|
| Russian Banya Overview |  The people's wisdom and belief in the remedial properties of Banya were established by the research work of scientists in dissimilar parts of the world. With careful and rational approach banya helps to standardize blood pressure. It also helps people with diabetes and those who have kidney problems. It is extremely good for people with rheumatism and for those who have problems with their metabolic cycle.
One of the banya's miraculous secrets is in it’s capability of training our thermoregulation systems and improving secretion of sweat glands.
You can’t find a city or a village in Russia exclusive of banya. Therefore Russians can endure extremely hot steam with no trouble. Inside the steam room bathers lie down on the benches and ask somebody to whip and rub their bodies with a warmed-up wet whisk made of oak tree twigs. In winter they jump into the snow, rub their bodies with it. After such practice they return to the banya and repeat all procedure few times again. Their bodies are very hardened due to these sudden temperature drops.
It is impossible to imagine genuine Russian banya without cold water. Having enjoyed a hot steam, visitors plunge into a pool or have a cold shower. When it is cold, blood vessels get narrow. Blood stream turns to internals. From the cold water - back into the banya. A new stream of blood rushes from the heart to the periphery. Blood vessels open again. This is what we call gymnastics for the blood vessels.
A special feature of the Russian banya is a whisk of twigs. These whisks can be made from different trees: oak, birch, eucalyptus. They also can be made from different herbs: sage, nettle, and etc. An oak-tree leaf is dense enough to withstand frequent use and it quickly absorbs heat. But most significant are those chemicals from the leaves that penetrate your body during a session in banya. Whipping with an oak whisk is, in a way, a massage. But, in fact, the effect of banya will increase tenfold if you recieve a full body massage after it.
|
|
