Aufguss National Championships Come to Thermea Spa Village Whitby

There’s something exciting happening in Durham Region this summer. We at York Durham Headwaters are thrilled to announce that the first annual Canadian Sauna Performance Championships will be hosted by none other than Thermea Spa Village in Whitby. From June 17^th to 19^th, Aufgusshow 2025 will welcome Aufgussmeister competitors from around the nation as they vie for the honour of representing Canada at the Aufguss World Masters Championship in Italy. Watch them weave together heat, scent, music and movement in an expertly choreographed show that each competitor hopes will make them stand out from the rest. What this means for you, the viewer, is that you’ll be presented with the most spectacular experience from Canada’s finest Sauna Masters, all in one fabulous location while you spend the day resting, relaxing and rejuvenating.

This year’s Aufgusshow 2025 competitors are:

• Abigail Gillies – Ontario
• Amara Conde – Manitoba
• Barbara Prevedel – Ontario
• Emiliy Finlay – Ontario
• Emily Krolick – Ontario
• Evens Dominique – Quebec
• Frederic Kenney – Quebec
• Jad Maalouf – Quebec
• Kaitlyn Rathwell – Quebec
• Kasha Kostrzewa and Jacqueline Mason – Ontario
• Marika Charbonneau and Stephane Gauthier (dual and solo performance) – Quebec
• Mohammad Abdollahzadeh – Manitoba
• Nicolas Gauthier – Quebec
• Quincy Hierbert – Manitoba
• Tasha Konkin – Manitoba
• Victoria Foster – Ontario
• Xavier Drouin-Hill and Zacharie Drouin-Hill – Quebec

For $139, your one-day ticket provides you with three competition performances of your choice, all-day access to the Spa Village and its installations, and a complimentary souvenir sauna hat. Want to extend your stay and enjoy all three days jam-packed with exciting events? Thermea has partnered with Courtyard Oshawa and Residence Inn by Marriott Whitby for exclusive offers, plus their website provides more accommodations for you to choose from if something else tickles your fancy.

But… what is Aufguss?

We love our spas here in Canada, of course. Nothing says “self-care” like a day at one of our amazing spas here in York Durham Headwaters. However, there is simply no denying that Canada’s got nothing on Europe. Aufguss, which derives from the German word for “infusion,” is a multi-sensory wellness experience that is rooted in Europe’s beloved, thriving and centuries old sauna culture.

Rachel Tanner, Marketing and Community Relations Manager for Thermea Spa Village Whitby, explains further. “Aufguss involves the use of essential oils-infused water poured onto hot sauna stones. That creates fragrant steam and heat. Trained sauna masters, or Aufgussmeisters, will then perform choreographed routines using towels to circulate the steam within the sauna.”

There are many purported health benefits which are tied to the thermotherapy and aromatherapy aspects of Aufguss. These are:

• Strengthening the immune system – Your blood vessels expand in high temperatures, which stimulates blood flow. Better blood flow can help reduce inflammation and heal injuries
• Relieving joint and muscle pain – Heat like you experience in a sauna can help relax muscles and relieve tension and ease joint and muscle pain
• Eliminating body toxins – As you sweat, you rid the body of toxins. This can help with skin health, and can help reduce oxidative stress
• Easing stress – As you relax, your body releases endorphins which help ease stress and anxiety
• Helping with a better night’s sleep – Your body temperature goes up during the sauna session, then goes down when you leave, which helps regulate your circadian rhythms
• Providing an overall sense of well-being – The warmth, peace and atmosphere of a sauna helps you feel better overall through simple, immersive ambience.

Show Aufguss, on the other hand, is a little bit different. Rachel says, “It is an elevated experience in the sauna, and incorporates theatrics, lighting, music, scent and even costumes and elements of storytelling. Show Aufguss is what our contestants will be competing in at the first national championships.”

In fact, it was Group Nordique (which owns the three Thermea facilities in Canada), that applied to join the Aufguss World Masters Association, so this is why Thermea Whitby will be hosting it. “Our three Group Nordique spas have been leading the charge in Canada for spa rituals,” Rachel states. “Not a lot of people know about it, but you’re starting to see more and more spas begin to integrate Aufguss into their offerings. It is even slowly gaining momentum throughout the world. The US is new to the Aufguss World Masters Association too, and they will be hosting their first national championship in New York just after ours.”

Aufguss at Thermea

With your village access, you can experience Thermea’s daily Village Rituals at no additional charge, and without needing to reserve your place ahead of time. Simply check out the day’s schedule when you arrive, and head to the Event Sauna when you hear the ring of the gong. Make sure to keep an eye on the time, because rituals are on a first-come, first-served basis. There are four types of Aufguss rituals performed regularly at Thermea:

Discovery: An introduction to the Aufguss ritual – This is the shortest Aufguss at the Village, offering a gentle introduction that awakens all the senses with music, waves of enveloping steam, and the soothing scents of essential oils. This is the perfect experience for those new to the Aufguss ritual or anyone with a lower heat tolerance.

Artisan: Music that awakens the senses – To diffuse essential oil aromas throughout the sauna, an artisan moves a towel gracefully to a wave of music. With every movement, an aromatic breeze is circulated throughout the sauna to soothe the body and the mind.

Meditative: The Aufguss experience – This is the purest form of the Aufguss ritual, which begins with the sound of the first snowball melting on hot stones. Your artisan will then begin to create enveloping waves of aromatic steam with movements that respect tradition.

Discovery Arboreal: An imaginary expedition into the backcountry – Allow yourself to be transported to the heart of Canada’s boreal forest. In this ritual the traditional towel is replaced by foliage-rich birch branches to fill the sauna with the scent of wilderness. Temperatures in this ritual fluctuate between intense heat and fresh outdoor air to soothe the senses. 

Aufguss at Thermea is quickly becoming a favourite feature for new and returning guests. “You’ll see it in the reviews that people leave for us,” Rachel Tanner says. “They’ll say that the rituals were the highlight. Some people even attend multiple rituals per visit. That’s been exciting for us to see, and we anticipate that Aufgusshow 2025 will be even more exciting for our guests. It will be something truly different and transformative.”

Don’t miss out – Book your Tickets to Aufgusshow 2025 today!

To experience the wonder that is Aufguss, and to see it elevated from a time-honoured ritual into something truly spectacular, visit www.thermea.com/whitby/aufgusshow or call 1-866-484-1112 for ticket prices and times. Don’t forget to check out all the other services and spa packages Thermea offers while you’re there. Everyone needs a little self-care and pampering, so book a day to relax, rejuvenate and reinvigorate yourself with a premium Thermea Spa Village experience.

Thermea Spa Village

4015 Cochrane St.,

Whitby, ON L1P 2A9

Updated: June 24, 2025