My SaunaMeister Training: Hands-On at the World's Biggest Spa
The final steps at Therme Erding, and what comes next.
My journey to becoming a SaunaMeister has reached an exciting new phase! After months of online learning, the practical training finally brought everything together with three intense days at Therme Erding in June 2025.
The first two months of training were all web-based. In April, we focused on the medical basics of sauna, and in May, we dived into the specific knowledge needed to be a SaunaMeister. But of course, the real magic happens in practice—like the Aufguss (the pouring of water and essential oils on hot stones) and Wedeltechnik (the art of towel waving). These are the skills we honed during our time at Therme Erding.
Our group met in person for the first time at the Hotel Victory, which is part of Therme Erding. If you've never heard of it, Therme Erding is the largest thermal spa in the world, located just northeast of Munich. The hotel, with its great meeting rooms and close proximity to the spa, was the perfect spot for our three-day practical training.
Each day kicked off at the hotel with some theory and group work. We got to design our own imaginary spa, figure out how many SaunaMeisters would be needed, plan out Aufguss schedules, and get valuable tips from our trainer, Christoph Correll. We also practiced explaining the Aufguss process and safety information clearly to guests. Plus, we learned all about the different scents you can use for an Aufguss.
For me, the most crucial part was the hands-on learning of Wedeltechnik—how to swing the towel to circulate the air. These days, it's not just about moving air; it's also an artistic performance, often combined with suitable music that has perfect timing. Moving along the sauna benches while waving the towel beautifully really takes practice, and I know I'll be working on this a lot more! We all officially graduated and passed a final test in front of Christoph in the Seesauna of Therme Erding. We had to give an intro speech for an imaginary Aufguss and showcase our technique.
Connecting with the other participants and learning together was incredibly valuable. I now know many fellow SaunaMeisters, from Therme Erding itself to saunas across Germany. I'll definitely be reaching out to them whenever I'm traveling!
But this is truly just the beginning. Now I need to take these skills and really put them into practice and improve them over the coming weeks and months. This means getting in front of real sauna guests and practicing my technique. I'm already deep into finding the right music for various Aufguss formats and practicing basic towel techniques daily at home.
This entire experience was unforgettable. I'm so happy to have met such excellent fellow students and learned so much about the world of sauna.