the living practice of saunotus in Finland
What is saunotus?
Saunotus is a guided multisensory sauna ritual rooted in Finnish cultural heritage. It brings ancient sauna traditions to life through mythology, ritual singing, natural treatments, scents, heat, and löyly — the steam and spirit of the sauna.
CHOOSE YOUR PATH
Intro course
3-day introduction
Join one of our three themed retreats held throughout the year. Each retreat offers a different focus, allowing you to deepen your practice step by step.
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Single retreat
Deep dive into one theme
Join one of our three themed retreats held throughout the year. Each retreat offers a different focus, allowing you to deepen your practice step by step.
LEARN MORE →
Full training
15-day sauna immersion
Combines all three retreats into one complete and immersive training experience. Designed for those ready to fully commit, deepen their practice, and step fully into the path.
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Completing all three Sauna Practioner training modules at Perinnesauna allowed me to truly experience authentic Finnish sauna culture.
Each visit to Finland, in every season, brought new understanding of saunotus and sauna healing. I now carry these teachings into my own work in Ireland.
The journey also inspired me to rediscover Ireland’s own ancient sweat-bathing traditions that were nearly forgotten.
Eva, Ireland
INTRO COURSE
Opening & closing
Löyly rituals
Herbal löyly and
birch vihta rituals
Guiding a meditative
sauna experience
A 3-day introduction into Finnish sauna rituals, meditative steam sessions, and herbal practices.
Learn by doing in a small group and build a strong foundation for deeper training.
890 €
- Included:
- Accommodation
- Daily meals
- Airport transportation
- Full guidance and support
SINGLE RETREAT
Vihta & Herbs
Relaxation and healing with nature
- Explore folk sauna healing and Finnish vihta traditions
- Vihta (whisk) bathing
- Basics of folk healing
- Treatments based on väkioppi (elemental theory)
- Herbal massage
Optional extras
Apprenticeship Weekend
500 €
Single room surcharge
200 €
Included in every retreat
Accommodation · Daily meals & snacks · Airport transport · Guided training
FULL TRAINING
Sauna Healing
Vihta & Herbs
Forest Sauna Ceremony
Combines all three retreats into one complete and immersive training experience. Designed for those ready to fully commit, deepen their practice, and step fully into the path.
4200 €
- Included:
- Accommodation
- Daily meals
- Airport transportation
- Full guidance and support
PRACTICAL QUESTIONS
Do I need previous sauna experience?
No previous professional experience is required. The training is designed for both beginners and experienced practitioners who wish to deepen their understanding of Finnish sauna culture and saunotus.
Where does the training take place?
The training takes place at Perinnesauna in Sipoo, Finland, around 40 minutes east of Helsinki in an authentic traditional smoke sauna environment. The Sipoonjoki river flows directly beside the sauna, surrounded by peaceful Finnish countryside and forest.
Is accommodation included?
Yes. Accommodation, meals and airport transportation are included in the training programs unless otherwise stated. The accommodation is located a short drive from the sauna in a local Finnish home environment, with private or shared twin rooms depending on the program and availability.
What is the difference between the Intro Course and Full Training?
The Intro Course is a short introduction to Finnish sauna rituals, saunotus and guiding practices. After the introduction, participants may continue by joining individual seasonal courses separately over time, or complete the entire training pathway across multiple seasons and years.
The Full Training is an intensive two-week immersion that combines the complete three-course training pathway into one deeper continuous experience.
Is the training physically demanding?
The training includes sauna bathing, heat exposure and hands-on practice, but it is designed to be accessible for most participants. If you have any diagnosed medical conditions or concerns related to heat exposure, we recommend consulting your doctor before joining the training.
All sauna sessions, treatments and training exercises are guided and supervised, and we take great care in supporting and monitoring the wellbeing of participants throughout the training.
How many participants are there?
We work in small groups to allow personal guidance, deeper discussion and immersive practice. Group sizes vary depending on the training format and season, but we rarely have more than six participants at the same time.
What language is the training held in?
The training is held in English. Participants will also naturally encounter some Finnish language during the training, especially through traditional sauna songs, chants and ritual expressions which are practiced in Finnish. During theory sessions we translate and explore their meanings together, while the songs themselves are traditionally sung in Finnish.
What makes this training different from other sauna trainings?
This training is rooted in living Finnish sauna tradition, authentic smoke sauna practice and long-term cultural research. Rather than focusing only on performance or entertainment, the training explores sauna as a ritual, cultural and human experience.
Is this a spiritual or religious training?
The training is not connected to any religion or belief system. The approach is grounded in Finnish sauna tradition, human experience, ritual, presence and cultural practice.
The training also explores ancient Finnic worldview and traditional Baltic-Finnic cultural heritage, while encouraging participants to reflect on their own relationship with nature, sauna and the surrounding world.
Will I receive a certification?
Participants receive recognition of completed training modules. The focus of the training is practical understanding, embodied experience and long-term development in sauna practice.
What should I bring with me?
We will provide detailed preparation information before the training, but in general participants only need comfortable clothing, swimwear and openness to the experience.
Is the training suitable for sauna professionals?
Yes. The training is suitable both for newcomers and for experienced sauna practitioners wishing to deepen their understanding of traditional Finnish sauna culture and ritual work.
What kind of food is included during the training?
Breakfast, lunch, snacks and electrolytes during training sessions and sauna practice, as well as dinner, are included in the training programs. The food is based on nourishing home-style meals inspired by Finnish everyday cooking, and during the week we may also visit selected local restaurants and cafés for some lunches.
Vegetarian / vegan meals and most common dietary requirements can also be accommodated when needed.
Saunotus - Sauna practioner training
company: Havuhattu oy
phone: +358 10 299 2866
email: savusauna@saunotus.fi
smoke sauna in sipoo
www.saunotus.fi/en