An ancient Russian tradition that was widely established with public baths in city centers, the banya is experiencing a new wave of enthusiasm among young people. Banya blogger, Anna Artemieva, shows Mikkel how the next generation has embraced the banya as ritual, with friends and alone, to heal ...

In regions along the Italian-German border, a very unique tradition has grown. Guide Christine Rose shows Mikkel that a sauna is nothing without a show when it comes to the ritual of Aufguss, an art form that melds cultures and steam bathing traditions. Aufguss uses balls of ice, infused with ess...

n Finland, it is estimated that there are 3.5 million saunas. They even exist in fast food restaurants. And no steam is left unexplored with guide Samuel Aarnio, who represents a younger generation that holds fast to the centuries-old sweat bathing tradition. Samuel and Mikkel start their sauna a...

Over three thousand hot springs bubble to the surface on the Japanese archipelago, making
steam and sweat important elements in the cleansing, healing, and spiritual traditions of Japan.
The arrival of Buddhism in the sixth century gave birth to a variety of sweat baths, like the Kamaburo,
Mushi-...

Ancient architecture and ancient bathing traditions are infused in the culture of modern-day Turkey. Starting in Istanbul, Mikkel visits stunning architectural wonders and learns about the rich history of textiles and other materials critical for enjoying the hamam bathing experience to the fulle...

Thanks to his Norwegian roots, Mikkel’s love for sweat bathing started with the badstue. From his father’s home in Ulefoss, Mikkel begins a journey through Norway with guide Lasse Eriksen.

What was once a sleepier town when Mikkel visited over 40 years ago, Oslo is now home to numerous floating ...

The Playa is a harsh landscape, with high temperatures that make sweat bathing seem unthinkable. But Mikkel and his guides, Teresa Yung and Zack Robertson, explore the growing community of sweat bathing lovers who make the annual trek to Burning Man. They road trip from Mikkel’s hometown of San F...