Living & Keeping
Smoke Sauna Traditions

Here, smoke sauna is not treated as a service, but as a living tradition. You are invited into the whole process. Not just the visible parts, but also the preparation, the rhythm, the care, and the small details that are usually unseen.

Depending on the flow of the group and the season, your experience may include:

• preparing and heating the smoke sauna
• keeping the sauna in a small group
• whisking practices
• collecting and using herbs
• making sauna salt and ash-based materials
• participating in rituals and tradition-based practices
• caring for the sauna space and its atmosphere
• sharing meals, stories, and reflections

You will not just observe. You will take part.

How you will learn
The sauna is not only a place. It is a process. You learn here through doing, sensing, listening, noticing, and reflecting. Through repetition and shared experience, a deeper understanding can begin to form. Not only of techniques, but of atmosphere, timing, and care.

The spirit of being here
When you arrive, you are stepping into someone’s living environment. We meet each other not as service provider and client, but as people sharing time, space, and responsibility.

Some ways of doing things may feel unfamiliar. That is part of the experience, not something to be fixed. We ask you to come with curiosity, respect, and a willingness to take part fully.

This may be a good fit for you if you feel drawn to:

• learning through doing, not just listening
• simple, rural environments and shared living
• tradition, presence, and embodied knowledge
• respectful engagement with local ways of life

It can be especially meaningful if you are walking a path connected to sauna practice, facilitation, or holding space for others.

This is likely not the right place if you are mainly looking for:

• a comfortable, hotel-style sauna holiday
• an all-inclusive service experience
• light entertainment or a casual visit
• a culturally neutral spa setting
• a programme with minimal personal involvement

In this tradition, nudity is a natural part of the sauna. It is not sexual. It is practical, cultural, and ordinary. We ask you to feel into this honestly before applying. If this feels uncomfortable or unsuitable for you, it is better to recognise that in advance.

At the same time, your dignity, privacy, and safety matter deeply. We hold a shared responsibility to create a respectful space for everyone. If behaviour clearly disrupts this, we will address it together, and if needed, participation may be limited.

No photos, videos, or recordings are made in or around sauna sessions unless everyone involved has given clear written consent.

Health and readiness
This experience includes heat, smoke, physical activity, shared living, and close group interaction. We ask you to take responsibility for checking whether this setting is suitable for you. If you have any conditions that may affect your participation, it is important to consider them carefully and, if needed, consult a professional. We will also do our best to support a safe and balanced environment for everyone.

Sauna Keeper Diploma
If you complete the programme, you will receive a Sauna Keeper Diploma from us. It reflects your participation and engagement in the process. It is not a formal licence, but a recognition of your journey here.

Dates
You can apply for one of the following periods:
XX to YY October 2026
XX to YY November 2026
We ask you to be present for the full duration, so that the group process can unfold naturally.

Location
We will meet in South Estonia, in a rural setting connected to smoke sauna traditions. You will receive detailed arrival information once your place is confirmed.

Group size
The group is intentionally small. There will be 6 to 7 people. This allows us to work closely, and to keep the experience personal.

Price
The participation fee is 1000 EUR. This includes the full programme, shared accommodation, meals during the stay, and all materials related to the learning process. Travel, insurance, and personal expenses are not included.

Payment
To confirm your place, we ask for a 200 EUR registration fee. The remaining amount is paid later, before the programme begins. If something is unclear or your situation requires flexibility, we are open to discussing it.

Cancellation and changes
We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel, please let us know as early as possible. The registration fee helps us prepare and commit to the group, so it is generally not refunded. At the same time, if your situation changes in a meaningful way, we will always try to find a fair and human solution together.

If you cancel well in advance, we will return any additional payments made. Closer to the start, it becomes harder to fill the place. Still, if we are able to offer your place to someone else, we will do our best to return as much of your payment as possible. If something unexpected happens on our side and the programme cannot take place, you will receive a full refund. Our intention is simple: to take care of each other and minimise unnecessary loss on both sides.

Insurance
We recommend that you have travel and health insurance that also covers cancellation and participation in sauna-related activities.

Joining happens through an application process. This helps us understand you and helps you feel whether this is the right place for you. Applying does not automatically confirm a place. Once we feel there is a good match, we will confirm your participation together.

A final word
This is a small circle. It is built on presence, shared effort, and mutual respect. If you feel something here resonates with you, you are warmly welcome to apply.

Apply to Join