Perfect Sweat

In Finland, saunas are everywhere, and no steam is left unexplored with guide Samuel Aarnio. Mikkel and Saumel island hop by boat, visit old friends for a traditional smoke sauna, and test their limits in 60+ saunas at the Mobile Sauna Festival in Teuva.

In regions along the Italian-German border, a very unique tradition has grown. Guide Christine Rose shows Mikkel that a sauna is nothing without a show when it comes to the ritual of Aufguss, an art form that melds cultures and steam bathing traditions. Aufguss uses balls of ice, infused with essential oils upon sauna rocks, and integrates the act of towel waving to enhance the aromatics. But today, it’s more exciting than ever before, with Aufguss Masters putting their own twist on the experience with music, drama, and lighting. Mikkel visits some of the most luxurious spas in the area, learns about ancient Roman bathing influences, and later witnesses some fierce competition for the World Aufguss championship - sweat entertainment at its finest.

An ancient Russian tradition that was widely established with public baths in city centers, the banya is experiencing a new wave of enthusiasm among young people. Banya blogger Anna Artemieva shows Mikkel how the next generation has embraced the banya as ritual, with friends and alone, to heal the mind and cleanse the soul. Since the days of the Soviet Union, when Mikkel was last in Russia, some banyas he visited may have closed, but the traditions are alive and well. Visiting luxurious urban spots like Banya Alekseeva to countryside retreats like B.O.R. Club, Mikkel finds his match in Anna as they encounter the best steam masters in town, from St. Petersburg to Moscow and beyond.

Ancient architecture and ancient bathing traditions are infused in the culture of modern-day Turkey. Starting in Istanbul, Mikkel visits stunning architectural wonders and learns about the rich history of textiles and other materials critical for enjoying the hamam bathing experience to the fullest. Guide Elizabet Kurumlu also gives Mikkel a crash course in the best of hamam cultural events: From pledge hamams, where people treat each other to a luxurious day of bathing in order to make wishes, to soldier hamams, where friends conduct a bubbly, relaxing send off for a soldier soon to be reporting for duty. Though hamams may have been more plentiful in the days of the Ottoman Empire, they remain a critical part of wellness and community for the Turkish people.

Japan, an island nation, has a sweat bathing culture that dates back to the sixth century. With 3,000 hot springs on the islands, bathing and sweating are integral parts of the Japanese’ mental and physical healing practices. Guides Miki Tokairin and Sho Ikushima take Mikkel on a tour of some of the oldest and newest sweat baths in Japan today.

Thanks to his Norwegian roots, Mikkel’s love for sweat bathing started with the badstue. From his father’s home in Ulefoss, Mikkel begins a journey through Norway with guide Lasse Eriksen. What was once a sleepier town when Mikkel visited over 40 years ago, Oslo is now home to numerous floating saunas and badstues that culturally and architecturally expand the meaning of sweat bathing. Next stop is Dalen, where a beautiful lakeside sauna based on a fairytale provides picturesque reflection. In Tromso, they board the Vulkana, a fishing boat-turned-spa, and finally, they end their quest at the remote resort of a legendary polar explorer, where nature is the ultimate companion.