I’m no stranger to saunas accompanied by bracing sea dips, but taking part in a ‘sauna ritual’ led by a sauna master was a new experience. So, when Louise Roberts who runs Shoreline Sauna, by the Cobb in Lyme Regis suggested I join one of Nick T’s sessions, I leapt at the chance. The two-hour ritual is based on Lithuanian Pirtis techniques of hot and cold rounds, breathwork, body scrubs and whisking.
The location of Shoreline Sauna is stunning. The pretty barrel-shaped wood-fired sauna offers glorious views along the Jurassic Coast, with a sandy beach to dash down to reach the cooling briny waters. There is also a plunge bath by the sauna, if a sea dip doesn’t appeal.
I pitched up a little early for the session and found Nick finishing the leaf whisks for our sessions. These included bunches of elderflowers, fern, oak and birch, all foraged locally. These bring the scent of the forest into the sauna – all part of the Lithuanian sauna tradition to create a connection with nature.
Nick Tettersell holding some of the whisks we used in our ritual session. (Image: Louise Roberts)
Nick, who is based in Cornwall, previously worked as a tree surgeon before taking this new career path just over a decade ago. Initially he trained as a massage therapist before diving deeper into holistic wellbeing practices to help him deal with past trauma. It was through sea swimming, ice baths and cold showers, that he discovered sauna. Finding this to be an incredibly healing experience, Nick trained to be a sauna master (there are around 100 sauna masters in the UK, both men and women). This was with the Lithuanian Bath Academy, and more recently he completed Sauna Healer training with Sipoonjoki Heritage Sauna in Finland. So, Nick comes with a wealth of experience from both Lithuanian and Finnish sauna cultures which he expertly incorporates into his sessions.
Part of the experience includes body scrubs. And Nick had prepared one made with lilac from Louise’s garden and Portland salt, and an invigorating coffee scrub using coffee grounds. The types of whisks and scrubs vary seasonally depending on what is in leaf and flower. Nick also promised that there would be some catchy ‘sauna songs’ in Finnish which we would be encouraged to join in with.
The sauna ritual was fully booked, with six of us for this early evening session; a mix of men and women, some new to the experience, others repeat customers. We changed into swimwear and donned pixie-style felt sauna hats, which help to regulate your overall body temperature.
Settled into the sauna, Nick entered wearing a special towelling sarong and sauna hat, whisks in hand. He warmly welcomed us and explained that there would be four parts to the session, led by the elements…fire, water, earth and air. The skill of a sauna master is to ‘virtually’ hold the group and to guide us through the various elements of the ritual. This includes meditation, leaf whisking, body scrubs and so on.
Nick Tettersell with one of the foraged whisks. (Image: Louise Roberts)
The first part was the sweating out anything you are holding onto; this is where you ‘sweat the shame’ as he called it. The temperature gradually builds throughout the session, but you never feel like you are cooking. We were ‘feeling our way into the Löyly’ a Finnish word for the steam that rises after water is thrown onto the hot stones of the sauna stove. It has numerous health benefits, including relaxation, improved circulation, and detoxification – you release anything that needs to be released. As we sweated away Nick moved the air around with elderflower whisks, filling the air with its honeyed perfume. His gentle voice guiding us. Then it was into the sea, still quite bracing in early June, but exhilarating.
There followed the first body scrub. Later in the session we incorporated the leafy whisks of birch, fern and oak. At points Nick did some whisking on each of us. Before long we were glowing and dripping. And the ‘sauna songs’ were enthusiastically taken up by us all.
A platter of orange segments was passed around. Having sucked the segments dry, Nick encouraged us to rub our bodies with the citrus peel, and a zesty aroma filled the air.
As the session progressed, any inhibitions slipped away, one member of the group joyfully immersed themselves in the ice-cold bath as we whisked around them. The final scrub of sugar and coffee grounds gave the sauna the ambience of a rather steamy coffee shop. After a final dip in the sea, and a rinse off in fresh water, it was time to reflect and rehydrate with a herbal infusion created by Nick for the session.
I emerged back into the real world, relaxed and rejuvenated – I was positively glowing. And I had the best night’s sleep. It’s easy to see why Nick’s gentle intuitive guidance and passion for the numerous benefits of sauna has earned him so many fans. Including me. It was the most beautifully healing experience.
Sauna master Nick T leading a session. (Image: Louise Roberts)
Let’s book it!
Shoreline Sauna in Lyme Regis is open Thursday – Sunday 8.30am – 9pm . As well as bank holidays, full moons and other special events. Capacity six people. Communal seat £15; package of 5 sessions £45; 10 sessions £85; private hire 1 hour £60; 2 hours £120.
Follow Nick on Instagram @nickttherapies and Facebook @ NickTTherapies
