Every Other Week

Heat, Scent, Rhythm: Why I Became a Gusmester (Sauna Facilitator)

If you’d told me a few years ago that “sauna” would become one of my favorite words, I’d have laughed. Now I’m a certified Gusmester (Sauna Facilitator) — and I want to tell you what that actually means, because quite a few people outside Denmark haven’t really heard of it.

Saunagus (or “aufguss,” if you want the German original) is a ritual, not just sitting in a hot room. A Gusmester pours water — often infused with essential oils — over hot stones, then uses a towel or fan to circulate the heat and scent through the room in waves. It’s part heat therapy, part performance, part meditation. Done well, it takes people through a real arc: intensity, release, calm. Denmark has taken this ritual and turned it into something close to a national pastime, with competitions, festivals, and a whole community of practitioners.

For me, sauna sits at the intersection of two things I’ve always loved: challenging my body and creating experiences for other people. Outside the sauna, you’ll find me at the gym, on a padel court, or out running — I just love moving. And in both my personal and professional life, I’ve always gotten joy out of designing moments that people remember. Being a Gusmester lets me do both at once.