Exploring the Brush Bath Culture in Russia - Mytour

Before taking a steam bath, it's essential to thoroughly clean all smoke-stained areas. Additionally, ensure all doors in the banya are fully opened to freshen the air inside. Moreover, wait for the smoke from the stove to dissipate completely to avoid the risk of smoke poisoning.

Many bath-goers believe that the black banya truly represents Russia. However, black banyas are currently only found in remote northern regions close to Europe in Russia and villages in the Siberian region,' Anton Romanchenko, director of the Okhta Bath Center in Moscow, said.

Russians joke that black banyas eventually bought a chimney and turned into white banyas. The only difference lies in the internal heating system.

This stove's purpose is to heat the stones atop it, gradually increasing the temperature in the room. Once the stones are heated, the host will extinguish the flame, block the chimney to prevent heat from escaping, and pour water into the stove to adjust the humidity and steam levels in the room. Nowadays, alongside using wood for heat, many banyas have started using electric energy for heating.

Yegor Chernegov-Nomerov, a singer and avid banya enthusiast in Russia, says: 'You wear a special hat on your head and immerse yourself in a real steam room, where people whip each other with birch branches soaked in water. Then you immediately run outside and plunge into an icy water pool. That's when you'll understand what true happiness is. This incredible experience is unique to Russia.'

Chernegov-Nomerov also shares that he has visited many famous bathhouses around the world, even going to Austria every winter to take steam baths, but he still can't forget the feeling that the banya brings him.

Preparing for the Steam Bath

The steam room in the banya is quite unique. The water used for steaming in the banya can be heated with wood or electricity. Inside the steam room are wide wooden benches running along the walls, built like stairs. You can sit or lie down on the benches as you please. The higher you go on the benches, the higher the temperature, reaching over 70°C. If you feel breathless, you can bend down low to avoid the heat.

Since ancient times, Slavic people have been whipping themselves and their friends in the banya with birch, oak, and maple branches. Each type of branch used as a broom has different benefits for bathers. At large banya facilities, customers can choose the type of broom that suits their needs. This is considered a special massage method that helps improve blood circulation, promote sweating, enhance metabolism, and cleanse the entire body. The oils in the leaves also improve skin condition and combat aging.

Ready for the Experience

Steaming in the banya is not a rushed experience. Typically, bathers will need about 6 hours here, including 2-3 hours in the steam room and 3 hours for rest and relaxation. To achieve the highest effectiveness of steaming when traveling in Russia, follow the sequence of 'warming up - cooling down - resting.'

You should bathe with warm water before entering the steam room to help your body gradually adjust to the temperature. Then move on to the steam room. You should only wear a towel to ensure the sweating process goes smoothly. If lying down on the bench, you should follow the order from high to low because the top level is where the temperature is highest.

If you're in a group, take turns doing this. At public banyas, staff will provide you with a broom upon request. For those familiar with the banya, broom beating occurs during the second steam session.

When bathers feel they've reached their heat tolerance limit, they leave the steam room and immediately jump into a cold water pool, immersion pool, or cold water shower. Then they return to the changing room and take a rest for a while.

In Siberia, locals even jump into the snow after leaving the steam room. During breaks, bathers often drink tea or beer accompanied by traditional Russian dishes such as salted fish eggs, beetroot soup, pickled cucumbers.

Cheryl Adams Rychkov, a Medium member, shared her banya bathing experience: 'For about 20 minutes, everyone chats in the changing room. Some people drink tea or beer. Vodka is rarely seen here. My Russian husband says only fools drink vodka at the banya; it could kill you. Then it's time for the second steam session. Everyone returns to the banya, and the process repeats. Most people usually go through three steam sessions like this when they come to the banya.'

Reporter Kerstin Palzer of DW recalls that almost all banyas have a restaurant. 'Here they turn on news channels on TV. People sit in their bathrobes with wet hair and red skin, discussing all the important things in life, from Crimea to the EU, domestic stories to international ones. That's normal life here,' she said.

Notes When Entering the Banya

Ensure you are completely nude in the steam room for optimal effectiveness. Public banyas always segregate genders, so don't worry too much.

Banya, by nature, will make you sweat a lot to detoxify. So, don't be complacent when you're sweating excessively. If you feel slightly dizzy, take a short break, hydrate your body before going back inside. Some banyas have immersion pools instead of traditional cold pools. But if it's your first time at the banya, you shouldn't try jumping straight into the water as it may shock you with the temperature difference. A slowly dripping cold water tap will be a better solution for you.

Next, you need to wear a somewhat comical-looking hat to prevent your hair from drying out and your head from getting too hot.

Finally, don't rush if you decide to go to the banya. According to The Culture Trip, the banya is an 'extremely relaxing experience, so take your time and enjoy it.' Don't start the bathing session with a too full or too empty stomach. However, a satisfying meal after completely finishing the bathing session will round out your experience.

Where to Find a Banya?

In addition to traditional banyas located in villages throughout Russia, the best banyas are in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The most iconic banya complex in Russia is Sanduny. Located in the heart of Moscow on Neglinnaya Street and opened since 1808, Sanduny is also the oldest surviving bathhouse in the Russian capital. It's considered a masterpiece of interior design and architecture. Here, you'll find everything from baroque columns to ancient Roman baths and Turkish baths.

Address: 14 Neglinnaya Street, Moscow.

Vorontsovkie Baths may not be a historical landmark, but it's still popular in the minds of locals and tourists visiting Moscow. Built in 1938, this banya is highly regarded for its quality of wet steam rooms and a range of available services. Additionally, there are many private banya rooms for groups ranging from 4 to 10 people. Each room is decorated in a unique style: from Russian banyas to Turkish hammams.

Address: 5/7 Vorontsovsky Lane, Moscow.

A favorite destination of Lenin and Dostoevsky, Yamskie Baths are among the most famous spots in St. Petersburg for steam bathing. In addition to traditional Russian banyas, Yamskie offers services of a health care center with a cryochamber, infrared sauna, massage room, and sunbathing room. Regular guests are invited to drink Russian kvas (a fermented beverage made from barley) served by the Shaika-leika restaurant after leaving the wet steam room.

Address: 9 Dostoevskogo Street, St. Petersburg.

Mytninskie is the runner-up for the historical banya title in St. Petersburg. Initially built for the poor, this bathhouse was one of the first public baths in St. Petersburg. Today, it has undergone extensive renovations with modern facilities, professionally trained staff, beauty salons, and luxurious communal and private wet steam rooms.

Address: 17-19 Mytninskaya Street, St. Petersburg.

A more popular choice for experiencing an authentic Russian banya is Degtyarnye, located near Nevsky Prospect. This bathhouse has been open for half a century. Since then, it has become one of the premier weekend entertainment spots in St. Petersburg. With a capacity of up to 620 guests at once and their staff rated as the best in the area, visitors can enjoy traditional Russian wet steam rooms as well as rejuvenating massage therapies and a range of spa treatments.

Address: 1 Degtyarnaya Street, St. Petersburg.

According to Kieu Duong/Vnexpress

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Reference: Travel Guide from Wanderlust.com