The set of things that a woman will need in a bathhouse is not much different from the set that men take. The only exception is that women attach great importance to cosmetic procedures, especially in cases where they can give a quick and noticeable effect. A Russian bathhouse is a place where any actions aimed at self-care are greatly enhanced by the effects of hot steam. Therefore, when considering the list of things for a bath, we took into account women’s need for products that help improve the condition of not only the entire body as a whole, but also the skin in particular.
Sheet, towel and bedding
Out of ignorance, some of us take a sheet with us to the steam room as a bedding, which we will then wrap ourselves with.
However, this cannot be done. The bathhouse requires a special bedding. This can be a large piece of fabric, preferably cotton, linen or flannel. This fabric will perfectly absorb the sweat generated in the steam room. After the bath and in between steam baths, a sheet is just necessary. A large terry towel will come in handy after a shower.
Attention
After each visit to the bathhouse, for hygiene purposes, the bedding should be boiled and ironed with a hot iron.
What should not be done in the bathhouse!
And now you are there. We will talk in more detail about the intricacies of the bath procedure, but now we will look in general terms at what should not be done
. The bathhouse has its own laws that must be strictly observed. Otherwise, there is no benefit, but harm.
In the bath you should NOT:
- Drink alcoholic beverages. The load on the heart increases many times. The pleasure becomes extreme, often ending in a heart attack.
Steam on an empty stomach or immediately after eating a large amount of food, because in a bathhouse the blood moves from the internal organs to the skin, and to digest food, the opposite is necessary. The heaviness in your stomach will not leave you. Food eaten before the bath (and especially in the bath) should be natural, without preservatives, dyes, flavors, etc. In the bath, under the influence of high temperature and humidity, the course of all processes in the body changes, and all these chemical food additives may harm the body.
It is harmful to drink carbonated drinks in a bathhouse - the gases they contain are active catalysts for harmful processes in the digestive tract.
Drink cold drinks, as they slow down sweating. It is best to prefer warm tea.
Visit the bathhouse if your health leaves much to be desired and if you are very tired. Especially if the malaise is accompanied by elevated body temperature. Neglecting this may result in complications.
Physically overload, especially with sex
. The load on the heart is too high. So relax and have fun.
Overdo it with pouring water on the stones. This causes the air in the steam room to become heavy and scalding. The optimal amount of one serving is 100-200 ml. The water should not be cold
.
Soak the broom in boiling water - most of the leaves will end up on the floor.
Sit on the top bunk with your legs hanging down and your head up towards the ceiling. The temperature difference between head and legs can reach 30 degrees, and the legs require more heat. If possible, take a horizontal position.
Wash with soap before visiting the steam room. Fat-free skin does not tolerate high temperatures well and is more easily susceptible to burns.
Wet your hair - dry hair better protects your head from overheating.
Limit yourself to contrasting procedures only, trying to go to the steam room more often. The duration of rest should be at least twice as long as the time spent in the steam room.
Douse yourself in a bath with warm water instead of cold (not necessarily ice). It is in combination with contrasting procedures that a visit to the bathhouse becomes useful and enjoyable.
Beginners need to gradually accustom themselves to the heat
. And, of course, a beginner should not chase after experienced vapers.
Everything should be in moderation! And the time spent in the steam room too. An acceptable norm for many is 3-4 visits to the steam room for about 10 minutes each. If you spend too much time in the steam room, you can easily overheat and harm yourself. So... beware of overheating!
Here are its main symptoms:
- strong heartbeat (170 beats per minute);
- difficult, rapid breathing;
- dizziness;
- pain in temples;
- nausea;
- “flies” before the eyes;
tinnitus.
If at least one of the symptoms appears, it is better to leave the steam room. Go, relax in a cool room and don’t push your luck.
ENJOY YOUR BATH!!!
life-philosophical
digression It was believed that those born in a bathhouse would live to be a hundred years old, because from the first minutes of life they accepted its power. The location for the bathhouse was chosen closer to a clean source, on an elevated area, but at the same time hidden from prying eyes: in a secluded corner of a peasant estate.
Going to the sauna in hot weather is no less important than in winter: in summer, the skin gets dirty faster and more severely, and a steam room is the best way to cleanse pores. We talked with bathhouse attendant Marat Kadyrov and found out what temperature is optimal for a steam room, how long you need to stay inside and how to steam if you come alone.
How to choose a bathhouse?
Each person chooses which bathhouse suits him. The difference between a Finnish sauna, hammam and Russian steam room is the ratio of humidity and temperature. In a Russian bath, the combination of steam and heat is optimal, since the visitor himself can regulate both. The most gentle type of steaming is the hammam: the relatively low temperature is easily tolerated even by beginners, so if you have never gone to a bathhouse, it makes sense to start here. However, keep in mind that the humidity in the hammam is too high, and the air temperature does not exceed 45-50%: because of this, we sweat faster, but gas exchange in the lungs becomes more difficult - the load on the respiratory tract becomes much stronger. Therefore, hammam is more suitable for hot eastern countries: by creating an expectorant effect, it helps cleanse the lungs of dust and sand.
In a Finnish sauna, on the contrary, the air is very dry, and the temperature is maintained at the same level - above 100 degrees. In fitness centers they even use this for weight correction; the only question is how comfortable a person is in such conditions. For example, the Finns themselves often do not warm themselves in their baths, but choose Russian ones. They also don’t take brooms into the sauna - with low humidity in the heat, they will simply dry out.
How to prepare for going to the bathhouse?
An hour before the bath you need to eat properly: steaming is a big burden on the body. The heart and blood vessels begin to work differently, so it’s worth saving up energy. For the same reason, it is not advisable to drink alcohol, either before or during procedures. There are no other recommendations: collect everything you need, call your friends and go take a steam bath.
What to take with you?
Many baths will offer you all the necessary things, but you can bring your own: you will need slippers, towels, a sheet to sit on and a hat. The last point is especially important: firstly, a person with an uncovered head gets tired of the heat faster, and secondly, high temperatures damage the hair. By the way, the hat does not have to be special, made of felt - you can take a regular sports hat or wear your favorite Panama hat.
You should not bring nylon washcloths into the bathhouse. In the Russian tradition - foam-broom peeling. You just need to steam a broom, take a steam bath, and before going out, soap it up and wash yourself with a broom. This is not only a hygienic, but also a sacred procedure: by steaming you removed all the negativity from yourself, washed off the dirt with a broom - and threw it away.
The logical conclusion follows from this that a broom is an item for individual use: steaming and washing alone for 10 people is such an idea.
How to choose a broom?
They steam with brooms in order to properly warm up the body.
A birch broom is soft, it makes steaming more gentle, and it is more convenient to wash. The next hardest is oak. There are options made from juniper - they have dense and rather sharp needles that pierce the skin when hovering. This tones the blood vessels, stimulates the nerve endings, but also gives a post-effect - after the bath everything itches and stings. The fact is that the tips of juniper needles contain antibacterial substances and essential oils, which are absorbed into the skin at the injection sites. This is very useful, but not everyone likes to itch after a bath.
What to do first in the bathhouse?
Before entering, you can rinse yourself under warm water - you don’t need to get your head wet so that it doesn’t overheat later. It is advisable to ventilate the steam room before going inside. Many baths are equipped with air inlets and extractors, but it is better to just open the door for a while. Then you should add water to the stones to warm them up - the norm for starting is 65 - 75 degrees. If you add essential oils and infusions, the air will be saturated with aroma.
In a hammam, the temperature for the first visit should be about 50-60 degrees; in a Finnish sauna, the climate does not change during the entire steaming period - there is always more than a hundred.
The first run lasts about 10 minutes: we warm up, get used to the warmth, and begin to sweat. In general, the time can be any - the main thing is to be comfortable. After leaving the steam room, you need to rinse off in the shower under warm water and go to rest.
How to steam with a broom?
A broom can be used starting from the second time, but many people do this only the third time. There are no strict rules here - you yourself must feel when you want to warm up more.
Soaring also occurs in several stages. First, we introduce the body to the steam - we simply fan it with a broom and let it get used to the increase in temperature. Then we begin to lightly touch and pat. In the next round, the intensity of fanning and slapping increases, and in the final it is maximum. In this case, there is no need to hit a person with a broom, like with a stick. During proper beating there are no blows as such - rather, a quick slamming of leaves.
It is easy to understand that you have been well steamed: a state of bath intoxication arises - your head becomes cloudy and slightly dizzy. In this case, there should not be any unpleasant sensations. It is believed that the effect of bath intoxication occurs because the pores expand, more oxygen enters the body, and the skin literally begins to “breathe.”
How to steam yourself?
Steaming yourself is not the best option. Self-steaming is like self-satisfaction: in principle, okay, but you won’t be able to achieve the desired result. It is better to use the services of a bathhouse attendant or ask friends.
The most comfortable position is horizontal. The fact is that there are temperature sensors on the legs, stomach and head, and in a sitting or standing position the body warms up unevenly - areas with thermoreceptors are in different temperature layers, in a Russian bath the differences between them can reach 50 degrees. As a result, the body “does not understand” what is happening, rebels, mobilizes - and most of the pleasure from this is lost. Another question is that if you do steam yourself, it’s unlikely to work in a horizontal position.
But in general, of course, you can do everything yourself: first you need to steam a broom, climb onto a shelf and warm up properly. Let's start from the bottom - first of all, it is important to warm up your feet. To do this, wave and lightly tap them with a broom. As soon as you feel that your feet have warmed up so much that tomorrow they will still be warm, you can move higher and soar your legs - everything except your calves: this is a very sensitive place, they immediately begin to burn. Then we soar our arms, and only then our chest and back.
You need to take into account that if you come to the bathhouse alone and take a steam bath yourself, then most likely you will come out exhausted.
How to relax between visits to the steam room?
After each run, you need to rinse your body with warm water to wash away sweat and dirt. In this case, you should rest in a warm room so that the body does not have time to freeze.
At the same time, the Russian bath is also hardening: jumping into snowdrifts or into a cold pond is an integral part of the procedure. It's just important to do everything right. First you need to thoroughly steam your body and dive only when warmed up. After snow or a bath, you should return to the steam room and steam properly again, otherwise hypothermia of the body can lead to illness. After warming up again, take a warm shower, wrap yourself in a towel and relax.
Washcloth
You simply cannot do without this item in a bathhouse. After all, rubbing ourselves with a washcloth brings tangible benefits to our body. This excellent massager perfectly massages the skin, increasing blood circulation (especially in fatty deposits) and having a tonic effect. Experienced bathhouse attendants advise taking a natural, moderately hard washcloth with you to the steam room, for example, one made from loofah (the dried fibrous fruit of a plant).
But with the help of plastic corrugated palms that are fixed on the wrist, or hard terry mittens, you can effectively remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, making it softer and smoother. A special bath brush made from pork bristles is also perfect for this; it is attached to a small wooden board. For convenience, it is sometimes made with a long handle so that a person can rub his own back without turning to the help of others.
All kinds of contraindications
So, first, the most boring and unpleasant thing - for whom a bathhouse is categorically contraindicated
. Please be patient - I myself know that the classification presented below according to M. Matei is not the most digestible thing for the psyche. But what can you do?
Absolute contraindications:
General contraindications:
- hypertension of any etiology;
- mental or severe neurotic diseases;
chronic inflammatory diseases accompanied by an increase in ESR;
oncological diseases.
Relative contraindications:
- chronic inflammatory diseases with the risk of exacerbation and frequent relapses;
- chronic diseases in the stage of decompensation;
- hypertension with systolic blood pressure over 220 mmHg. Art. and diastolic over 120 mm Hg. Art. without organic changes in the heart;
- urolithiasis and urolithiasis.
Special contraindications:
- failure of the right or left ventricle of the heart;
- hyperthyroidism;
- peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum;
- acute myocardial infarction;
stage III hypertension according to WHO classification.
It is better to refrain from going to the bathhouse for those suffering from skin infectious diseases, people with reduced immunity, or those with allergies to odors. The bath is not recommended for pregnant women and children under 3 years of age. Therefore, if you have doubts about the health and stamina of your body, first consult your doctor.
People over 70 years of age should visit the couples department with caution. Elderly people should not “keep up” with young people, as a bath can turn from a pleasant, beneficial and healing procedure into a harmful one.
Soap and shampoo
What soap do you take with you to the bathhouse? Probably an ordinary toilet that you use every day. But real bath lovers know very well that there is a special bath soap. It differs from the toilet one in that it contains fewer perfumes and aromatic additives that can irritate sensitive, steamed skin. Bath soap may contain natural ingredients and medicinal herbs, which, in turn, has a healing effect on the skin.
You can revive and nourish dry skin with strawberry soap containing vitamin C and essential oils. Soap based on calendula extract cleanses and disinfects the pores of oily skin well. Raspberry soap can find a “common language” with mixed skin, while balancing the pH balance and making it less sensitive.
Apple soap is suitable for any skin type. It gives the skin tone and improves its color. Soap with celandine and pine needles extract has a soothing and anti-inflammatory effect, which is good for problem skin.
As for shampoo, take with you the one you usually use at home.
Attention
You should not wash with a washcloth and soap before visiting the steam room. If you do not adhere to this rule, then hot steam will only cause harm to your skin: after all, skin that is actively washed with soap and a washcloth becomes degreased, irritated and becomes drier.
What should the room be like?
It is not very difficult to find a room for a small private bath.
It can be rented, for example, in an inexpensive residential area. You can ensure good attendance by renting a site in a sports complex, hotel, or fitness center. At the same time, security costs are reduced.
Another option: renting a plot or private house with land near the city (annually 200 thousand rubles). When opening a bath complex, you will have to invest about $1000 for each square meter. At 160 sq.m. $160 thousand investments are needed. In this area there is the opportunity to place two saunas, a shower and a swimming pool, a toilet, a relaxation room, and locker rooms.
cap
A bath cap protects our hair from strong steam and dry air. The best option would be if you choose a hat made of wool or felt. Although some people prefer to wrap their head in a terry towel. True, at the most inopportune moment such a “turban” can come undone, and you will have to build it again. And it often happens that a person has to adjust his headdress several times, and this, you see, is very tiring and distracts from the main procedure.
What to wear on your feet?
The second equally important element for a visit to the bathhouse are slippers. It is better if they are closed (that is, with a toe), made of rubber, rather than plastic (which will cause a lot of discomfort to resting legs) or rags (they will quickly get wet and will become difficult to put on your leg). Unprotected feet in a public sauna are a risk of getting a fungus. However, you can go to your own bathhouse barefoot if you are sure that there is no carrier of the fungal infection in the family.
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Bounded stone "Talcochlorite"
Bath stones are the most important component of any steam room, because thanks to them you can achieve the desired temperature and amount of steam.
Some tips on what to look for when choosing a stone for a bath:
- Buy stones only in specialized stores, because the minerals for them are prepared in a special way, and, therefore, there is a high probability that you will receive a high-quality product.
- Make sure there are no cracks in the stones
- Pay attention to quality products, because if you, for example, buy cheap river pebbles, they will not last long.
Experienced stove makers advise using Talkochlorite stones, which can withstand large temperature changes and will serve you for many years without losing their wonderful properties. They accumulate and transmit soft heat well, and the noble breed, consisting of talc and magnesite, has a beneficial effect on the human body, strengthening it and the immune system. Another advantage is that such stones heat up quickly and serve as a good heat accumulator for many years.
Bath tub "Gang" round
A tub is a large container with two handles and a low edge, which has traditionally taken root in Russian bath culture. As a rule, it is made from natural wood without the use of glue or varnish. This tub is made of linden, which has wear-resistant and healing qualities.
The tub is used for:
- dousing with hot and cold water;
- steaming medicinal herbs;
- dipping a broom;
- storage of utensils.
Agree that using natural and environmentally friendly material is much more pleasant than using plastic or metal analogues. In addition, the wooden tub pays tribute to tradition: these utensils have been used in Rus' since the 13th century.
If you're sick, stay home
Only healthy people and some “chronics” in remission can go to the bathhouse. Director of the Institute of Health and Rehabilitation of the State University of Physical Culture, Sports and Health named after P. F. Lesgaft, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Andrei Kalinin reminds: bath procedures are contraindicated for urolithiasis and gallstone diseases, hypertension, and skin damage.
The list of contraindications for visiting the steam room from neurologist-therapist Galina Bikuzina includes kidney disease, chronic hepatitis, glaucoma, various inflammations, tuberculosis, exacerbation of arthritis, severe diabetes. You should avoid visiting the bathhouse at elevated temperatures, in the initial stages of influenza, bronchitis, tonsillitis, and indeed in case of any infections.
Slippers Bath items for men “Combi”
Slippers are a mandatory attribute for both commercial and home baths, so every steam room lover should have such a bath item.
- Slippers protect you from contact with the floor, which may be infected with a fungal infection, and, therefore, protect you from foot fungus.
- You will not have the opportunity to accidentally slip, which can be dangerous.
- Felt slippers will also protect you from the unpleasant sensation of a cold floor and give your feet noticeable comfort and a massage effect.
When choosing slippers, you should pay attention to the fact that they are made of natural material, preferably felt.
Felt is a felted material made from natural wool, which is known for its thermal insulation and healing properties. Don't buy plastic slippers, as they can cause you to slip and don't feel good on your feet.
Men's slippers "Combi" will be an excellent gift that will last a long time for your loved one.
