Luxurious Russian Banya: Whipping, Vodka and Hot Temperatures!
Russian strength
Variety of the human population, vastness of continents, harsh climate and beautiful landscape. This is what has been forming generations after generations. Russia breeds strong men and women who are able to survive in unbelievably cold weather and who can live through a polar night and polar day. The culture is rich in legends and customs, high-quality vodka, pirozhki and matrjoschka.
Luxurious Russian banya
The banya is typical for Russia, it offers pleasure for body and soul and cleanses its user using steam. It is a small room made of wood, where people sweat and expel impurities from their bodies. The whole procedure takes 25 minutes and is divided into different stages. The temperature is rising with the amount of steam, the hot temperature burns in the eyes and the blood starts to boil, the brain gets all foggy and the mouth is dry. This is the proper “steam torture”.
The next stage is whipping by birch branches soaked in cold water. This improves the blood circulation in the skin and brings relief. Finally, you have to slowly pour cold water all over yourself to bring back the body temperature. Only then can you leave the hot luxurious banya and cool yourself outside. The whole procedure is finished by a magic statement that roughly translates to as follows: “pleasant relaxation after the bath and may you rest in steam”. This is the Russian way to indulge yourself with necessary relaxation and to strengthen your immunity.
What more could you want?
To make it even more Russian, steam is often accompanied not only by whipping but also drinking of alcohol, even though it is not recommended. In addition to beer, participants often drink spirits of all types, such as Smirnoff or Stolichnaya vodka. Stolichnaya is considered the Mother of all vodkas, and its original technological procedures date back to 1901. It gets its typical creamy flavor enriched by a pepper aroma during a four-stage distillation process.
If you like to try untraditional relaxation methods and enjoy discovering traditions of foreign countries, this is a great opportunity for you. Luxurious fun in Russian style!
