A residential immersion in traditional sauna, plant wisdom, healing & Baltic animist cosmology
October 16–18, 2026 · Dexter, Michigan
Limited to 16 participants
Join visiting Latvian sauna masters Māra Tīmane and Vilnis Lejnieks for an intimate, three-day residential immersion into the living tradition of Latvian pirts.
Part hands-on workshop, part retreat, the weekend will weave together traditional sauna practice, plants and herbal preparations, whisking and bodywork, heat and temperature contrast, sound and song, shared meals, time on the land, night pirts, and plenty of space for rest and reflection.
We’ll also explore the traditional Baltic animist worldview underlying pirts rooted in relationship with plants, elements, land, community, ancestors, and the living world.
Early Bird: $795 through October 1 · $895 thereafter
Accommodations, meals, materials, teaching, and pirts experiences included.
What We'll Explore
Through teaching, demonstration, hands-on practice, and direct experience, Māra and Vilnis will introduce:
Preparing the sauna and practitioner
Medicinal and aromatic plants and herbal preparations
Making and working with traditional sauna whisks
Heat, steam, cooling, and temperature contrast
Foundational whisking and bodywork
Sound, song, presence, and rest
Baltic nature-based and animist traditions surrounding pirts
Māra and Vilnis will teach in English to the best of their ability, with translation provided as needed. Much of the learning will happen in spaces beyond words through experience - demonstration, practicing, giving, receiving, and feeling the tradition in your own body.
Who Is It For?
Come if you have a home sauna and want to deepen your practice; if you are a sauna practitioner, herbalist, healer, bodyworker, therapist, or wellness professional; or if you simply love sauna, nature, and traditional earth-centered ways of living.
No professional background or previous pirts experience is required. Curiosity is enough.
The Weekend
Friday, October 16
8:00 AM arrival and welcome breakfast
9:00 AM immersion begins
Teaching, practice, meals, rest, and evening pirts
Saturday, October 17
A full retreat day of teaching, plant work, hands-on practice, pirts, shared meals, nature, and rest, continuing into the evening.
Sunday, October 18
Morning and afternoon practice, pirts, reflection, and integration.
Concludes at 3:00 PM.
The weekend will be immersive but spacious, with ample time for breaks, rest, nature, and reflection.
What's Included
Your registration includes the full three-day residential immersion, hands-on instruction with Māra and Vilnis, pirts experiences including night sauna, workshop materials, accommodations, and all meals:
Friday: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Saturday: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Sunday: Breakfast & lunch
Private rooms are available first come, first served, with communal sleeping and optional camping also available.
The exact Dexter-area location, what-to-bring list, and preparation details will be provided after registration.
Registration
Early Bird — $795 through October 1
Regular — $895 after October 1
Limited to 16 participants.
Due to the intimate nature of the retreat and our visiting international practitioners, registration is non-refundable after October 1.
Health & Safety
Pirts involves high heat and may include temperature contrast and physical activity. Participants are responsible for listening to their bodies and choosing their own level of participation. If you are pregnant, have a cardiovascular or other medical condition, take medications that may affect your response to heat, or have concerns about sauna participation, please consult your healthcare provider before attending. Participants may rest, cool down, hydrate, step out, or decline any practice at any time.