BRINGING THE HEAT DOWN UNDER
The Australian Sauna Association is here
to grow and support authentic sauna culture
across the country.
BRINGING THE HEAT
DOWN UNDER
The Australian Sauna Association is here
to grow and support authentic sauna culture
across the country.
Our Story
The Australian Sauna Association was formed to continue and expand the mission first sparked by the Australian Sweat Bathing Association (ASBA). What began as a grassroots effort to connect sauna lovers and advocate for public bathing culture has now grown into a national organisation committed to supporting authentic, accessible, and culturally informed sauna experiences across Australia.
We exist to nurture a thriving sauna community, from casual bathers to builders, operators, health professionals and researchers. Our aim is to raise standards, share knowledge, and build recognition for sauna as a meaningful wellness practice with deep cultural roots and growing relevance today.
Through events, education, advocacy and collaboration, we are helping shape the future of sauna in Australia, in a way that respects tradition, embraces innovation, and fosters connection between people and place.
Our Story
The Australian Sauna Association was formed to continue and expand the mission first sparked by the Australian Sweat Bathing Association (ASBA). What began as a grassroots effort to connect sauna lovers and advocate for public bathing culture has now grown into a national organisation committed to supporting authentic, accessible, and culturally informed sauna experiences across Australia.
We exist to nurture a thriving sauna community, from casual bathers to builders, operators, health professionals and researchers. Our aim is to raise standards, share knowledge, and build recognition for sauna as a meaningful wellness practice with deep cultural roots and growing relevance today.
Through events, education, advocacy and collaboration, we are helping shape the future of sauna in Australia, in a way that respects tradition, embraces innovation, and fosters connection between people and place.
Meet the Team
Nikita Miltiadou
Founding Member of the Australian Sauna Association and co-founder of Blue Mountains Sauna. A leading voice in Australia’s sauna movement, he blends deep cultural advocacy with a creative background in music, events, and tech/automation to champion authentic, community-driven sauna experiences nationwide.
Drew Neiht
founder of Wilderness Saunas, crafting authentic, sustainable sauna experiences across Australia. With roots in construction, wellness, and European sauna culture, he blends hands-on expertise with cultural insight. Drew also advocates for public bathing and eco-building through consulting, design, and community-driven projects.
Amy Salisbury
Founder of Seasoul Sauna, a coastal sauna experience based in Melbourne. Inspired by ancient Nordic traditions, she blends hot-cold therapy with nature to support connection, healing, and community well-being. Through Seasoul, Amy champions authentic, accessible sauna culture rooted in simplicity and care.
Chloe Gore
founder of Kuuma – Nature Sauna, Australia’s first floating sauna experience. Blending her background in events, design, and architecture, Chloe brings people together through heat, nature, and connection. She runs Kuuma with her husband while raising their family and championing Australia’s modern sauna revival.
Paul Strasser
founding member of the Australian Sauna Association and a passionate advocate for authentic sauna culture. After years exploring saunas across the UK, he brings deep insight and global perspective to the ASA. With a background in strategy, finance, and tech, Paul supports sauna growth through practical leadership and connection.
Rob Dempster-Smith
founder of Cedar & Salt, a mobile woodfired sauna business bringing traditional heat to wild, natural settings across NSW. Inspired by Nordic sweat bathing during his time in Amsterdam, Rob now helps others navigate the trailer sauna space through hands-on experience, advocacy, and community connection.
Adam Strupek
founder of Aesir Mentoring, a wellness practice blending Nordic esoteric teachings with breathwork, cold exposure, and sauna. Raised in Brisbane by Czech parents, Adam has embraced sauna since childhood. His Nordic Ceremonial Sauna experiences weave löyly, story, and ritual to support deep inner reflection and resilience.
Jack Tsonis
Longtime advocate for authentic public bathing culture. As the co-founder of the Australian Sweat Bathing Alliance (ASBA), Jack has helped lay the groundwork for a national movement reconnecting people with the health, social, and spiritual benefits of heat. With a background in philosophy and cultural theory, he brings a unique depth to the sauna conversation, linking ancient traditions with contemporary wellbeing and climate-conscious living.
James Mugavin
founder of Löyly Studio, an architecture and design practice focused on wellness spaces and community connection. With a passion for sauna culture and slow, human-centred design, James bridges architectural excellence with traditional bathing values. He works across public and private projects to help shape a uniquely Australian sauna landscape.
Selena de Carvalho
Co-founder of Elsewhere Sauna, a mobile woodfired sauna that brings immersive heat experiences to festivals, wild places, and communities across Tasmania. An artist and environmental designer by trade, Selena weaves creativity, ecology, and ritual into every sauna session. Through Elsewhere, she explores how sauna can foster reconnection—with self, with others, and with the land.
Rob Dempster-Smith
founder of Cedar & Salt, a mobile woodfired sauna business bringing traditional heat to wild, natural settings across NSW. Inspired by Nordic sweat bathing during his time in Amsterdam, Rob now helps others navigate the trailer sauna space through hands-on experience, advocacy, and community connection.
Adam Strupek
founder of Aesir Mentoring, a wellness practice blending Nordic esoteric teachings with breathwork, cold exposure, and sauna. Raised in Brisbane by Czech parents, Adam has embraced sauna since childhood. His Nordic Ceremonial Sauna experiences weave löyly, story, and ritual to support deep inner reflection and resilience.
Jack Tsonis
Longtime advocate for authentic public bathing culture. As the co-founder of the Australian Sweat Bathing Alliance (ASBA), Jack has helped lay the groundwork for a national movement reconnecting people with the health, social, and spiritual benefits of heat. With a background in philosophy and cultural theory, he brings a unique depth to the sauna conversation, linking ancient traditions with contemporary wellbeing and climate-conscious living.
James Mugavin
founder of Löyly Studio, an architecture and design practice focused on wellness spaces and community connection. With a passion for sauna culture and slow, human-centred design, James bridges architectural excellence with traditional bathing values. He works across public and private projects to help shape a uniquely Australian sauna landscape.
Selena de Carvalho
Co-founder of Elsewhere Sauna, a mobile woodfired sauna that brings immersive heat experiences to festivals, wild places, and communities across Tasmania. An artist and environmental designer by trade, Selena weaves creativity, ecology, and ritual into every sauna session. Through Elsewhere, she explores how sauna can foster reconnection—with self, with others, and with the land.
Meet the Team
Nikita Miltiadou
Founding Member of the Australian Sauna Association and co-founder of Blue Mountains Sauna. A leading voice in Australia’s sauna movement, he blends deep cultural advocacy with a creative background in music, events, and tech/automation to champion authentic, community-driven sauna experiences nationwide.
Drew Neiht
founder of Wilderness Saunas, crafting authentic, sustainable sauna experiences across Australia. With roots in construction, wellness, and European sauna culture, he blends hands-on expertise with cultural insight. Drew also advocates for public bathing and eco-building through consulting, design, and community-driven projects.
Amy Salisbury
Founder of Seasoul Sauna, a coastal sauna experience based in Melbourne. Inspired by ancient Nordic traditions, she blends hot-cold therapy with nature to support connection, healing, and community well-being. Through Seasoul, Amy champions authentic, accessible sauna culture rooted in simplicity and care.
Chloe Gore
founder of Kuuma – Nature Sauna, Australia’s first floating sauna experience. Blending her background in events, design, and architecture, Chloe brings people together through heat, nature, and connection. She runs Kuuma with her husband while raising their family and championing Australia’s modern sauna revival.
Paul Strasser
founding member of the Australian Sauna Association and a passionate advocate for authentic sauna culture. After years exploring saunas across the UK, he brings deep insight and global perspective to the ASA. With a background in strategy, finance, and tech, Paul supports sauna growth through practical leadership and connection.
Rob Dempster-Smith
founder of Cedar & Salt, a mobile woodfired sauna business bringing traditional heat to wild, natural settings across NSW. Inspired by Nordic sweat bathing during his time in Amsterdam, Rob now helps others navigate the trailer sauna space through hands-on experience, advocacy, and community connection.
Adam Strupek
founder of Aesir Mentoring, a wellness practice blending Nordic esoteric teachings with breathwork, cold exposure, and sauna. Raised in Brisbane by Czech parents, Adam has embraced sauna since childhood. His Nordic Ceremonial Sauna experiences weave löyly, story, and ritual to support deep inner reflection and resilience.
Jack Tsonis
Longtime advocate for authentic public bathing culture. As the co-founder of the Australian Sweat Bathing Alliance (ASBA), Jack has helped lay the groundwork for a national movement reconnecting people with the health, social, and spiritual benefits of heat. With a background in philosophy and cultural theory, he brings a unique depth to the sauna conversation, linking ancient traditions with contemporary wellbeing and climate-conscious living.
James Mugavin
founder of Löyly Studio, an architecture and design practice focused on wellness spaces and community connection. With a passion for sauna culture and slow, human-centred design, James bridges architectural excellence with traditional bathing values. He works across public and private projects to help shape a uniquely Australian sauna landscape.
Selena de Carvalho
Co-founder of Elsewhere Sauna, a mobile woodfired sauna that brings immersive heat experiences to festivals, wild places, and communities across Tasmania. An artist and environmental designer by trade, Selena weaves creativity, ecology, and ritual into every sauna session. Through Elsewhere, she explores how sauna can foster reconnection—with self, with others, and with the land.
Rob Dempster-Smith
founder of Cedar & Salt, a mobile woodfired sauna business bringing traditional heat to wild, natural settings across NSW. Inspired by Nordic sweat bathing during his time in Amsterdam, Rob now helps others navigate the trailer sauna space through hands-on experience, advocacy, and community connection.
Adam Strupek
founder of Aesir Mentoring, a wellness practice blending Nordic esoteric teachings with breathwork, cold exposure, and sauna. Raised in Brisbane by Czech parents, Adam has embraced sauna since childhood. His Nordic Ceremonial Sauna experiences weave löyly, story, and ritual to support deep inner reflection and resilience.
Jack Tsonis
Longtime advocate for authentic public bathing culture. As the co-founder of the Australian Sweat Bathing Alliance (ASBA), Jack has helped lay the groundwork for a national movement reconnecting people with the health, social, and spiritual benefits of heat. With a background in philosophy and cultural theory, he brings a unique depth to the sauna conversation, linking ancient traditions with contemporary wellbeing and climate-conscious living.
James Mugavin
founder of Löyly Studio, an architecture and design practice focused on wellness spaces and community connection. With a passion for sauna culture and slow, human-centred design, James bridges architectural excellence with traditional bathing values. He works across public and private projects to help shape a uniquely Australian sauna landscape.
Selena de Carvalho
Co-founder of Elsewhere Sauna, a mobile woodfired sauna that brings immersive heat experiences to festivals, wild places, and communities across Tasmania. An artist and environmental designer by trade, Selena weaves creativity, ecology, and ritual into every sauna session. Through Elsewhere, she explores how sauna can foster reconnection—with self, with others, and with the land.
We’re a non-for-profit, backed by the ISA
We’re proud members of the International Sauna Association (ISA)
The Australian Sauna Association is an official member of the International Sauna Association (ISA), connecting us to a global community of sauna experts, practitioners, and researchers. This membership supports our mission to preserve and grow authentic sauna culture across Australia.
The Australian Sauna Association is a not-for-profit. Every dollar we earn is reinvested into growing and protecting sauna culture in Australia — through education, advocacy, and public access. Sauna Aid is a global initiative that brings sauna relief to communities in crisis. As part of our commitment to solidarity and authentic sauna culture, we donate a minimum of 3% of our annual revenue to Sauna Aid. As our organisation grows, we intend to increase this contribution and explore new ways to support global sauna aid efforts, through fundraising, awareness campaigns, and deeper collaboration with international partners. Every membership, every event, and every action you take with us helps extend the warmth of sauna where it’s needed most.
Join the Sauna Movement
Whether you're just curious or already deep in the löyly, the best place to start is with our free Sauna Enthusiast membership. It’s a simple sign-up that gives you access to our newsletter, sauna map, and community group—no payment needed. You’ll stay in the loop about events, culture, and how to get more involved in sauna life across Australia.
Choose Your Membership
Sauna Enthusiast
Free
- ✔️ Monthly newsletters
- ✔️ Sauna Map access
- ✔️ Community group
- ✔️ Event invitations
Sauna Advocate
$99/year
- All Enthusiast benefits
- ✔️ Discounts on merch & saunas
- ✔️ Early access to events
- ✔️ Sauna blueprints & wellness guides
- ✔️ Online forum access
Sauna Professional
$249/year
- All Advocate benefits
- ✔️ Listing in Trusted Sauna Professionals Directory
- ✔️ Invitations to networking events
- ✔️ Featured in ASA communications
- ✔️ Q&A with sauna experts
- ✔️ Directory listing
- ✔️ Industry research & webinars
Join the Sauna Movement
Whether you're just curious or already deep in the löyly, the best place to start is with our free Sauna Enthusiast membership. It’s a simple sign-up that gives you access to our newsletter, sauna map, and community group—no payment needed. You’ll stay in the loop about events, culture, and how to get more involved in sauna life across Australia.
Choose Your Membership
Sauna Enthusiast
Free
- ✔️ Monthly newsletters
- ✔️ Sauna Map access
- ✔️ Community group
- ✔️ Event invitations
Sauna Advocate
$99/year
- All Enthusiast benefits
- ✔️ Discounts on merch & saunas
- ✔️ Early access to events
- ✔️ Sauna blueprints & wellness guides
- ✔️ Online forum access
Sauna Professional
$249/year
- All Advocate benefits
- ✔️ Listing in Trusted Sauna Professionals Directory
- ✔️ Invitations to networking events
- ✔️ Featured in ASA communications
- ✔️ Q&A with sauna experts
- ✔️ Directory listing
- ✔️ Industry research & webinars
Morning Rituals: Embracing the day's first light.
Community Bonds: Sharing warmth and stories.
Architectural Harmony: Design meets nature.
Serene Spaces: Finding peace within.
Moments of Reflection: Embracing stillness.
Nature's Embrace: The forest as a backdrop.
Craftsmanship: Details in every corner.
Pathways: Journeys to rejuvenation.
Gatherings: Celebrating togetherness.
Evening Glow: The sauna at dusk.
Morning Rituals: Embracing the day's first light.
Community Bonds: Sharing warmth and stories.
Architectural Harmony: Design meets nature.
Serene Spaces: Finding peace within.
Moments of Reflection: Embracing stillness.
Nature's Embrace: The forest as a backdrop.
Craftsmanship: Details in every corner.
Pathways: Journeys to rejuvenation.
Gatherings: Celebrating togetherness.
Evening Glow: The sauna at dusk.
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