Came across this BBC Travel piece on Aufguss, which appears to be a sauna ritual common in Germany, Austria, and parts of Scandinavia — scheduled sessions, a trained performer actively managing heat and airflow with towels, specific aromatics, and (in many places) mandatory nudity. It seems it is not a novelty add-on, but a core part of thermal spa culture at resorts and public baths as much part of the experience as branch beatings are.
What’s interesting is how little of this exists in the U.S. We have “saunas” attached to gyms and hotels, but nothing comparable in terms of structure, supervision, or cultural seriousness. in san francisco our best two sauna's don't have anything like this. Curious whether those who’ve done this at places like Baden-Baden, Austrian thermes, or Nordic spas found it genuinely restorative or more performative than relaxing — and whether it’s something worth factoring into destination or hotel selection.
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