My name is Hannah Goodger and up until recently I worked at Hoar Cross Hall Spa in Staffordshire.
My job role was a ‘Spa Experience Host’. It was a very expansive role where I conducted pool tests, tidied up the spa areas, filled up acid and chlorine, cleaned hot tubs. I also taught archery, axe throwing and covered the spa reception such as checking people in for the day and booking them in for treatments and classes.
In December 2023 I was told through work about the ‘ Sauna Master Beginner course ‘
I genuinely had no idea what it was and I told my manager it wasn’t really my thing and I wasn’t too interested. I had qualified to be a personal trainer that year so I had been in the sauna at work quite a bit as part of my recovery but I found them quite boring. I then spoke to my manager who’d been to Rudding Spa and experienced Jena Robinsons sauna ritual and really enjoyed it. He told me to keep an open mind and try it.
Fast forward to the course in December. It was a 3 day course and I LOVED IT. I always go into the candle stores when I go shopping and really enjoy smelling all the different aromas, so the aromatherapy part of the course and learning all about essential oils and mixing them was so fun for me. Learning the towel techniques really brought out my competitive side and I wanted to learn and pick up tricks as much as I could and practice after the course. There was so much to learn within the three days such as the benefits of sauna, the sweat bathing cultures and understanding that in some countries Aufguss is common practice; Learning to have the perfect sweat. It is so interesting to me and I wish I could have learnt it sooner!
It has been an incredible journey so far, genuinely it has changed my life and future goals.
Since the course in December I participated in the 2nd UK Aufguss Championships that were held in Ireland in April. I have also represented the UK at the 2024 Herbarium Festival and 2024 Sauna Festival in Romania.
A special moment for me was performing with Barbora Brožová in The Amazon Sauna at Therme, Bucharest. She has the biggest heart and I am so lucky to have been able to spend time with her.
This year has been incredibly busy for me in the best way, I travelled to the Netherlands to watch the Aufguss VM World Championships which was incredible and to see the pure hard work and talent the Aufguss masters put into their rituals was so special to see. I also got the opportunity to visit a spa called ‘ Zuvier ‘ in Amsterdam where I joined Danny for the day and performed two sauna rituals with her. It was a memory I will never forget. I have travelled around some parts of the UK to visit new wild saunas and perform sauna ceremonies for guests to experience as well as invite sauna owners and people in the community to talk on my podcast!
I have just finished the Advanced Sauna Master course with Aufguss UK and the Czech Republic Champions which was also amazing.
In May I will be representing the UK at Herbarium Festival at Therme Bucharest and I have also been invited as a guest Aufguss Master to perform at Hotel Permian in Slovakia.
I will also be competing at the 3rd UK Aufguss Championships in May 2025, which I am buzzing for so watch this space!
I’m so so passionate about Aufguss and have formed so many new friendships from my new creative venture. I am constantly inspired and grateful for the support I have been given by people that are so knowledgeable in the space and I can’t wait to see where it takes me next!
