What is venik
Venik is traditionally an essential part of Russian bath Bania. How does is look like? It is a leafy, fragrant bundle of leafy birch or oak tree twigs. Venik in Russian bania is used for massage that may seam a bit strange for the foreigners. Massage with venik improves blood circulation, intensifies skins capillary activities and metabolism. Venik leaves release essential oil that improve metabolism, prevent premature aging of the skin; and biologically active substance that kills or depresses the growth and development of pathogens.
 How to make a venik
To make a good venik you should strictly hold the technology:
1. only thin twigs with plenty of leaves will suit;
2. twigs should be carefully selected only in certain time - usually in June-July when leaves are fully grown, but have not started fading yet;
3. only dry days are good for gathering the twigs for venik.
Venik types
Veniks mostly are made from birch or oak.
Birch venik soothes muscle and joint pains, heals wounds and scratches, perfectly cleans the skin; and it has great aroma. It widens small bronchi, helps with removal of phlegm and ventilation of lungs. People often note that it is so easy to breathe after such venik. Birch leaves contain essential oils, tanning substances, vitamins C and A. If you decide to wash your head with the infusion of venik – you’ll see it strengthens hair and destroys dandruff.
Oak venik suits best for people with oily skin. Oak leaves contain a lot of tanning substances. Oak provides pleasant small that creates a sedative effect and removes stress. Oak extract is used as a therapeutic agent with some skin problems and excessive sweating of feet.
Other types of venik are made from eucalyptus, lime tree, fir and even nettle.
Before bania venik has to be properly prepared:
1. soak it for 20 minutes in a warm water;
2. soak it in hot water for about 10 minutes untill the leaves become soft;
3. good venik can serve you several times; when venik lost a lot of leaves and has a lot of bare ends - it is time to throw it away and make or buy a new one.
Venik massage
There are several venik massage techniques: waggling, compress, stroking, lashing, rubbing and stretching. The best massage is to carry out all these techniques one after another.
Waggling warms up the body preparing it for more intense procedures. Waggling is a procedure of lightly flutterring venik just above the body and gently touching the skin with the tips of leaves.
When stroking you gently press venik against the body in one long wavy move drawing venik from neck to toes and back. Venik's handle should always go first in the direction of the move.
With compress you raise venik up where the temperature is higher, shake it for a second to gather the heat and then firmly press the venik against the waist, shoulders, feet or knees for 2-3 seconds. While pressing, you may cover venik with a second hand to make the contact tighter. This is particularly helpful against muscle and joint pains.
Then you can alternate stroking with lashing - light sliding hits with venik. After that you can start to combine compress and lashing - raise venik up to get some heat, hit the body two three times and then press it against the body for 2-3 seconds. After second round in the steam room after short lashing you can start rubbing. Take a venik by the handle in one hand and press it against the body with a palm of your other hand. Then rub the body making stroking or circular movements while keeping the venik tightly pressed.
To finish up you place two veniks on the waist and while pressing them into the body, move veniks apart (to the head and feet), stretching the waist.
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