Kati, Author at World of Sauna

What does a German sauna master do? -article focuses on German sauna masters.

What is included in their job?

How can you study to become a sauna master? How long does it take?

Where can you study to become a sauna master and how much does the course cost?

Make sure to read the article if you want to become a sauna master or are interested to know what sauna masters do.

If you have been to a German sauna, you already know what it is like. No one can pour water on the stove except the sauna master (Saunameister in German). Sauna master comes in every hour or half an hour.

Many Finns have said that the Aufguss-ceremony (the steam-ceremony) is ridiculous. I must admit, I also found it quite comical in the beginning. However, after living in Germany for 10 years, I am already used to these sauna sessions. Some of them have been very nice experiences!

It is important to remember every country has its own sauna culture and it should be respected. We Finns sometimes tend to forget that and think that our way is the best.

Read more: German Sauna Culture

I got to interview a real German sauna master for this blog post. We talked about the work she does as a sauna master and how she got into the profession.

Who?

Heike Schneider lives in Cologne. She is a swim guard and sauna master. She has always been an avid swimmer and at some point, she also became an avid sauna goer. She has been working at the Bäder in Cologne for ten years now.

Heike studied to become a sauna master five years ago. She says that being a sauna master has brought a lot of joy to her life. She enjoyed it so much that she decided to study the subject more. Today, she is a sauna manager. This training has given her even more insight into the world of the sauna.

Where can you study to become a sauna master?

In Germany, you can study to become a sauna master through the Sauna-Bund (Sauna-Society). The training lasts 2 weeks and costs about 2100 € (overnight stays, commute). Students study from Monday to Friday and on the weekends, they must do a first aid course. It is an intense two weeks.

Heike says that the training is too short. She would have liked more knowledge about human anatomy and the sauna’s health effects. She also would have liked to learn more about sauna treatments. For example, peat treatments in Germany are only available in very few places.

Is training compulsory?

You do not have to study to become a sauna master if you want to work in spas or sauna worlds. However, many employers wish that employees attend the course. A physiotherapist can also work as a sauna master if they are interested in the topic.

What is the best thing about your job?

Aufguss, the moment of steam. That’s when I create steam for my customers, and I see that they feel good and happy. Getting to know different clients and helping them relax. For example, I like to put different scents or sound bowls in the cooling room for my customers to enjoy.

How Much Does a Sauna Master Earn?

It depends on where you work: Private or public. Sauna masters are usually students in the private sector, and they receive € 1500-2000 per month. On the public side, you can earn a little more than € 2,500 -3,000 per month. The weekly working time is 40 hours.

What does a sauna master do during the breaks?

In most sauna worlds, Aufguss is every half an hour. The sauna masters prepare the next moment of steam, clean, cool down and chat with customers about all things related to the sauna.

Have you ever received negative feedback?

Sometimes the customer is not happy with the Aufguss and is in a bad mood because they lacked motivation. If you are not receptive and ready for the Aufguss, it might feel uncomfortable. For example, once one couple complained that Aufguss was too hot. I reminded them that they can always leave the sauna if they feel uncomfortable.

How do you know you have succeeded in your work?

When I see that customers are happy with the Aufguss. When I receive applause, I know for sure that Aufguss was good. Sometimes customers ask for more and that’s also awesome feedback.

How long does the Aufguss ceremony last?

Aufguss usually takes 8-12 minutes.

How many Aufgusses do you do during the day?

The morning shift will have 3-5 Aufgusses and the evening shift will have up to seven Aufgusses.

What differences have you noticed in the German and Finnish saunas?

Finns are more natural and less hectic in the sauna. There are a lot of rules in Germany, although I think it is less strict nowadays than before. There is a lot of different technology in Germany. Sometimes the purpose of the sauna is forgotten in German sauna.

Read more: German Sauna Rules

Have you been to a sauna in Finland?

In Helsinki, I visited Löyly and Allas Sea Pool. I visited Tampere Sauna Restaurant Kuuma.

What tips would you give to future sauna masters?

First, it is important that you like the sauna and enjoy working with the sauna. Another important thing is that you are not bothered by nudity.

Thanks for the interview with Heike Schneider.

I hope that you enjoyed What does a German sauna master do? -article and found it helpful!

Would you be interested in studying to become a sauna master?

“Ordering a bathroom sauna -Things to keep in mind “- article focuses on ordering and installing a bathroom sauna. Building a bathroom sauna in your own home is perhaps the easiest and fastest way to build a sauna.

There are many different saunas available. You are sure to find a solution for your house and life situation. This time I introduce bathroom saunas or “sauna cabins” as they are sometimes called.

Kylpyhuonesaunan tilaaminen -Mitä pitää ottaa huomioon

When you are buying or ordering a sauna for yourself, think of your sauna as a long-term investment. It is an investment in yourself as well as in the materials. “Good things are not cheap” applies here as well.

Your sauna is worth saving for. Invest in high-quality wood materials, a heater and you will have a high-quality sauna.

Think long-term. The value of your house will increase when you have a high-quality, properly built sauna. Similarly, it can harm the price of your property if the sauna is poorly made and maintained.

The building or ordering a sauna is not cheap, and it should not be. Think about what you want from the sauna and what it will bring to your life. It is a great investment.

Here are some perks of having your own sauna:

You can take a sauna in your own home; you do not have to drive to a spa/gym etc.
You can take a sauna whenever you want and the way you want.
You can enjoy the sauna privately, either alone or with your loved ones.
You get to experience all the positive health benefits that the sauna offers you.

The building or ordering a sauna can cost a lot of money. When it comes to the price, the sky is the limit. The building or ordering a basic sauna can cost up to 5,000 euros.

Concerning electricity consumption, it has been calculated that the price of one home sauna evening is around € 1. This depends of course on your stove and your specific electricity price plan. When you compare the prices with other saunas, a home sauna is significantly more affordable. Some spas and sauna worlds charge up to € 20 or more per visit.

Ordering a bathroom sauna -Things to keep in mind.

Location
Flooring
Sauna
Sauna stove
Air condition
Thermal insulation
Installation

Ordering a bathroom sauna -Things to consider

1. Location

Where do you want the sauna to go? What are the dimensions of the space? It is worth measuring carefully so that you do not order a sauna that is the wrong size.

2. Floor

The floor material must be moisture-insulated and waterproof. The best floor materials are tiles or vinyl flooring. If the stove is wood burning, the materials under and around it must be non-combustible.

Note that it is a good idea to have a floor drain and slopes to the drain. If a drain is not possible, it is worth investing in slopes. It is important to get water out of the corners because mould and spores easily start growing in them.

You might think that “I do not splash water when I take a sauna”. When you throw water on the stove, some of it might end up on the floor. You might also sweat quite a bit. When you wash your sauna, it is really important to rinse the benches well. Therefore, waterproof flooring in your sauna is a necessity. A floor drain in the sauna is also a huge help.

The floor must have:

Moisture insulation and be waterproof.
Slopes to the drain
A floor drain (either in the sauna or in the showers)
Be made of non-combustible material (around and under a wood-burning stove).

3. Sauna

The walls and ceiling of the sauna must be made of wood or wood panel. Wood effectively attenuates high sound waves creating a calm and quiet atmosphere. It also keeps the outside sounds from coming into the sauna. The acoustics in the sauna is very good.

Tiled walls do not give the sauna a quiet atmosphere. The tiles also do not insulate, they absorb and bind heat, they become hot, and the sauna does not heat up. You need a very powerful heater, and the sauna still does not get hot. As we all know that a tiled bathroom echoes because the sound waves bounce from one wall to another like a ping pong ball.

Wood is a “soft” material and therefore perfect for a sauna. It does not feel hot and is antibacterial.

A bathroom sauna is a booth that stands freely on the floor, on its own “paws”.

4. Sauna stove

The choice of a sauna stove is important if not even the most important decision you have to make when building a bathroom sauna. There are all kinds of sauna stoves available. There are big and small, pillar heaters and traditional stoves, always ready-heaters, disposable stoves and everything in between.

The most important function of the sauna stove is to make the stove stones as hot as possible. When choosing a stove, it is worth considering the sauna as a whole. Where are you going to install the sauna stove? What kind of stove would suit my needs the best?

Small stoves have fewer stones, it takes less time and less electricity to heat. Interestingly, smaller stoves are more prone to “splash” the water around when it is thrown or poured on the stones.

Large heaters have a lot of stones and more time and more electricity are spent on heating. The rocks heat up more slowly. However, the steam is much more enjoyable than that of a small stove and the steam evaporates softly. The stones in the large stove also keep their warmth better because there are more of them.

Think carefully about your choice. Manufacturers offer operating instructions and provide calculation diagrams to help determine the best sauna stove for you. Of course, you should also consider the materials of your sauna. Is it made of wood, does it have stone walls, tiles etc. I will make a blog post where I go more into detail about this later on.

As a rule of thumb, it is better to buy a more powerful heater than you initially planned.

5. Ventilation

High-quality bathroom saunas are well-ventilated. However, please note that if you are building a sauna in the basement, the basement/bathroom needs to be ventilated also.

If you install your sauna in your bathroom, the ventilation in your bathroom should be sufficient. For example, if your house has gravity/natural ventilation that should be enough.

Make sure that the sauna has a ventilation valve in the ceiling and a small fan on the roof. It blows fresh air into the sauna, which equalizes the temperature, and guarantees oxygen-rich air for the sauna-goers.

When the bathroom sauna is in place, a gap of 1 cm is automatically left between the sauna and the back wall. The air gap is enough to ensure sufficient ventilation. The outside of your sauna will not get wet or damp.

6. Thermal insulation

When ordering a bathroom sauna, thermal insulation must be taken into account. If your sauna does not come with thermal insulation, you need to add it yourself. Otherwise, the heat will escape, and the sauna will not heat up properly.

7. Installing a bathroom sauna

Installing a bathroom sauna is easy and the sauna comes with pictorial instructions. You can go a long way with a cordless drill and a screwdriver. It takes about a day to erect a bathroom sauna.

Ordering a bathroom sauna -Things to keep in mind

You need an electrician to install the heater.

I hope this article on ordering a bathroom sauna-Things to consider was helpful to you. Especially, if you are thinking about ordering or building a bathroom sauna yourself. Thank you to our expert Tapani Aho from Saunastore. You can order bathroom saunas of different shapes and sizes and other sauna products from Saunastore.