Fitness clubs with hammam, hammam bath complex

Hamam is not just a bathhouse, but an entire philosophy of the Turkish people, whose religion and traditions are closely related to bathing procedures. Staying in such a sauna helps improve the condition of the skin and heal the body. Unlike the classic Russian bath, the Turkish bath is not limited to a steam room and a swimming pool. There are practically no contraindications for visiting it, which is justified by the low temperature inside the bathhouse. The temperature ranges from +35 to +50 degrees, steam humidity is 70-100%.

As useful basic properties of Turkish baths, the following should be noted: the body is cleansed of toxins and harmful substances, the skin is cleansed, pores are opened, fatigue is relieved, the body’s cleansing system is stabilized, the respiratory system is stabilized, pain goes away, fever decreases and colds are healed, insomnia disappears, It has a beneficial effect on the digestive system; with the correct regime of visiting the hammam, it is possible to stabilize weight.

If you want to plunge into the atmosphere of oriental relaxation, relieve stress, achieve complete relaxation, and accumulate an energy charge - you don’t have to fly to Turkey to visit the hammam, we will be glad to see you at the SV-Fitness club.

Benefits of a Turkish bath after exercise

The peculiarity of the hammam is that the temperature in the steam room increases gradually. Since the room is decorated with stone, this temperature spreads unevenly. As a result, several thermal zones appear in one room at once, in which the temperature ranges from 30–35 to 50–55 degrees.

After training, severe overheating of the body is not recommended. But everyone has their own “heating” limit. In the hammam you can find an individual optimal climate (the one in which you feel comfortable) to receive benefits without risk to health.

What happens to the body at this moment:

muscles relax;
vessels, glands, ducts expand, accelerating the “acceleration” of lactic acid accumulated in the muscles, which helps get rid of pain;
blood actively flows to organs and joints, accelerating the regeneration process (bruises, injuries, sprains) and removing salts;
ligaments become more elastic - the result of stretching is consolidated;
the effect of overtraining disappears, which is important if results are needed quickly or classes are conducted in preparation for serious competitions.

Experts say that regular visits to the Turkish steam room after a series of exercises can quickly normalize weight, reduce the time between classes by 2-3 times and remove extra pounds without additional effort.

Warm up properly

The rules for visiting a bathhouse in Turkey dictate: first you need to warm up your body. To do this, they go to the steam room, where they spend about half an hour.

The procedure is as follows. Place a sheet on a warm shelf made of marble or other natural stone and lie down on it - on your stomach. At the same time, the legs are raised slightly: the feet are placed on a rolled up towel. This enhances the effect. It is not recommended to make sudden movements so as not to accidentally stretch the muscles: in a warm state this can happen easily.

Now you need to forget about everyday affairs and completely surrender to the relaxation process. Relaxation happens quickly. Heated air, the humidity of which is almost 100%, envelops the body, softens the throat, and moisturizes the lungs. A special diffuser for essential oils can be installed in the steam room: the steam is saturated with healing ingredients, which enhances the effect of the procedure.

The atmosphere in the hammam is special, the lighting is dim. All this contributes to relaxation. Tension from the muscles gradually begins to go away, thoughts are adjusted to a calm mood, and the mood improves. In order for relaxation to be as complete as possible, it is not recommended to talk in the steam room. The main task here is to calm not only the body, but also the mind. Then the effect of staying in a Turkish bath will be maximum.

If you go to the hammam regularly, your mood will be wonderful, your body will be...

fresh and cheerful. Back pain will become a thing of the past, cellulite will also become a memory. In general, hammam affects the human body as a powerful immunomodulator. Many respiratory diseases disappear. The state of the immune system improves significantly, colds occur less and less often, and energy increases.

To understand the structure of steam rooms and the procedures offered by the hammam, you need to consider them separately.

The first room of the jamekan is a locker room with tables for tea parties and friendly gatherings, from where they go to the first steam room - soguluk. This is where you get used to the elevated temperatures and prepare the body for the main part of the procedure. The temperature is 35C, the optimal time for warming up the body is 20 minutes.

To get the maximum health benefits from the hammam, you need to follow certain visiting rules.

To prevent the beneficial properties of a Turkish bath from turning into a problem of dehydration, you need to drink plenty of fluids. Usually they drink aromatic tea in jamekan. Drinking alcoholic and soft drinks is prohibited.
To prevent your health from deteriorating during a visit to the steam room, stop eating 1-1.5 hours before.
Before placing the body on the bench, you need to put a personal towel.
You should not make sudden movements after the procedures - this can cause harm to heated muscles.
Women and men steam separately.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFLfxNx8u0g

Following a few simple rules will make your stay in the hammam useful and unforgettable.

To get the maximum benefit from the procedures performed in the hammam, it is recommended to visit it no more than 1-3 times a week. Despite the fact that the air temperature in it is low, humidity plays a decisive role in this matter, as well as massage and peeling, which should not be carried out too often.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with: Rules and nuances of reinforcing strip foundations

Excessively frequent visits to the hammam can cause harm even to a healthy body: it can cause problems with the kidneys, nervous system, and dehydration.

The optimal time spent in the hammam is about 1-1.5 hours. During this period of time, the body and soul will be cleansed. People who have no contraindications, but suffer from any other diseases, are recommended to steam for no more than 30 minutes.

A pool with water at room temperature is considered the final stage after all the procedures offered by the hammam. Here, complete normalization and adaptation of the body takes place after warming operations.

Not everyone can combine a steam room with a subsequent bath in the pool. Those who have diseases related to the functioning of the cardiovascular system are allowed to steam in the hammam for a short time, but will have to refuse to visit the pool: a sharp temperature change will harm the body.

How to steam after a workout

But all the positive results of couple relaxation are a tribute to its correct implementation. What do you need to know here?

It is very important to find the “thermally correct place”. The athlete should not sweat much, but he should reach a phase of maximum relaxation.
It is better to avoid a long stay in the steam room after active exercise (no more than 30–40 minutes).
You cannot go into a Turkish bath straight from the gym, as this can have a bad effect on your heart function. You need to give yourself 20–25 minutes for your pulse to return to normal and your blood pressure to stabilize.

The high humidity of a Turkish bath partially solves the problem of dehydration that is typical for visiting other types of steam rooms. And yet, after an intense workout, before going to the hammam you need to drink 0.3–0.5 liters of clean water or herbal tea.

It is better not to visit the hammam after cardio exercise. But plunging into the bliss of the special atmosphere of a Turkish bath with its amazing ability to relax and give pleasant sensations after aerobics, fitness, etc. is both possible and necessary.

Is it always possible?

A visit to the hammam is not always possible. There are circumstances in which it is not recommended to go to a Turkish bath, or your visit should be postponed for some period of time.

– Pathologies of the cardiovascular system: high blood pressure, previous stroke or heart attack. Since blood circulation increases in the hammam, and the load on the heart and blood vessels increases, this can negatively affect health.

We suggest you familiarize yourself with: Electrical wiring in the bathhouse - selection of circuit diagram and installation rules

– Inflammatory processes – on the skin and inside the body. Additional heating in such a situation will only worsen the condition.

– Various tumors of different nature, especially malignant ones.

– Kidney pathologies.

– Serious visual and hearing impairment.

– Mental illnesses.

Hammam: how to properly take a steam bath in a Turkish bath

Steaming in a traditional Russian bath is an activity that relaxes the body and mind, healing the entire body. What if we add to these favorable factors an incredibly beautiful oriental interior, replete with marble and fantastic mosaic panels? The Turkish hammam is famous for such splendor. Spending time there turns into real relaxation, which can last the whole day. But this establishment is famous not only for the beauty of its decoration. The origins of the traditional hammam go back to the ancient Roman baths, but the Ottomans gave the body cleansing process a unique flavor and added unique procedures to it. For example, one of its main rituals is remarkable - foam massage, after which people feel a surge of strength and joy.

However, in order to fully enjoy your visit to the Turkish bath and not get into an awkward situation, you need to respect traditions and follow the rules for visiting this temple of purity. For example, it would be useful to find out what kind of huge flat stone is located in the central hall of this establishment and why there is a swimming pool there, but swimming in it is prohibited. In addition, in order to properly steam in a hammam, you need to know how to properly prepare your body for this and what to take with you there.

Procedures in the bath complex

Hammam is not just a steam room, but a whole complex of original bath procedures. It can accommodate people of any age, as well as those who cannot tolerate high temperatures.

The traditional ritual of visiting a Turkish bath consists of several procedures:

warming up the body - when entering the bathhouse, the body must get used to the new temperature regime and air humidity; you can warm up the body and normalize breathing while staying in chebek-tashi;
shower - water procedures are performed without applying soap and gels;
peeling – after steaming the body, peeling is performed using a special kese mitten, which has a rough surface made of coconut fiber or natural wool;
exfoliation - during peeling, the skin is gently cleansed of dead skin cells, pores open, and blood circulation improves;
massage – the massage procedure is performed using olive oil, which is whipped in a cotton bag until foam, which allows you to remove all particles formed after peeling, relieve tension in the joints and muscles;
toning – after peeling, it is recommended to visit the pool, first plunge into warm water, then into cold water;
massage with oil – after water procedures, a relaxing massage is performed using natural oils, which provide skin hydration and saturation with useful substances that promote relaxation; massage will be especially helpful, by the way, after fitness.

The final stage of your stay in a Turkish bath is relaxation. At this time, the body cools down to normal temperature. You can relax on a lounger, drink a cup of herbal tea, and perform additional cosmetic procedures.

Differences between hamam and bathhouse and contraindications

The first thing you need to do is mentally prepare for the fact that there are no separate small rooms or family rooms where groups of friends could sit in an intimate setting in the hammam. Therefore, if you like to steam in solitude, you won’t see that here. There is one huge hall waiting for everyone, in which there are numerous marble benches, where almost the entire relaxation process takes place. True, there are separate rooms for women and men. So you have to steam without your spouses.

In the center of the main hall there is traditionally a huge bowl-shaped recess, inside of which there is a large, usually round, flat stone. It is warm, and visitors to the hammam can lie stomach down on it to warm up the body and enjoy a massage. Also for these purposes, there are numerous stone benches along the perimeter of the huge hall. Another interesting feature: there is a swimming pool in which you cannot swim, as it is designed to maintain high humidity in the room, and not for ablutions.

The difference between a hammam and a Russian bath or sauna lies in the temperature regime. The air temperature here does not exceed 70 degrees, despite the fact that the humidity is much higher than in other types of baths. This key feature will especially appeal to people who find it difficult to withstand high temperatures, since in the hammam it is quite comfortable and it is easier to breathe there. Another plus is that very humid air prevents skin and hair from drying out.

An invariable Turkish bath procedure - foam massage - is considered effective for those who want to lose weight and get rid of the appearance of cellulite on the body. Essential oils, which are added to the hammam to create aromatic steam, also have a beneficial effect on the body. Thanks to this, steaming in such conditions is very beneficial for the respiratory system. And lying on heated stone benches warms up the abdominal muscles well and relaxes them.

Experts say that steaming in a hammam is beneficial, as it not only deeply warms up all muscle groups, but also bone joints. The last point will be especially appreciated by people with joint pain. In addition, it is recommended to take a steam bath in this temple of purity to speed up metabolism and normalize the functioning of the digestive system. This will be of great benefit if a person is concerned about losing excess weight.

There are also a number of contraindications to visiting the hammam. This is not recommended if you have:

oncology;
diseases of the cardiovascular system;
chronic diseases of internal organs in the acute phase;
epilepsy;
severe bronchial asthma;
phlebeurysm;
acute kidney inflammation;
skin diseases;
pregnancy.

In some cases, even in the presence of any diseases, but not in the acute phase, visiting the hammam is acceptable. But in order not to harm your health, it is better to visit a doctor for advice before going to the hammam.

Types of water procedures and their effect on the body

The main positive effects after visiting the hammam are as follows:

toxins are removed, the body is completely cleansed of toxins;
the skin is perfectly cleansed, various inflammatory processes are eliminated;
irritation, fatigue, depression are relieved, and you can also notice an improved general emotional state of a person;
the respiratory system is completely cleansed, the body is freed from inflammation in the nasopharynx and larynx, you can get rid of bronchitis;
the nervous system relaxes, migraines and insomnia disappear, headaches stop;
prevention of diseases of the musculoskeletal system is carried out;
blood circulation and metabolism improves;
has a beneficial effect on muscles, joints, and treats injuries;
the functioning of the stomach and lungs improves;
the functioning of the sebaceous glands on the scalp is normalized;

People often ask the question, how often can you take a steam bath in a hammam? You can visit the Turkish bath as often as your health allows.

Usually it is enough for a person to visit the hammam once a week on a day off.

This will be enough to improve your body’s health, preserve muscle flexibility, and clean skin.

It is not advisable to eat food before taking a steam bath in the hammam. Several hours should pass after your last meal.

The towel must be laid on the benches. The peculiarity of the hammam is that you need to steam in a lying position. Legs should be higher than head level. It is undesirable to make sudden movements, otherwise you can damage heated muscles.

One of the most wonderful places for rest and relaxation, as well as health improvement, is the bathhouse. Since ancient times, people have been exploring the unique properties of water and its beneficial effects on the state of mind and the human body. Today there are dozens of types of baths all over the world. At the same time, the Turkish bath - hammam - is considered to be one of the best.

A Turkish bath represents a whole range of procedures: steaming, massage, complete cleansing. The main difference between a Turkish bath and a Russian one is the presence of a special temperature regime and wet steam. Steaming in a Turkish bath occurs at low temperatures: from 35 to 50 degrees. But at the same time, the humidity of the steam is quite high, it reaches almost 100%. That is, the secret of hammam lies in light, warm steam, but at the same time highly saturated with moisture.

In order to understand how to properly steam in a Turkish bath, you need to know its structure. Classic Turkish baths are designed according to the palm principle: there are five niches around the main steam room. The temperature in the niches is designed to increase, that is, in the first it is 70 degrees, and in the last - 100 degrees and above.

Now let's look at the process in order, how to properly steam in a hammam. First, you need to warm up in the dressing room. Then they move on to niches, starting with cooler ones and ending with hotter ones. And only after this comes the turn of the large stone lounger. Usually it is poured with hot water. It is recommended to lie with your stomach down on a stone lounger, as in this position the body warms up better.

After the massage is done, proceed to the next procedure - washing. It is also divided into several stages. First, a washcloth is soaked in soapy water and then passed over the entire body to scrub away dead skin cells. Next, after rinsing, you need to wash your body again, lathering the washcloth with more soapy lather.

After washing, they move on to swimming in the pools, also starting with the warmest and ending with the coldest.

How to properly steam in a hammam - general tips and recommendations

The Turkish hammam is fundamentally different from the usual Russian bath or Finnish sauna in that it has a low temperature and at the same time very high humidity. We will tell you further about what you need to know when going to a Turkish bath, as well as the basic rules for visiting a hammam.

Traditional visiting a steam room is an integral part of the culture of many peoples. Likewise, the Turkish sauna for residents of Eastern countries is not just a place for ablution. Here it is customary to meet with friends and relatives, spending time having pleasant conversations.

In the classic version, a hammam is several rooms in the form of niches connected to each other. Each of them maintains its own specific temperature, which has a beneficial effect and promotes better relaxation.

Construction of a Turkish bath (hamam)

Spreading heat, warmth - this is how “hamam” is translated from Arabic. The design of a Turkish bath, a hammam, resembles a palm, where each finger is a steam room. The floor here is heated, just like in a Russian bath. The formation of bath culture took place depending on the climate. If in Finland a hot bath is preferable due to the cold weather, then in the East, on the contrary, they prefer a more humid and cool one.

The humidity level in a Turkish hammam reaches almost one hundred percent, so the heat is easier to bear. Evaporation occurs not only due to the heated floor, but also through the heated sun loungers, walls, by the way, steam generators with boiling water are also built into them, and at a height of one and a half meters above the floor, steam comes out through small holes.

Visiting the hamam: what you need to know

In order for you to have only positive impressions after your first visit to the hammam, and for the procedures performed to bring maximum benefit, you should take into account some features. Below is a detailed description with photographs, which will help to better imagine the structure and operating principle of the Turkish bath.

To understand what a hammam looks like, you should know the location of its rooms:

Jamekan is the room from which the hammam begins. As a rule, it consists of a lobby with ticket offices and a locker room. Also, there is always a fountain located here.
Sogukluk is the next room, which is a washing room with showers and toilets. The maintained temperature here is 30 – 35 degrees.
Hararet is the main, warmest room of the hammam. The temperature in it reaches 50 - 60 degrees. The hararet is located in the center and is distinguished by the so-called “belly stone”. It is a firebox that creates heat for the entire room. On the marble benches located here, visitors are treated to a healing traditional massage. Also, a swimming pool is often installed here, which is called “kurna”.

The general recommendations offered below will also be very useful for visitors going to the hammam for the first time.

The benefits of hamam

The beneficial properties of hamam procedures have made it one of the most popular. Regular visits to the Turkish sauna will help achieve the following effects:

remove salt deposits;
normalize blood pressure;
increase immunity;
relieve muscle tension;
cure some respiratory diseases.

The benefits of Turkish hammam for the body are based on the removal of toxins, relaxation of the body and soul.

For women's health

Most women spend a lot of time on their own appearance. The procedures offered by the hammam staff have a number of advantages: they will help preserve beauty, get rid of cellulite, improve skin condition, and strengthen hair. Healthy sleep and stress relief will be an addition after visiting the hammam.

For men's health

The beneficial properties of hammam have been proven for the male body. Since it is the stronger sex that is most susceptible to various diseases associated with the functioning of the genitourinary system, it is useful for men to visit the hammam. With increased sweating, the kidneys are unloaded for a certain time, which relieves pain. Men visiting a Turkish sauna relieve nervous tension that occurs during stress and normalize the general condition of the body.

For athletes

After a workout, the hammam allows you to relax your joints and muscles, and relieve stress that occurs during strength training. The benefits of visiting the hammam after the gym are manifested in the relief of painful sensations, which allows you to reduce breaks between workouts. However, you should not do this, because the process of muscle and tendon restoration proceeds as usual, and the felt relaxation in the hammam does not speed it up.

To relax your back muscles after training, it is recommended to steam while sitting. Lying down can cause irreparable harm to your body: one awkward movement can lead to a dislocation of the spine.

We suggest you familiarize yourself with: Engine sealant varieties, rules of application, best manufacturers

Useful properties of hamam

Thanks to a unique set of procedures and special temperature conditions, the hammam has a comprehensive and beneficial effect on the body.

heals and cleanses the skin, relieving inflammatory processes;
normalizes the secretion of the sebaceous glands of the scalp;
accelerates metabolism and promotes the removal of toxins;
has a beneficial effect on blood circulation, improving microcirculation;
relieves inflammation in the nasopharynx;
improves the functioning of the respiratory system;
has a positive effect on the functioning of the digestive system;
serves as an excellent prevention of diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
helps get rid of headaches and insomnia;
helps relieve fatigue and irritability;
significantly improves overall emotional state.

Now, knowing detailed information about the hammam - how many degrees the temperature is in its steam rooms, what are the basic rules for visiting and what fundamentally distinguishes it from other types of baths, you can safely go for healing procedures.

The beneficial effects of a Turkish bath on the respiratory system

Hammam is one of the best places to improve the respiratory system. Inhalations from warm and moist air help remove mucus, thin sputum, help with coughing attacks, and normalize the functioning of the bronchi. A visit to the bath complex is especially useful for people suffering from respiratory diseases, including bronchitis, rhinitis and others.

The only thing that needs to be taken into account is that visiting the steam room is not recommended for acute illnesses and high body temperatures. A long stay in the hammam helps to warm up the body, which increases the resistance of the immune system to various viral diseases, especially seasonal ones.

Characteristic features of a Turkish bath

The hammam procedure is long and luxurious, just like the bath itself. The local population in the East is quite religious and the instructions of the Koran are strictly observed. And there, a lot is said about the purity of body, spirit and thoughts. What characterizes this type of bathhouse is its community. In essence, this is a classic public bathhouse, only in an oriental style. It will not be possible to retire and remove it only for your own personal use. In addition, all its premises are quite large, and in certain cases, simply grandiose. You won't be able to go there with your family either. Or rather, it will be possible to go, but we will have to steam separately. The female and male halves are separated in the most careful way. Some of our people who have been to a local bathhouse in the East note the fact that there, on bathing day, it is customary to spend almost a full daylight hours in the hammam. Well, one more important detail. When our compatriot gets into an oriental bathhouse, she is amazed at the noise, hubbub and dynamism of the process. It feels like I'm in an oriental bazaar. You need to get used to it, understand it and come to terms with it.

Important! From the section on how to properly visit the hammam, it is worth noting that the eastern bath tradition does not accept female nudity. Compatriots planning to taste the delights of the local bathhouse need to keep this in mind.

The Turkish bath is distinguished by the use of incense and the obligatory musical accompaniment, and not in the form of classic rock and roll, which is familiar to our ears, but music with a rich and unique local flavor. It takes some getting used to.

In the hammam, there is very high humidity and relatively low temperature. It is now fashionable on the Internet to paint everything with the same brush. And idle experts boldly indicate a temperature threshold of 100 degrees Celsius. It is not true. Somehow such specialists should decide whether it is, after all, a dry-air sauna or hammam. A classic of the oriental genre, it is about 52 - 55 degrees Celsius, with almost 100% absolute humidity. To maintain it at such a high level, in addition to steam generation systems, a large but shallow pool is installed in the common room, in which natural evaporation of water also occurs under the influence of elevated ambient temperatures.

Attention! Due to the specific purpose and shallow depth, water procedures are not carried out in the pool of the main hall.

It is now worth considering the internal structure of the hammam and the procedure for carrying out certain procedures in it.

Functional areas of the Turkish bath

The classic hammam, which became widespread in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia during the power of the Ottoman Porte, was often rebuilt from a Byzantine bath. Hence the similar layout with a vast central hall, from which emanate peculiar rays - small steam rooms in which different air temperatures are maintained from 35 degrees Celsius and there are objects in which it reaches 70 degrees, but this is more an exception than rule in traditional arrangement, and even in such a matter as visiting the hammam. Let's look at this in a little more detail:

Entering the bathhouse from the street, the visitor immediately finds himself in the locker room, where it is relatively cool in summer and very warm in winter. The average temperature of this room rarely goes beyond 28 - 31 degrees Celsius. This is where the comfort zone begins and the visitor is greeted by the staff. If the bathhouse is small, and it is not possible to divide the area into men's and women's, this is simple. Even days are given to the stronger half, odd days to the beautiful half. At this stage, you can already find out that today is Women’s Day in the bathhouse; a jute rope will simply be stretched in the aisle. Here, all self-respecting establishments provide visitors with towels, soap and slippers with flat wooden soles;
The heart of any hammam is the main hall of Sogolyuk. It is heated to 45 - 50 degrees, and heating occurs volumetrically. Both the walls and floor heat up. Naturally, the temperature of the surrounding air is perceived by marble benches, on which it is customary to lie with your legs slightly elevated above body level. In some places, it is customary to lay a cotton towel on the bench. As we mentioned above, in the main hall there is a pool of water to maintain high air humidity. On marble loungers, Chebek Tashi perform a set of procedures, massage, wraps, peeling and others. Moreover, this is done by specially trained people, highly specialized specialists. In old hammams, one could often see a large massive boulder with a smooth polished surface. It was actually called the “Belly Stone”. It was used for medicinal purposes. A well-heated mass relieved stomach and liver colic well. Naturally, the rounded shape of the surface ensured good contact with the patient’s abdomen;
In the small steam rooms adjacent to Sogolyuk, different temperatures were maintained. For weakened patients and women it varied between 33 and 40 degrees, and for the true descendants of the Janissaries it reached 70;
A mandatory attribute of the hammam was a swimming pool in the bathhouse; today, a shower is an equally integral element.