ABOUT

Mikkel Aaland is an award-winning photographer, best-selling author and host of the Perfect Sweat documentary series. His non-technical books include, Sweat, County Fair Portraits, The Sword of Heaven, Pilgrimage to Kailash and a memoir, The River in My Backyard.

 

He is the co-founder of Sauna Aid, a multi-country initiative, dedicated to providing movable sauna facilities and supportive services to people facing natural and man-made disasters.

 

He is also an honorary member of the International Sauna Association (ISA) and the British Sauna Society and a board member of the Norwegian Sauna Association (Badstulaug). Aaland splits his time between San Francisco and Telemark, Norway.

Samuel is a Finnish Culture Producer and Senior Digital Marketing Consultant and has produced and starred in multiple Sauna Channel short films from Scandinavia and the Baltics, one of them being his own country cottage sauna hand built by his great grandfather by a Finnish lakeside.

During his time as culture producer he worked on three different continents at arts, music and culture events where he fell in love with storytelling and age-old traditions. 

Samuel has a deep love for people, nature and preserving and spreading the cultural heritage of the sauna.   Even as a Finn whos “grown up in the sauna” he very often finds himself learning something surprising about it.

Christine Rose was introduced to the modern Aufguss Sauna culture after moving from her native Germany to northern Italy. In South Tyrol, she experienced a “romantic sauna dance” where the Aufgussmaster executed a unique sauna ritual with dancing movements, music and natural oils which were put on the ice-balls on the sauna stove. Afterwards, Christine and her partner Maria Santini and friends, founded the Italian Aufguss Association, AISA, dedicated to bringing the Aufguss culture to Italy and Europe through contests and education.

 

Christine is a highly ranked Aufguss contestant and has successfully participated in several national Aufguss preliminary contests, as well as the International Aufguss-WM Finals, with 500 participants.  Christine also works as a volunteer for the Italian Sauna Association with its 400 members.

Anna Artemieva is an interior design journalist and public relations specialist, representing cutting-edge architects, brands and dealers. Burkina's creative design company is called the Shum (which means 'noise' in Russian) Agency.

 

Anna's site nudeblog.ru,  about the banya culture is followed by over 10,000 readers. She calls herself a "banya addicted girl' who is hooked on the healthy living communal aspects of the traditional bathing culture of Russia.

Sho  is an actor / contemporary dancer / art producer, basing in Tokyo and works worldwide.

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As an actor, he has worked a number of times with Yukihiko Tsutsumi, one of the most well-known Japanese film directors.

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In 2018, Sho made his Hollywood debut in action film, “Darc”, as Shigeru Kageyama, a leading role.
Sho started his own production company, 034productions, in 2019.

Japan Co-Host, Miki Tokairin is a Tokyo-based photographer and writer. She is one of Japan's most celebrated and respected figures in the realm of sauna culture. Her work, which bridges the gap between traditional practices and contemporary interpretations, has not only earned her a place as a leading expert in sauna rituals but also as a mentor who passionately shares her knowledge and expertise with others in both Japan and internationally. As an author, Miki has published several works that delve into the art and science of sauna use, highlighting its historical significance and modern-day relevance.

In an article by Setsu Niseko, Miki is described as one of the world's leading forest sauna masters. 

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"Miki's passion for forest sauna rituals, or as it is fondly called, "Whisking Sauna," spans eight years of dedicated research, practice, and mentoring. Her journey has taken her across the globe, from the tranquil forests of the Baltics to the serene landscapes of Scandinavia, in search of the ultimate sauna experience."

Elizabet Kurumlu has been working as a location manager/ line producer/ fixer and researcher for filming projects all over Turkey since 1991.

She has experience in different genres - from

historic documentaries, current issues documentaries, newscasts, advertorials and event filming, including multinational productions for the highest caliber production houses and TV channels such as PBS, BBC, CNN, Channel 4, Discovery, National Geographic, BFMTV, ZDF, ORF, SAT3, MBC, MediaCorp, hosting famous personalities such as Michael Portillo, Tony Robinson, Boris Johnson, Bettany Hughes and David Baddiel, just to name a few. Press Release

 

Elizabet is best known for the projects: The Hidden Art of Islam (2012).

Lasse Eriksen is a highly skilled and experienced sauna master with background as a professional sauna master for over 25 years. Lasse consults around the world to bring sauna rituals to new audiences and assisted the British Sauna Society with their project to take the first UK team to the Aufguss WM.

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Lasse is the Development Manager of Nordic Hotel and Resort, Farris Bad, which is  the largest, most beautiful and content-rich spa department in the Nordic region. He's also a board member of ISA- International Sauna Association, Head of Norwegian Sauna Association , Vice President Aufguss WM , Hydrothermal Initiative member GWI ,  & initiator of Sweat For Charity.  He's the President of the Norwegian Badstue Association,  and is the Ambassador in Norway for World Wellness Weekend.

Zack Robertson started as co-host of the Burning Man episode in the forthcoming series, Perfect Sweat. as a personal trainer and has since evolved to become a Producer for Bray's Run Productions. He's crafted stories from a number of North American locations for Sauna Channel episodes, and the documentary short, Safe Enough, among others.

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Zack, originally from Orcas Island, WA, now resides in Seattle. Raised in the Pacific Northwest, he grew up with a deep appreciation for nature, sweat bathing, and cold exposure within his family. These childhood experiences have evolved into his passions, fostering connections with communities worldwide. Zack strives to illuminate stories that inspire others, fostering a more connected world that celebrates the diverse spectrum of human expression and connection.

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Teresa Yung is a certified Yoga Teacher and Founder of the Trauma Project, a pioneering organization dedicated to serving those affected by trauma through groundbreaking peer and community healing programs.

 

Currently deepening her expertise as a psychology PhD student at Meridian University, Teresa's work is a testament to her commitment to fostering healing and resilience within communities.