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Lithuanian Pirtis

Steam ꥟ Plants ꥟ Ritual

Guided sauna rituals rooted in Baltic tradition

South West & London

Led by Silvija Šuliokaitė — Steam Bath Master & Herbalist

Pirtis is the traditional Lithuanian steam bath practice, working through heat, water and plants.

These sessions follow a natural rhythm of warming, cooling and rest.

Steam is guided through the space, plants are introduced through scent and touch, and the body is worked with through heat and whisking.

Each ritual is held in a small group, with attention to pace, breath and the individual experience within the collective.

Rooted in Baltic sauna culture and seasonal herbal practice.

Regular sessions in South Wales, with occasional gatherings in London.

LITHUANIAN PIRTIS RITUALS

Enter the ritual
Enter the ritual

WORKING MORE CLOSELY

For those wanting a deeper or more personal experience, private and small-group rituals are offered on a limited basis.

These are shaped more closely around the individual or group, and allow for a slower, more detailed approach to the work.

Enquiries can be made directly via email: hello@birchhouserituals.co.uk

Pirtis ritual enquiry
Pirtis ritual enquiry

Professional Steam Bath Master · Pirtininkė & Herbalist

Silvija is a pirtininkė rooted in Lithuanian sauna tradition… the old ways of steam, plants, heat and presence. Her work is centred on care: meeting each person with warmth, integrity and a steady hand as they are guided through the practice of pirtis.

She trained at the Baltic Pirtis–SPA School and Perkūnija Sauna School, and continues to learn through mentors, seasons, forests and the body itself. Her approach weaves traditional knowledge with contemporary understanding, held in a way that is both attentive and grounded.

Sessions are guided through heat, steam, plant infusions and traditional leaf whisking, balanced with time for rest and integration. Each ritual responds to the person present, the rhythm of the sauna and the moment in the year.

· Testimonials ·

Words from people who have experienced the ritual

  • Nothing I've experienced before compares to this. It felt like being taken into the essence of a Lithuanian forest - deeply relaxing, grounding and unlike anything else.

    Mark, 1:1 Private Ritual

  • An amazing experience, the natural soothing aromas were so powerful, everything was taken at our own pace and led to us feeling intensely renewed and relaxed. Thank you, we will be back.

    Louise, Private Couples Ritual

  • The session had a profound impact on me, and I felt truly cared for. My body felt like a different vessel when I left – grounded, kind, and gently energized. Your support means a lot to me. I hope our paths will cross again.

    Tara, Private Couples Ritual

  • From the heart and soul — the spaces Silvija holds invite you back to the rawness of your roots. Without needing many words, the scent of the plants she gathers and the gentle steam from her whisks open the pores, the senses, and something deeper within. You begin to sense what has been waiting to be witnessed and held. Silvija is a friend, a master of her craft, and a guide who allows the space itself to lead you into new layers of connection with yourself and the earth. She works with the medicine of plants and steam in a way that is grounded, respectful, soulful and mature, yet always light and heartfelt. She carries Lithuania’s sacred heritage with reverence and brings its wisdom into the city — a bridge between ancestral roots and modern life. It is rare to meet someone who can hold such depth with such accessibility, and to offer it with integrity to a community as diverse as this one.

    Masha, Group Ritual

  • I had a magical and utterly rejuvenating experience in our sauna ritual. I felt calm, slow and restored after and that has continued into the next day. It was wonderful - thank you

    Louise, Private Couples Ritual

  • Amazing experience at traditional lithuanian pirtis ritual with Silvija. Amazing atmosphere, amazing smells, and after session you feel much younger. Thanks again for Silvija

    Tadas, Group Ritual

Inside the Sauna Ritual

A sauna ritual moves like the seasons — a gentle beginning, a rise into heat and a return to quiet.

No session repeats itself. Each one meets the body that arrives, the time of year, and what is needed in that moment.

We begin with plants — warming the leaves in steam until the space fills with soft, familiar forest scents. Heat is introduced slowly, allowing the body to open in its own time.

As the ritual deepens, breath and steam work together. There is rhythm, touch, and periods of rest — a natural ebb between warming and cooling.

At the heart of the session, the body is worked with through the leaves — a quiet dialogue that supports circulation, release, and settling of the nervous system.

The ritual closes gently, with time to integrate before returning to the outside air.

Curious what this feels like in your body?

Join a group ritual
Join a group ritual

  • Private and public rituals are currently held in:

    London — Phoenix Burning Sauna

    (Gallions Hotel, Basin Approach)

    South Wales — Sauna Flo, Penarth

    In London, I also hold regular womens group rituals.

    Other locations may be available upon request.

  • Public group rituals are shared experiences, held with a small group (usually up to seven people).
    You move through the ritual together, resting on your own bench, guided at a steady pace. There is space for quiet, warmth, and collective rhythm without pressure to speak or interact. Many people come alone.

    Private rituals are one-to-one or shared with someone you bring (a partner or small group).
    These sessions are shaped entirely around you — your body, your pace, your needs — with more time for individual attention and tailoring.

    Both follow the same Lithuanian pirtis principles, plants and structure.
    The difference is simply whether the experience is shared or fully private.

  • Yes, I offer pirtis for private events, retreats and gatherings.

    Options include:

    • Group rituals (approx. 2 hours)

    • Extended sessions for weddings or full-day events

    • Bespoke formats shaped to your space and group

    You provide the venue; I create a pirtis programme to suit the setting.

    Enquiries are best made by email: birchhouserituals@gmail.com

  • Yes, I work across the UK for private bookings, retreats and events.

    Travel fees may apply depending on location.

    • 72+ hours: one reschedule permitted at no cost

    • 48–72 hours: rescheduling may incur a fee

    • Less than 24 hours: sessions are non-refundable

    If I need to cancel, you will be offered an alternative date or a full refund.

    • Two towels

    • Swimwear

    • Water

    • Flipflops or sandals

      Optional:

    • Robe

    • Sauna hat

  • In Lithuania, pirtis has always been a place where life is tended to — where people come to rest, to release, or simply to be held in warmth. This work honours that lineage, offering a space that is both ordinary and deeply meaningful.

    Silvija Suliokaite

Have an inquiry? Reach out to me…

Young woman with tattoos, wearing a tan tube top, skirt, and a felt hat, holding a bouquet of sauna whisks, standing in the doorway of a sauna

Please select the option that best describes your inquiry. For private hire, note that the sauna/venue is provided by the client.