Russian Banya
Russian banya is a bigger and badder version of sauna. It features wet steam, birch brooms and extreme cool downs. Yes, yes, I'm talking about snow here!
If you cough and feel like you're about to get sick - no better way to get healed! In fact, banya is very good for your health if you use it right. Believe me, nothing beats such treatment!
Ahh, the wonderful moments of preparation... You start enjoying even before you actually bath! Banya isn't that simple, you know. Well, it is if you go to one in Moscow, but true Russians have their own!
You have to plan in advance. The process will take an entire day, so push other tasks aside. Banya is "sacred" - nothing crosses it! Besides, you'll be so exhausted you won't even think about doing something afterwards!
Choose weather and time of the year carefully. Winter and early spring are ideal - no fun to bath when it's hot. If there's a snow lying around - you are golden. When it comes to cooling down - there's nothing like it!
You'll need some timber as well. We are lucky - there's a forest nearby. Don't be shocked! We are only chopping dead trees - there're plenty of them around.
Of course you can buy a truck of firewood, but that would ruin all the fun! Plus, it's a great warm-up! So you grab a saw, a tree, and that's basically how the first couple of hours pass. You then load the logs into the furnace and start the fire that will warm things up.
Once it gets hot - get inside and start enjoying. Oh yeah, it's important to wear a hat. Don't overheat your head, especially if you're sitting at the upper levels!
When the time comes, splash some water on the rocks in the furnace. That'll give lots of steam, and that's exactly the time to grab the broom and start slapping yourself. This really strengthens the blood flow and helps your body get rid of the nasty toxins! Start from the legs, and work your way up. Don't slop the heart and the head - these places are a no-go!
If you caught a cold - add some aroma oil to the water you splash on the furnace. Fir tree extract is the best - it clears your lungs like a good brush!
I remember I had a cough that just wouldn't let go. Nothing helped, and then my wife told me I needed banya. I refused at first, but then decided I had nothing to lose.And you know what? After my first breath of that aroma steam, the cough disappeared and never came back!
However, if you're really sick and have a fever - it's better to wait a few days and then cure the remaining symptoms with a good steaming!
When you feel it's too hot - time to get some air! Run out, check out the steam that's rising from your body, and dive into the nearest snowdrift. Sounds wild? I know, I 'd never do anything of a kind myself in the normal state.
The truth is when you're in Russian banya, your body gets so hot there's no way for you to catch a cold. Just don't stay outside for too long! When you feel comfortable again - get back to steam room, warm up a little, and then get out to drink some tea and have a talk with your friends.
Of course you have to prepare some snacks. A salad would be great, maybe a couple of sausages. It's best to drink water and tea, don't fall for those fancy "Cola"s. You'll be sweating a lot, so be sure to put salt in the food to compensate for the loss. Should you bring sweets? You can, but it's best to save them until after the bathing.
IMPORTANT: Do not drink alcohol!
You can have a bottle of beer once you're finished, but not before. Decline any offers of such kind! Spirits put a strain on your heart, and trust me it'll be working hard already. Even if your friends drink themselves - remember that alcohol in Russian banya is a really BAD idea!
If you do everything right, you'll feel totally rejuvenated! Banya will wear you down, but the next day you'll be full of energy to travel around and explore.
So what was next on our Moscow sights list?
Related posts:
- Victory Day in Russia 2009. City of Chekhov, Moscow region.
- Russian dacha - your private little retreat!
- The wonders of Moscow region
