By founder, Mette Skjærbæk
Are you one of the many people who regularly visit the sauna and love its many wellness benefits? This 360° holistic ritual enhances your sauna experience both before and during your session. The ritual combines the sauna, dry brushing and self-massage with aromatherapy skincare – which, when combined, provide a true sensory feast for mind and body.
The sauna spa ritual was created by our founder, Mette Skjærbæk, and is based on her experiences with sauna infusions. Throughout 2024, Mette has co-facilitated numerous sauna sessions, incorporating ancient rituals such as dry brushing and Ayurvedic-inspired self-massage with aromatherapy skincare. This ritual is therefore for those who wish to enhance their sauna experience. The ritual is suitable for use before and during exposure to the heat – as well as the cold, should sea bathing, cold-water bathing or similar activities form part of the experience.
The guide has been developed based on our masterclass for professional sauna masters. Read more at the bottom of the article.
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Going to the sauna has never been more popular. But the years of queuing at bathing and sauna clubs – particularly in the capital region – have turned the experience into an exclusive club for the few… That’s why we’re delighted to see that sauna infusions have really taken off – a wellness ritual offered by a rapidly growing number of saunas, where everyone can join in. A health trend we believe is here to stay – and one that we at Karmameju, with our love of aromatherapy, are particularly enthusiastic about.
Saunagus sessions combined with dry brushing and self-massage using aromatherapeutic skincare work seamlessly together because they harmonize to stimulate both body and mind. Each method offers unique benefits that, when combined, create a holistic and immersive experience.
When the three elements come together:
1. Dry brushing before sauna(gus) stimulates blood circulation, the lymphatic system, and the nervous system, while fostering a positive connection to yourself. It exfoliates the skin, supports detoxification, and prepares the skin to absorb nourishing skincare products. If you’re already familiar with dry brushing, you’ll recognize the “buzzing” energy it creates in your body and the refined texture it brings to your skin.
2. The heat of the sauna prepares the body by opening pores and relaxing muscles, while sweating efficiently eliminates toxins through the skin.
3. Self-massage with aromatherapy during the sauna nourishes and protects the skin while stimulating the release of oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin. If you’ve used skincare enriched with nature’s aromatherapy, you’ll know how invigorating and nurturing it feels for both body and mind.
This combination unites physical detoxification, sensory delight, and mental balance, making it a truly holistic practice.
Saunagus sessions combined with dry brushing and self-massage using aromatherapeutic skincare work seamlessly together because they harmonize to stimulate both body and mind. Each method offers unique benefits that, when combined, create a holistic and immersive experience.
When the three elements come together:
1. Dry brushing before sauna(gus) stimulates blood circulation, the lymphatic system, and the nervous system, while fostering a positive connection to yourself. It exfoliates the skin, supports detoxification, and prepares the skin to absorb nourishing skincare products. If you’re already familiar with dry brushing, you’ll recognize the “buzzing” energy it creates in your body and the refined texture it brings to your skin.
2. The heat of the sauna prepares the body by opening pores and relaxing muscles, while sweating efficiently eliminates toxins through the skin.
3. Self-massage with aromatherapy during the sauna nourishes and protects the skin while stimulating the release of oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin. If you’ve used skincare enriched with nature’s aromatherapy, you’ll know how invigorating and nurturing it feels for both body and mind.
This combination unites physical detoxification, sensory delight, and mental balance, making it a truly holistic practice.
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· DO YOU shopper bag
· Drinks – find inspiration for infused water here
· One or two body dry brushes – BUFF or RECHARGE
· One or two RENEW face dry brushes
· An ACTIVATE scalp brush
· One or more body and face oils
· Karmameju pantsuit or bathrobe
· Karmameju hammam towel
· Skincare for a possible follow-up bath
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Dry brushing should be carried out on dry skin before you enter the sauna. It can be done at home in the bathroom using either BUFF or Recharge before you leave. Depending on the surroundings at the sauna, dry brushing can be carried out indoors, outdoors or in the sauna before it heats up. You can do it standing up or sitting down. It is important that your skin is dry when you dry brush. Note: If you dry brush in the sauna, please be aware that the BUFF dry brush is the only one that can withstand steam. Do not take your RECHARGE dry brush into the sauna.
Start your sauna ritual by dry-brushing your body from head to toe with your body dry brush, followed by your chest, neck and face with the RENEW facial dry brush. Some people use a single brush, others dry brush with two brushes, one in each hand – do whatever you prefer.
The Karmameju brushing technique involves brushing in long, straight strokes towards the heart to stimulate vital bodily systems such as blood circulation, the nervous system and the lymphatic system.
If you’d like to learn more about dry brushing, you can watch our videos: “How to dry brush your body” and “How to dry brush your face”
After dry brushing, you’re ready for the sauna. Whether you enter the sauna with dry or wet skin is a matter of personal preference, and the rest of your sauna ritual can be carried out regardless of whether you’re wet or dry.
Take your ACTIVATE scalp brush and your aromatherapy oils with you into the sauna; place the oils on the floor so that the glass bottles don’t get too hot. Extra tip: You can also place them in a bowl of water to keep them cool.
Take some time to ‘settle in’ to the sauna before you begin your ritual in the heat. Breathing is perhaps our most important ally in life. Make your breaths deep, calm and mindful, and your nervous system will respond positively.
Stimulation and massage of the scalp
Use the ACTIVATE scalp brush to relieve muscle tension and headaches, as well as to BOOST your energy. The brush removes dead skin cells, excess sebum, styling residue and dirt, allowing the scalp to be oxygenated and the hair follicles to be strengthened.
Our self-massage is inspired by the Ayurvedic abhyanga massage. A head-to-toe massage with warm, nourishing oils that invites you to massage your body with love. No one knows your body like you do, and when done in a warm sauna, the sensation is even more delightful.
Facial massage
Apply a few drops of facial oil between your palms, cup your hands in front of your nose, and take deep breaths with your eyes closed. The aromatherapy works both through your sense of smell and via your skin. Massage your face with your fingers, letting them explore where your tension lies – it’s often found in the jaw and around the eyes. Feel free to apply deeper pressure to stimulate the connective tissue or use light strokes to promote lymphatic drainage. Don’t forget your neck and chest, which we at Karmameju call ‘The Big Face’. Continue for as long as it feels good.
Self-massage for the body
Rub a couple of pumps of your favourite aromatherapeutic body oil between your palms, cup your hands in front of your nose, and take deep breaths with your eyes closed. Start from the neck and scalp, if you wish, or start from the feet and massage your whole body. Take your time.
Choose aromatherapy that suits the sensory effect you wish to promote:
LOVING aromatherapy:
Uplifting, creates balance and positivity.
Choose HOPE body oil and GLOW face oil.
CALMING aromatherapy:
Soothes and relaxes the mind.
Choose MILD body oil and HEAL face oil.
ENERGISING aromatherapy:
Cleanses, energises and sharpens the mind.
Choose WILD body oil.
You can also choose our fragrance-free face oil LIGHT face oil for this purpose.
If you include alternating hot and cold water or a cold water dip in your sauna ritual, you needn’t worry about washing the beneficial oils away, as they will remain on your skin after contact with water. Oil on damp skin is a great combination.
We hope you enjoy the most wonderful sauna rituals.
Feel free to share them with us on Instagram using #karmamoments – we love it when we inspire one another. And remember…
Our skin has around 4 million touch receptors.
In other words, 4 million reasons to love the skin we’re in.
Enjoy!
Masterclass for beauty therapists
This guide has been developed based on our masterclass for professional beauty therapists. If you’re a chef and would like to know more about our Masterclass, you can find
further information here.
Even if you don’t use aromatherapeutic skincare or products for the home, nature still ensures that aromatherapy is all around us. Trees and plants release invisible plant compounds, phytoncides, which research links to lower stress levels and increased activity in the body’s natural defence cells. This is a beautiful account of forest bathing, nature’s aromatherapy and the scientific evidence behind it.
