Sauna spa ritual

Are you one of the many who regularly go to the sauna and love its many wellness benefits? This 360° holistic ritual enhances your sauna experience before and during your session. The ritual combines sauna, dry brushing and self-massage with aromatherapeutic skincare - which together create a true sensory feast for the mind and body.

The Sauna Spa Ritual was created by our founder, Mette Skjærbæk, and stems from her experiences with saunagus. Throughout 2024, Mette has co-facilitated numerous saunagus sessions, adding the ancient rituals of dry brushing and Ayurvedic-inspired self-massage with aromatherapeutic skincare. This ritual is therefore for you if you would like to expand your sauna experience. The ritual is suitable for before and during your time in the heat - as well as in the cold, should sea bathing, cold plunges or similar be part of the experience.

The guide has been developed based on our masterclass for professional sauna masters. Read more at the end of the article.

Going to the sauna has never been more popular. But the years-long queues for the bathing and sauna clubs, particularly in the capital region, have made the experience a closed club for the few... That is why we are so pleased to see that saunagus has really gained momentum - a wellness ritual offered by a rapidly growing number of saunas, where everyone can take part. A health trend we believe is here to stay - and one that we at Karmameju, with our love of aromatherapy, are especially excited about. 

· 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 towels

· Skincare for a possible follow-up bath

Dry brushing is performed on dry skin before you go into the sauna. It can be done at home in the bathroom with either BUFF or RECHARGE before heading out. Depending on your surroundings at the sauna, dry brushing can be done indoors, outdoors or in the sauna before it heats up. You can do it standing or sitting. It is important that your skin is dry when you dry brush. Please note: if you dry brush in the sauna, be aware that the BUFF dry brush is the only one that tolerates steam. Do not bring your RECHARGE dry brush into the sauna.

Start your sauna ritual by dry brushing first your body from top to toe with your body dry brush, and then your chest, neck and face with the RENEW face dry brush. Some people brush with one brush, others dry brush with two brushes, one in each hand - do whatever you prefer. 

The Karmameju brushing technique is to brush in long, straight strokes towards the heart to stimulate vital body systems such as blood circulation and the nervous and lymphatic systems. 

If you want to learn more about dry brushing, watch our videos: ”How to dry brush your body” and ”How to dry brush your face” 

After dry brushing, you are ready for the sauna. Whether you enter the sauna with dry or damp skin is up to you, and the rest of your sauna ritual can be performed whether your skin is wet or dry.

Bring your ACTIVATE scalp brush and your aromatherapeutic oil(s) with you into the sauna, and place the oils on the floor so the glass bottles do not get too hot. Extra tip: You can also place them in a bowl of water to keep them cool. 

Take time to ”settle” into the sauna before you begin the ritual in the heat. Breathing is perhaps our most important ally in life. Make it 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 and boost energy. The brush removes dead skin cells, excess sebum, styling residue and dirt, so the scalp is oxygenated and the hair follicles are strengthened.

Our self-massage is inspired by the Ayurvedic abhyanga massage. A massage from top to toe with warm, nourishing oils that invites you to massage your body with love. No one knows your body like you do, and when it is done in a warm sauna, the feeling is even more delightful. 

Facial massage
Dispense a few drops of face oil between your palms, form a cup with your hands in front of your nose, and take deep breaths with your eyes closed. Aromatherapy works both through the sense of smell and via the skin. Massage your face with your fingers and let them explore your areas of tension – they are often found in the jaw and around the eyes. Feel free to press deeper to stimulate the connective tissue, or use light strokes to promote lymphatic drainage. Remember the neck and chest, which we at Karmameju call "The big face". Continue for as long as it feels good.

Self-massage on the body
Dispense a few pumps of your favourite aromatherapeutic body oil between your palms, form a cup with your hands in front of your nose, and take deep breaths with your eyes closed. Start from the neck, and the scalp if you wish, or start from the feet and massage your whole body. Take your time. 

Choose the aromatherapy that suits the sensory effect you wish to enhance:

LOVING aromatherapy:
Uplifts, 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. 

ENERGIZING aromatherapy:
Purifies, energises and focuses the mind.
Choose WILD body oil. 

You can also choose our perfume-free face oil LIGHT face oil for this purpose. 

If you use contrast baths/cold water baths in your sauna ritual, there is no need to worry about washing away the beneficial oils, as they will stay on the 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 with #karmamoments - we love it when we inspire each other. And remember…

Our skin has around 4 million touch receptors.

In other words, 4 million reasons to love the skin we are in.

Enjoy!