Latvju Pirts and SPA Association Marks a New Chapter in Latvia's Pirts Movement with Its First Media Pirts Day

03.07.2026 11:25 | Latvia

Photo: Aija Stepanova

Author: Aija Stepanova
Source: Aija Stepanova

On 1 July 2026, at Mežapuķu Pirts in Baldone, the Latvju Pirts and SPA Association welcomed media representatives to a traditional Latvian pirts for the first time. The event introduced the Association's achievements and future plans while offering participants the opportunity to experience the authentic Latvian pirts tradition firsthand.

During the event, guests learned about the Latvian pirts tradition as part of Latvia's Intangible Cultural Heritage. They also took part in simple physiological measurements before and after the pirts session and experienced a traditional Latvian pirts ritual led by professional pirts masters.

Reklāma

"We invited the media to become ambassadors of the Latvian pirts tradition and to experience for themselves what many may have only heard or read about until now. The Latvian pirts is both an experience and a body of knowledge that continues to live on within families and communities. It cannot be fully described in words—it must be experienced with all the senses," says Aija Stepanova, Chair of the Latvju Pirts and SPA Association.

After the pirts experience, participants admitted that the greatest surprise was not the pirts ritual itself, but how it made them feel. Many experienced, for the first time, the fragrance and touch of freshly bound green pirts whisks, discovering the unique charm of the summer pirts season. Others described the pirts as a conversation with themselves, where the aroma of herbs, warmth, and silence dissolved the rush of everyday life, worries, and even the sense of time itself. Plans and obligations faded into the background, as time simply stands still in pirts.

The Latvju Pirts and SPA Association extends its heartfelt gratitude to every media representative who accepted the invitation, embraced the experience, and was truly present. It is through shared experience that the Latvian pirts tradition can be understood far more deeply than through any story or description.

Simple Physiological Measurements Helped Demonstrate the Effects of the Latvian Pirts

For centuries, the Latvian pirts tradition has been rooted in lived experience. People often describe feeling calmer, lighter, or more energized after a pirts session. It is no coincidence that a well-known Latvian saying goes, "After pirts, you feel as if you've been born again." Today, an increasing number of international scientific studies are seeking to understand the physiological changes that accompany these experiences.

One of the distinctive features of the Media Pirts Day was a series of simple physiological measurements—heart rate and blood pressure—taken before and after pirts session. These measurements gave participants the opportunity not only to experience the effects of pirts firsthand, but also to observe how their bodies responded to heat.

The purpose of the measurements was to encourage curiosity about the body's physiological responses and to compare them with trends described in international scientific research. For most participants, the measurements taken before and after the sauna differed, indicating physiological changes consistent with those observed in international studies.

Overall, the measurements conducted during the Media Pirts Day supported trends reported in international research. A total of 12 participants took part in the measurements. Most showed a lower heart rate after pirts and a period of rest, along with changes in blood pressure that broadly aligned with findings from international studies. A small number of participants displayed different responses, once again demonstrating that the effects of the sauna are highly individual.

Research conducted in Finland shows that prolonged exposure to sauna heat places a temporary physiological demand on the body: heart rate increases, blood vessels dilate, and sweating intensifies. After the sauna, the body's recovery processes gradually become more active. In a study led by Professor Jari Laukkanen of the University of Eastern Finland, participants' average heart rate had decreased significantly within 30 minutes after the sauna, indicating a transition toward a more relaxed recovery state. Broader international research suggests that regular sauna bathing is associated with beneficial effects on cardiovascular function, including temporary reductions in blood pressure after sauna use, improved regulation of blood circulation, and greater vascular elasticity. At the same time, researchers emphasize that sauna bathing is not a medical treatment, and the extent of many long-term health benefits is still being investigated.

"Our goal is to demonstrate that traditional pirts knowledge and modern science can complement one another. People first experience the changes themselves, and physiological measurements help us better understand what is happening in the body. I sincerely hope that Latvian researchers will respond to our invitation to participate in more in-depth scientific studies on the effects of pirts," says Dace Purvinska, owner of Mežapuķu Pirts and a member of the Latvju Pirts and SPA Association.

The Latvju Pirts and SPA Association hopes that this initiative will encourage broader public interest in both the Latvian pirts tradition and its scientific study, fostering a well-informed understanding of the pirts place within a healthy lifestyle. The Association will continue to explore ways of combining traditional knowledge with a modern, evidence-based perspective.

To publish this article please contact BalticTravelnews.eu editorial board