Soul Water Sauna

Last weekend I was in Larvik, Norway. I was attending the AUFGUSS-WM e.V. , Modern Classic Cup in farrisbad.no . The hosts, hotel staff, event organisers and volunteers were grounded and full of heart, reflecting the spirit of the hotel itself, one foot on the land and the other in the sea.

Meg Hopkinson was representing the UK 🇬🇧 and the sauna to perform in was an Aufguss masters dream. She, the sauna, is called Alda. With her beautifully sloped ceiling, central stove and generous floor space, she’s Northern Europe’s largest event sauna ❤️‍🔥

Many competitors were highly experienced, some having spent 10+ years in the industry, working in large spas with saunas regularly seating 60, 80 or even more guests. Seeing their confidence, style and knowledge was inspiring. They freely shared techniques and stories from their journeys.

Meg has a strong sense of place in the sauna, staying grounded inside is the biggest task and although she’s more confident on home turf she consistently pushes her limits, balancing on the edge.

I’m so proud of how Meg performed. She guided a session that was both thought through and personal, she engaged with all the guests and the result was touching, joyful, reflective and somehow the lightest version of deep. I’m very aware that this doesn’t make sense if you didn’t experience it, but those who did will understand. There were tears, both in the heat of the sauna and afterwards when heart rates and breath recalibrated.

We discussed the simplicity and beauty of Meg’s piece. Not everything needs to be complicated to give you the feels, sometimes the magic is as simple as watching a seed become a flower, and there it is… “From The Ground Up”. The title of Megs performance, and everything she’s embodied getting to this point in her career.

Big love to all the sauna folk out there. To the newbies that venture into the unknown, those who step out and push boundaries, those who do it with love, empathy and grace, and especially those within the wonderful Sauna Family who hold up the walls of spaces where we all grow together.

Thanks to , Anada & British Sauna Society for their support

🔥Meg Heads to the World Aufguss Championships 🔥

This weekend, we’re incredibly proud to be cheering on Meg Hopkinson as she competes in the AUFGUSS-WM e.V. Modern Classic Cup held at farrisbad.no, Norway.

Since joining Soul Water Sauna, Meg has grown so much and has become a truly gifted ritual leader. Many of you will have experienced her warmth, creativity and care through her Pirtis rituals, Aufguss sessions and special events.

One of Meg’s greatest strengths is her ability to truly connect with people. She brings everyone into the experience, creating moments that feel both personal and collective, and helping each person get exactly what they need from the session.

To see her journey take her to the world stage is something really special, and we’re so proud to see her representing both Soul Water Sauna and the growing sauna community here in Scotland.

Good luck, Meg. We’re all cheering you on! ❤️🔥

SaunaCulture

Yesterday marked our third and final takeover at saunatheatre, bringing a little Soul Water Sauna magic to Edinburgh Fringe audiences.

Together we travelled through stories, poetry and immersive experiences, beginning with Salt and Steam, the film we produced last year exploring the history of sweat bathing in the UK. We then moved through Nordic sauna traditions before arriving at Imbas: Voyage Home; a mythological remembering of a seeker’s journey, woven together with the tale of the Cailleach from Celtic folklore.

We finished on a high with Choose Longevity by Mika Meskanen, first created for Soul Gathering last year, before turning up the music for a joyful dance party.

What a beautiful few weeks of creativity, connection and collaboration. We’re so grateful to our incredible sauna hosts who brought these experiences to life, and to Sauna Sessions and the team at Sauna Theatre for making it all possible.

Salt & Steam was written and directed by Katharine O’Donnelly, produced by Kirsty Carver, with cinematography by Mike Guest, editing by Annabel Moodie, and music from Lucy Callen (Veil) and Laura Foon (First Löyly and Kiitos).

If you haven’t visited yet, there’s still time to experience this unique Fringe creation.

Thank you to Natalie, Brendan, Gunnar, Simone, Gemma, Natasha, Ula, Harris, Stacy, Meg, and everyone else who helped create something truly special. ❤️

And a special thank you to Fleur Stonehouse (), whose creative guidance and support helped shape The Cailleach and Imbas: Voyage Home, bringing depth and cohesion
to the experience.

Soul Water Sauna x Sauna Theatre 🔥

We’re really excited to be taking over some sessions at saunatheatre as part of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe - presenting Stories from the Sauna ~ Fire, Water and Folklore.

We’ve spent the last few years in Edinburgh creating spaces where people come together to slow down, warm up and connect. Some of the best stories start on the sauna bench, and this collaboration is our way of bringing a little bit of our world to the Fringe.

Combining storytelling, poetry and sauna ritual, we’ll be sharing a taste of Soul Water Sauna through stories inspired by steam, sea, fire and Celtic folklore. Along the way, audiences will experience some of the rituals we use in our sauna, including the gentle use of leaf whisks and Aufguss-inspired steam and scents.

Drawing inspiration from Finnish and Lithuanian sauna traditions, as well as the culture that’s been growing across Scotland’s shores and communities, step into the atmosphere of Soul Water Sauna without ever leaving the Fringe…

📆 Monday 10, 17, 24 August
📍 Summerhall Arts
⏰ 13:30
🎟️ Tickets.summerhallarts.co.uk

🌿 We’re so excited to welcome Birutė back to Scotland this September!

Birutė is not only one of the leading teachers of traditional Lithuanian sauna culture, she’s also a dear friend of the Soul Water family. This September she’ll be returning to deliver the fourth round of Sauna Master Trainings, and we can’t wait!

Details below 👇

🔥 Level 1 Sauna Master Training | 6–8 September
Whether you’re fairly new to sauna or a regular bather looking to deepen your practice, this three-day training is a beautiful introduction to healthy sauna basics, steam, bodywork and traditional whisking techniques. Perfect if you’d love to learn skills to use with friends and family, support your own wellbeing, or take the first steps towards offering sauna experiences to others.

🌿 Level 2 Sauna Master Training | 9–11 September
For those who have already completed Level 1 and are ready to go further. You’ll dive deeper into classical whisking, natural beauty treatments, group sauna experiences and the art of creating truly memorable rituals and therapies.

These trainings are always a highlight of the year. They offer a rare chance to immerse yourself in authentic Lithuanian sauna traditions, connect with like-minded people, and learn from someone who has inspired so many of us on our sauna journeys.

✨ We’d love for you to join us.

SaunaCulture

Stories, Steam & Sisterhood ✨

Back in January, when the days were short and the sea was wild, you gathered for the first Stories, Steam & Sisterhood. Since then, month by month, following these tales together through the darkness of winter, the awakening of spring, the summer solstice, and now into the height of summer.

Hosted by Ula, these intimate gatherings weave together storytelling, sound and a touch of magic.
Listening together to a tale from Women Who Run With The Wolves, exploring myth, instinct, and the wisdom of the wild feminine. After the story, settling into the heat, conversation and reflection, allowing the themes of the evening to resonate.

Whether you’ve been with us since January or are joining for the first time, you’re warmly invited to step into this circle.

📖 Stories, Steam & Sisterhood with Ula
✨ Thursday 2 July · 19:15
✨ Thursday 30 July · 19:15

Our sessions do not aim to reinforce a binary vision of gender. If your body, your history, or your experience resonates with this event, you are welcome.

A chance to gather by the sea, share stories, and honour the seasons together. ♨️🌊✨

Porty Pride Sauna Sessions 🌈

We’re really happy to be celebrating 5 years of Porty Pride with a series of special sauna sessions by the sea.

These sessions are all about creating a space that feels warm, welcoming and held. A chance to come together, to connect, to rest, and to share the sauna in a way that feels safe and inclusive.

🌈 Saturday 6 June, 9:15
LGBTQIA+ sauna (60 mins)

🌈 Sunday 7 June, 11:00
Trans & Non-Binary sauna (90 mins)

🌈 Sunday 7 June, 17:00
LGBTQIA+ sauna (90 mins)

Whether you’re a regular or it’s your first visit, you’re always welcome here. Come as you are, take the heat at your own pace, and be part of something that’s quietly powerful.

A percentage of donations will go to Mermaids and LGBT Scotland.

You might recognise Tom. A familiar face at our sauna’s, a big cheerleader of all progress and a willing participant in to test any new offering 🌿 ❤️‍🔥

Tomorrow he’s taking on a challenge… walking 25 miles to raise money and awareness for a cause close to his heart, raising funds for Mermaids UK, so that trans young people and their families can continue to access the wonderful support Mermaids offer.

And in true Tom style, sauna is part of the journey. He’s sandwiching the full 25 miles between sessions, starting in the morning with us at Granton, and finishing at Hot and Bothy in Archerfield.

Help us wish Tom well for the miles ahead. If you’d like to support, you can donate via the link in bio.