Pirts Spirit

What a weekend. What a community. What a privilege. 🌿🔥

Eleven years ago, I attended my very first Pirts Fest in Latvia. I never imagined that one day I would return not only as a sponsor of this beautiful event, but also as a judge for the Peeling Procedures at the Sauna Herbal Cup Baltics 2026.

It truly feels like coming home.

Seeing the herbal masters from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia was deeply inspiring. Their authenticity, their connection with nature, their knowledge of plants and their respect for tradition reminded me why I fell in love with Pirts all those years ago.

My favourite moment wasn’t the competition itself. It was the closing circle. Standing together, thanking one another for the passion, commitment and love everyone brought to this gathering. In that moment there were no competitors, only one community united by a shared purpose.

Yes, the Sauna Herbal Cup is a competition. But above all, it is a place where people come together to learn, inspire, heal and help one another grow. When one practitioner grows, the whole community grows.

Standing there, I couldn’t help thinking about the Baltic Way—the human chain that united Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in 1989. It reminded me that we cannot change the past, but we can learn from it. If we want to build a better future, that journey begins within ourselves.

A heartfelt thank you to the Latvian Pirts Association, Aija Stefanova, Igors Stefanovs and Pavel for bringing this community together.

A special thank you to my Latvian teachers, Ilga Steinberga, Inese and Nauris Malnieki, and to all the Latvian pirtnieki and pirtnieces who shared their knowledge, passion and traditions.

Thank you, Biruta Ozoliņa, for taking me to Pokaiņi Forest after Pirts Fest. It was the perfect place to reconnect with nature and reflect.

I leave with a heart full of gratitude and even more motivation to continue sharing the spirit of Pirts with the world.

With love, light and steam. 🌿❤️♨️

— Benoit

7 dear Pirts Spirits reunited in Latvia to complete the Level 2 Pirts Spirit Fire Treatment, held in .

Building on the foundations of the Level 1 Air Treatment, this next level introduces a peeling procedure, along with the energetic and medicinal properties of different herbs and plants and how to use them with intention in Pirts — including a powerful meeting with the King of the Forest, the oak tree, and learning new whisking techniques that align with this powerful tree.

It’s a profound and intense course, rich with wisdom and knowledge — not only from the teachers, but also from each other. This course is about taking the next step and transformation on every level, in practice and within self. It’s about deepening the knowledge and respect for what nature offers us, gifts that are always here, and it’s about bonding closer — as a family, with nature, with the elements, with Latvian culture, with yourself and with the Pirts Spirit.

Thank you all for returning to Latvia and for choosing this journey together — it’s been unforgettable. We can’t wait to see you again soon!

With love, light and steam — may this new inner flame, lit by new love and knowledge, carry you toward beautiful sharings and onward journeys 🔥🧡

📸 Paldies for the photographs 🫶🏻
🍜 Paldies .ogre ( ) for the delicious food and for the nourishing breakfasts 🫶🏻
🏡 Paldies for the beautiful space, hospitality and care
🌻Last … Paldies to the teachers who share theirqq deep knowledge, trust and energy! Inese Mālniece Nauris Mālnieks , Ilga Šteinerte Gavare, Benoit De Bock Beth Cragg 🫶🏻

Back to where it all began… Switzerland.

From 27–29 August, Pirts Spirit will give the very first Pirts Spirit Education at Tamina Therme, Switzerland, open for anyone to book who feels the calling to learn how to guide a Latvian Pirts inspired group sauna experience with the Birch and Eucalyptus whisks.

For three days, we will step into the forest to bind our own birch whisks, discover the traditions of Latvian Pirts, explore the element of Air and the wisdom of the birch tree, experience the Pirts Spirit Air experience, and practise together in the first Pirts Spirit sauna ever built in Switzerland.

The education will be held in German and is limited to only 10 participants, creating an intimate and hands-on learning experience.

Bookings available on our website and the direct link is in our bio!

Looking forward to sharing this journey with you!

Another Level 1 Air Treatment course comes to a close in Latvia. As everyone returns to their homelands, we know this is not an ending, but a beginning — the opening of new connections, deeper friendships, and new adventures with the birch.

The powerful essence of Latvian Pirts will now travel to different corners of the world, and the Pirts Spirit Air Treatment will touch more lives, helping create a world that is a little more connected — to nature, to ourselves, and to each other.

Every course is different. New spirits arrive from different countries, bringing their own energy, experience, stories, and wisdom. Together, we create a unique experience that will stay with us forever.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who joined this course, representing seven nationalities: China, Australia, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Norway, and Canada. It still touches our souls deeply that despite our different locations, cultures, and backgrounds, we can unite and bond over one beautiful passion: Pirts.

We wish you all a safe and wholesome journey onwards. You are part of the Pirts Spirit family for life, and we look forward to crossing paths again!

Lai top! 🌿

A beautiful start to this years summer Latvian treatment courses.

We were joined by 8 amazing spirits from Switzerland 🇨🇭, Germany 🇩🇪, Latvia 🇱🇻, Belgium 🇧🇪and USA 🇺🇸 … connecting and uniting over the steam of Pirts and the Spirit of the Birch tree 🍃

This course also marked the 10th official Latvian Treatments Course we have delivered in Ziedlejas 🥳 and we are looking forward to welcoming a new group this Sunday!

Lai Top !