A gusmester guides a saunagus. Their central job is to feel the room and help each guest have a good experience with the heat. Water on the stones, towel work, scent and music all serve that purpose. The craft lies in knowing when to bring the warmth closer and when to give people space.
What does a gusmester do during a session?
The gusmester pours water onto hot stones, sometimes plain and sometimes scented. Steam rises towards the ceiling. A sweep above the heater catches that warmth, and the towel helps move it around the room and down towards the lower benches. A guest sitting lower can share in the gus without seeking the strongest heat. The aim is to reach people, not to make every seat feel identical.
The gusmester also shapes the space between those moments. A pause lets you notice the heat already around you. Music can give a round a slow beginning or a more energetic turn. Those choices matter because guests want different amounts of heat. If the ritual is new to you, our introduction to saunagus explains the basics.
It is a physical craft. Our gusmester training page describes learning when to pour water, how to work with scent, and how to wave towels and fans. Those details give the person at the front choices beyond adding heat.
The towel is a way of guiding the air
Watch the towel for a moment during a gus. A broad sweep can carry warmth and scent across the room; a smaller movement can bring it towards particular benches. You might feel it on your face, ears or shoulders first. The gusmester watches how the room responds, including the guests who chose a cooler place to sit.
The gusmester can leave space between movements, return to the stones, or let music carry the moment. That attention matters more than sheer intensity: one guest might welcome another wave while another has enough. In a Relaxed Gus, you may be looking for room to settle; Energizing Gus offers another pace. The format helps you choose, while the person guiding the session gives it a character of its own.
Scent is part of that character, too. The gusmester can plan an arc from a lighter, brighter impression to a deeper aroma that seems to linger, or choose a different direction entirely. Lavender may feel soothing to one guest; another scent may feel more vivid. The perceived strength depends on what reaches you as the air moves. Our gusmesters have also begun using Frank oils. For more about scents and their safe use, see our guide to sauna oils and oil safety article.
Music and attention change the room
A gusmester chooses more than a playlist. Music gives the towel work a pace and helps the gusmester hold the room. On our team page, you can meet the people who make those choices. In her published interview, Astrid describes mixing instrumental meditation music with more modern songs to create a relaxing space. That is her approach, not a set programme for every gus.
The guests are the point of all this attention. One may be finding a comfortable place while another has had enough heat for now. The gusmester can read the room, but you remain the best judge of how you feel. Sit lower for less heat or step outside to cool down. Tell staff if you feel dizzy or unwell.
Our FAQ covers the practical house rules, including silence during the session, washing your whole body and hair with soap before entering, and bringing a towel that covers the bench under your body and feet. Between sauna and cold water, rinse off in the shower. Then you can give your attention to the person guiding the room.
Questions from the bench
Does every gusmester do the same thing?
The building blocks are familiar: heated stones, water, scent, air moved by towel or fan, and music. The choices within them can differ. A track, a pause or the way a towel moves can make a round feel personal. Our team profiles offer a glimpse of the people behind the sessions.
Do I need to follow every instruction or stay for the whole round?
Follow the house rules, and take the heat at your own pace. You can use a lower bench or leave the sauna to cool down. If you need help, tell staff. You do not have to prove anything by staying in the heat.
Can I bring an oil I like?
Please leave personal oils and other products outside. Under our behaviour policy, only products provided and administered by a certified gusmester may be used during sessions. The air belongs to everyone in the sauna.
How do I choose a session?
Start with the pace you want, then look at the available times. You can read about Signature Gus or compare the formats in which gus suits you. See current prices and book a session when you are ready. Once you are on the bench, notice when the gusmester lets the air settle as much as when the towel starts moving.