About Us
We are a small family run business offering contrast therapy (sauna and cold plunge) and hosting sauna rituals in beautiful wild locations to allow you to truly unwind and be at one with nature. Based in Wirksworth, we are blessed to have some of the most wonderful views and landscapes the Peak District has to offer.
Jen (founder of Saunafolk) is Sauna Master and has trained with some of the most experienced bath masters from Lithuania and the UK. Jen hosts traditional Pirtis rituals for groups as well as offering individual treatments. Bringing plants into the sauna bathing experience has been done for centuries, aiding deep relaxation and connection with nature and the elements.
We also offer regular collaborations such as sauna and yoga as well as sauna and art, craft and music collaborations.
Our Aim
Sauna is nothing without the people in it. At Saunafolk our mission is to bring people together to create a fun, compassionate and warm community.
Our Mission
Saunafolk’s mission is to bring blissful wild sauna experiences to you, our sauna loving folk!
Our goal is to create inclusive and accessible sauna experiences in the most beautiful settings in and around Wirksworth and the Peak District. Creating a warm welcoming community along the way.
Our Story
Jen (Saunafolk founder) has trained in the ancient Lithuanian sauna practice of Pirtis, a sauna tradition deeply rooted in nature and Lithuanian culture and history. Pirtis rituals are more than just a sauna; it’s a practice that encompasses bathing, whisking (using leaf whisks to circulate heat), herbal infusions, and the use of natural products for cleansing and rejuvenation.Sauna has been used for centuries to bring people together, to heal them and create more resilient communities. Many cultures around the world use sauna as a space to share stories, folk law and pass down wisdom through generations.
We are seeing a rebirth of this ancient practice in the UK. The Romans understood the power of hot and cold and excitingly we are just rediscovering it! We are beginning to understand more about why it’s good for most of us through the emerging evidence about the numerous health benefits.
There is so much evidence that highlights that spending time outdoors is great for wellbeing. The healing power of nature and human connection cannot be underestimated. Experiencing the elements with others is a uniquely joyful experience.
In Pirtis sauna treatments seasonal botanicals are used, creating natural aromatic infusions. We incorporate the use of organic essential oils for those who want to take their relaxation to the next level.
I warmly welcome you to come and soothe yourself in the heat, invigorate yourself with the cold (optional!) and connect.
With love and löyly,
* Löyly (pronounced “LOY-loo”) is the Finnish word for the magical steam that rises when water is thrown onto hot sauna stones, creating a burst of humid heat
Jen
Pronouns (she/her)
“All people are created equal, but nowhere more so than in a sauna”
Finnish Proverb