“Good steam takes its time”: a conversation with Illia, NAMETY’s sauna master
In a good sauna, there is always someone who understands that guests have not come to take a survival test. NAMETY sauna master Illia works with wood-fired heat, steam, leafy whisks and all kinds of personalities — from “just a little for me” to “shall we pour another bucket on the stones?”
We asked Illia to explain why good steam takes its time, whether a plunge into cold water is compulsory, and how to tell relaxation from sauna heroics.
Illia, what makes good steam?
Illia: The kind that lets people walk out of the sauna, rather than being ceremoniously carried out. Joking aside, you should feel the steam, but it should never feel aggressive. Good heat envelops you, breathing stays comfortable, and your body warms gradually. The stove is not a dragon you have to defeat. You are better off coming to an understanding with it.
Which matters more: high temperature or humidity?
Illia: What matters most is that they get along with each other — and with the guest. You can put a very impressive number on the thermometer, but that will not make the steam good. Water on the stones changes how the heat feels more than you might think. So I add steam gradually and watch the people as well as the instruments. If everyone suddenly stops joking, that is a measuring instrument too.
How long should one session last?
Illia: Until your body says “enough”, not until the person beside you says “leaving already?” The first session is an introduction to the heat, not a lifelong contract. Beginners are better off leaving a little earlier, cooling down calmly, drinking some water and returning if they feel like it. The only reason you might need a stopwatch in a sauna is to boil eggs, and we do not boil eggs in there.
Is the steam “better” on the top bench?
Illia: It is hotter. That is the only guarantee. You can warm up perfectly well lower down, especially at the beginning. The top bench is neither business class nor a measure of your social standing. If someone feels comfortable lower down, that is where they belong for now.
What is a sauna whisk for?
Illia: It is not there to bring back childhood memories of being punished. It moves hot air, helps warm particular areas of the body, releases the scent of leaves and creates all sorts of sensations — from gentle strokes to more energetic work. But all of that is agreed in advance. A sauna master who does not ask whether a guest is comfortable is working on their own ego, not with a person.
Does everyone need a cold plunge after the sauna?
Illia: No. This is actually my favourite piece of sauna news: nobody owes anybody anything. You can step outside, take a cool shower or use the tipping bucket. A cold plunge is for people who know how they respond and have no medical restrictions. Enter cold water in a controlled way. Pushing your friend in is an excellent way to stop being friends very quickly.
Sudden cold changes breathing, heart rate and blood pressure, so people with cardiovascular conditions, unstable blood pressure, a tendency to faint or other significant health conditions should seek medical advice.
Do a sauna and an ofuro hot tub go well together?
Illia: They do, as long as you do not turn two kinds of heat into a championship. After the sauna, take a break, drink some water and let your pulse settle. Then you can spend a short time in the ofuro hot tub. If someone is already very hot, even hotter water will not unlock a secret level of recovery — it will simply add to the heat load.
What mistakes do guests make most often?
Illia: Coming after drinking alcohol, not drinking enough water, heading straight for the top bench, keeping quiet about discomfort and turning the cold plunge into peer pressure. Another mistake is trying to fit everything in. A sauna, two whisks, three buckets, a hot tub, photos, a BBQ and a serious conversation about life, all in one hour. Even the forest looks on and thinks, “Could you slow down a little?”
Are phones in the sauna a bad thing?
Illia: I am not a judge at a digital tribunal. But phones do not cope well with heat and humidity, and people holding phones pay less attention to how they feel. Take your photos before or afterwards. There is plenty of content in the sauna without a screen: the stove, the steam, your friends and you yourself, finally without filters.
What does having the forest outside add?
Illia: First of all, it does not ask how many calories you have “burnt”. You step out, take a breath, look at the trees — and suddenly you no longer want to rush to the next item on the programme. Fresh air between sessions is not there to justify the fashionable word “retreat”, but to let you cool down calmly and tune in to yourself. Only the foxes are wild here; guests need not go wild too. We do not feed the animals or get close to take photographs.
What should people drink and eat?
Illia: Water — before, between and after sessions. Tea — for enjoyment and a pause. Leave alcohol out of your sauna plans. A heavy dinner just before the sauna is best avoided too. Your body already has enough to do; do not ask it to handle a wedding, a renovation and an annual report all at once.
How can you tell that a session has gone well?
Illia: People stop checking the time, speak a little more quietly and are in no hurry to leave. They also stop asking, “Is that all?” Because they understand that “all” means warmth, water, forest and feeling well. That is already plenty for one evening.
Where should it end: over tea or by the fire?
Illia: Wherever there is no need to rush. For some, tea in the lounge is enough; others want to sit by the fire area, if it is available and the team has confirmed the rules. The main thing is to avoid a “final push”: one more scorching session, one more bucket, one more hot tub. A full stop is a full stop because it ends the sentence. Even a very sauna-themed sentence.
Three tips from Illia for your first visit
- Say that you are a beginner. That is useful information, not an admission of weakness.
- Do not suffer in silence. A good sauna master adjusts the steam rather than judging your courage.
- Leave yourself some time afterwards. Relaxation does not end the moment the sauna door opens.
Experience wood-fired steam in the Wild Sauna, the sauna for two or the group sauna for up to eight guests.
Read also: a brief look at the science of heat exposure and three ways to combine sauna, water and rest.
