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How to take a steam bath correctly - advice from experienced bathhouse attendants. How to properly take a steam bath with a broom. What brooms are used to steam in a Russian bath? Features of bath procedures for women

Upon arrival to a Russian bathhouse, not all people realize that they can get the maximum benefit from visiting the steam room. Also, not many people have information about contraindications to such procedures, which puts their health at risk. As a rule, when talking about a Russian bath, a person imagines biting blows with a broom, high temperature and the inability to breathe. This idea is wrong, since you need to steam in a comprehensive manner, leaving time for rest. Let's talk about everything in order.

Positive features of the Russian bath

  1. If you regularly go to the steam room, intense calorie burning begins. As a result, you may not go to the gym in order to get rid of extra pounds. If we talk about numbers, 3 hours of intense aerobics is equivalent to 1 hour in the steam room (at intervals). It is during this period that mass burning of fat from the waist, hips, and abdomen begins.
  2. Air humidity in a Russian bath is about 50-60%, while the temperature varies between 55 and 75 degrees. As a result of such conditions, cleansing of the skin begins, all toxins and poisons are eliminated through the pores. The steam room also helps get rid of the hated “orange peel”, strengthens the bones and circulatory system, and normalizes the tone of muscle tissue.
  3. Regular visits to the Russian bathhouse improve blood circulation and normalize blood pressure if it is not at the peak of exacerbation (sudden jumps). Very often people with kidney and liver diseases go to the steam room. As a result of warming up, headaches disappear (even serious migraines are eliminated), sleep is normalized, and the psycho-emotional state is stabilized.
  4. Steam has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the entire human respiratory system. The lungs are cleansed, mucus comes out of the bronchi (during colds), and the activity of auditory and olfactory receptors improves. The bath relieves pain in bones and joints, which is why people with arthritis and osteochondrosis often resort to it.
  5. Experienced experts recommend steaming about once a week for those people who have been diagnosed with vegetative-vascular dystonia, a low immune system, and susceptibility to mood swings. In this case, it is not necessary to set the maximum temperature and humidity; 55 degrees/50% will be sufficient.

Contraindications to visiting the steam room

Experts have identified a number of restrictions under which you cannot visit a Russian bathhouse. Let's look at them in order.

  1. People with skin diseases should not bask in the steam room. This includes the presence of purulent acne and inflammation, psoriasis, eczema, etc. Dermatologists unanimously insist that visiting the Russian bathhouse is prohibited even for those who have small acne on their bodies. If you ignore the recommendation, the neoplasm will become inflamed, developing into a large abscess. It will hurt, itch and cause maximum discomfort to its owner.
  2. It is strictly forbidden for those categories of people who have been and are subject to epileptic attacks to take a steam bath. The same applies to a person with pulmonary or heart failure, tumors (no matter whether it is benign or malignant). People with pneumonia or bronchitis should take a steam bath with caution.
  3. It is prohibited for small children under the age of 6 to take a steam bath. If we talk about older people, this category of citizens can go to the bathhouse only after undergoing an examination by a specialist (as prescribed by a doctor). Obstetricians and gynecologists do not advise their patients to treat their bodies with steam, but expectant mothers often neglect this recommendation.

Bath brooms: types, impact on human health

Brooms can be made from walnut, bird cherry, juniper, birch, fir, oak, alder, eucalyptus, and nettle.

  1. Walnut brooms are used to eliminate varicose veins. They are also effective for diabetics and people with peptic ulcers. Thanks to the universal composition, blood glucose levels are normalized, the activity of the gastrointestinal tract returns to normal, blood vessels dilate and, as a result, blood circulation improves.
  2. Bird cherry brooms are usually bought by men and women who have corns and calluses on their feet. The leaves soften the structure, saturate the cells with oxygen, and prevent the appearance of fungus.
  3. Juniper has a positive effect on the psycho-emotional background of a person. If you regularly steam using such a device, the body is saturated with energy, sleep is normalized, laziness, apathy and fatigue disappear.
  4. Oak brooms are considered the most popular. They are used to improve the elasticity of the epidermis and clean pores. Products of this kind have a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect; they draw out poisons from the skin.
  5. If we talk about birch leaves, brooms based on this are the softest. They serve to heal minor scratches, improve the skin's water balance, and combat dryness and flaking. Also, birch brooms can make scars less noticeable, smoothing and soothing the epidermis.
  6. Fir brooms help get rid of swelling because they remove fluid from the skin. They normalize the water-salt balance of the body, as a result of which the skin becomes soft. Fir is useful for people with sleep disorders and radiculitis.
  7. Alder-based brooms contain sticky particles, which stick to the body during whipping. The leaves draw out toxins from the skin, improving the natural cleansing of pores. Alder is often used to prevent bronchitis in chronic form (not during an exacerbation), and fights cough.
  8. Eucalyptus brooms are rightfully considered the rarest and most expensive of all those available on the market. They relieve sinus congestion, fight allergies, and remove mucus from the respiratory tract.
  9. Nettle brooms have gained wide popularity among people with mental disorders, high blood pressure, arthritis, osteochondrosis, radiculitis and other similar diseases.

  1. Prepare a bag, put in it a change of linen, bath towels and a robe, a broom of the chosen type, and a body mitt (if you will be doing a massage). You will also need shower gel and shampoo, body cream, facial tonic, felt or woolen bath cap, sheet, and slippers.
  2. To further create aromatherapy in the steam room, you can prepare a decoction based on medicinal herbs. Chamomile, ginseng, eucalyptus, geranium and other plants are suitable. Pour the infusion directly onto the stones and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere.
  3. Take with you mineral water (non-carbonated), herbal or green tea with sugar, freshly squeezed juice, etc. If you are watching your figure, you can scrub with coffee grounds or wrap with honey.
  4. You cannot drink alcohol on the day of visiting the bathhouse or in the steam room itself. Otherwise, you risk putting undue strain on your heart. It is also worth limiting the consumption of fatty foods 5 hours before going to the steam room. Have a snack with dietary cottage cheese, vegetable salad or porridge (2 hours before visiting the bathhouse).

Preparing for the steam room

  1. First, soak the broom in boiling water and leave it for half an hour. After each treatment, return the broom to the bowl of hot water.
  2. Before going to the steam room, wash your body with shower gel. Rinse under a contrast shower and finish washing with hot water. This move will prepare the skin for the effects of temperatures in the bath.
  3. It is important to remember that while taking a shower, you should not rub your body with a hard washcloth. This way you will wash away the lipid layer that protects the epidermis from burns. The skin will become vulnerable and dry.
  4. You should not wet your hair while visiting the shower. Otherwise, your hair will begin to conduct heat to your scalp, which can cause you to suffer from heatstroke. Buy a hat, which is sold in large supermarkets and “Everything for the Bath” stores.
  5. You can make your own headdress from thick linen or cotton. Before entering the bathhouse, soak your hat in cold water so that your head does not overheat during steaming. Perform manipulations before each session.
  6. If we talk about the number of visits to the steam room, it all depends on the state of health. As practice shows, 5-7 sessions are enough, and each stage differs in temperature and duration of stay in the booth.

  1. First of all, you need to warm up the body well, preparing it for further sessions with a higher temperature. Take a basin with a soaked broom, do not take out the attribute. Leave it to soak until the second go.
  2. Place a sheet on the bottom shelf, sit and relax. On the lower tier the temperature is about 60 degrees. You will not experience a lack of oxygen and aching bones.
  3. After 5 minutes, you can lie down on a spread sheet, close your eyes and inhale alternately through your nose and mouth. Try to breathe regularly so as not to overload the diaphragm.
  4. The general condition of the body will help you understand that adaptation to temperature has begun. Your body will begin to sweat intensely, your heart will beat faster, and blood will rush to your cheeks.
  5. It is after adaptation that you can lie down on the railing located in the middle. The total duration of the first visit to the steam room should not exceed 10-12 minutes, monitor your well-being.

Second and subsequent visits with a broom

  1. The next visit should not go beyond 20 minutes. At this stage, you can use a broom, this will help you enjoy the massage and heal your body.
  2. It is difficult to use a broom on your own body, so it is recommended to steam in pairs. You can also hire a professional bath attendant if you are visiting a thermal spa.
  3. Ask your partner to perform the actions in a specific order, which will be indicated below. Lie down on the bench and enjoy the procedure.
  4. First of all, the bathhouse attendant takes a broom and lightly strokes it with the tips of the leaves. The movements should cover the entire body - from the neck to the feet.
  5. Plowing is followed by shaking. To do this, the opponent raises the broom to the ceiling (a large accumulation of steam is concentrated there). When the leaves are warm, they need to be pressed to different areas of the body. The emphasis is on the feet, back, buttocks, lower back, shoulders, calves.
  6. When local warming comes to an end, whipping can begin. The bathhouse attendant walks over the entire body, performing light (painless) blows. First, the whipping is carried out from top to bottom, then vice versa.
  7. The body is already accustomed to the blows, relax it with stroking (duration - 3 minutes). Now start tapping again, increasing the amplitude and strength. You should feel a tingling and slight burning sensation, but not pain.
  8. The procedure ends with a hot compress. To do this, the broom is heated by steam, then applied to the feet, lower back, shoulders, back of the thigh and back. After each use, the leaves need to be reheated.
  9. When the massage comes to an end, lie on the bench for another 5 minutes to prevent dizziness. Take a contrast shower, wash your body, swim in the pool.
  10. The third and subsequent approaches should not exceed 25 minutes. Pay close attention to your health; you can enter the steam room no more than 7 times during one procedure.

For vaping to be successful, the procedure requires preparation and attention to detail. Increase the duration of your stay in the bath gradually, do not wet your head before entering the steam room. Ask your opponent to massage with a broom in stages.

Video: how to take a steam bath with health benefits


Table of contents:

“Wouldn’t you go... to the bathhouse!” – this “expletive” is very popular among the people. But think about its meaning. The opponent of the dispute is asked to go and wash away everything bad and black that caused an attack of anger in the interlocutor.

So, we see that the bathhouse has firmly established the reputation of being a “nurse” not only of the body, but also of the human soul. Its healing and restorative properties have been known for a long time and are described in detail in the works of eminent doctors. By using the sauna, a person receives a positive “charge” aimed at the two main “centers” of his feelings׃

  • The skin is the largest human organ, the cleanliness and well-grooming of which largely determines our well-being.
  • The soul is a fragile and intangible substance, from the balance and tranquility of which a person receives an incredible surge of physical strength

Everyone, having such a serious “weapon” against PAIN and BAD MOOD in their arsenal, should be able to use it correctly. We will tell you all the secrets of the art of bathing

  • What you need to take with you to the bathhouse
  • How to take a steam bath to improve or strengthen your health
  • What diseases can be fought there?
  • For whom this method of healing, unfortunately, is not suitable

But first, let’s clarify the “multinationality” of this useful “ritual.” There are several options for organizing a bath procedure from different peoples of the world, the popularity of which has long gone beyond the borders of their native country. But in memory of its “creator,” a certain type of bathhouse was assigned a name reflecting its nationality.

Bathhouse is different! Complete “catalog” of existing types of baths

The main features by which this or that bath is characterized are:

  • Room temperature
  • The humidity level in it
  • Design features of the structure

We will begin our “hit parade” with our native Russian bathhouse, since, according to the majority of connoisseurs of this art, steaming there is the most useful.

Russian bathhouse... STEAM + HEAT is the “formula” for the success of our bathhouse, which promotes deep warming of the human body. The room temperature is maintained at approximately +70°C, but the humidity level is off the charts and close to 100%.

The Russian bathhouse is built entirely of wood and consists of two rooms, a steam room and a dressing room. In the steam room there is a stove with large stones laid on it. As soon as the round cobblestones heat up, they are watered with specially prepared water mixed with herbal tinctures.

To enhance the warming effect, the bath procedure is accompanied by a massage, which is performed with brooms made from a certain type of wood.

Roman bath... Traditionally, a Roman bath occupies large premises (for 10 people or more) with a luxurious “museum” interior. This is a tribute to those famous baths for which Ancient Rome was famous in its heyday.

The classic Roman bath consists of three rooms, each given its own name

  • “Tepidarium” – a room with an air temperature of ≈ +45°C and a pool with cool water
  • “Laconicum” – a room with an air temperature of +70°C and a hot pool
  • “Frigidaria” - a room where a cold “atmosphere” is maintained and a cold pool is located

Unlike a Russian bathhouse, the entire interior of the premises is decorated with natural stone (marble in light and warm colors) and decorated with mosaics, fountains and other luxury items. The steam in the steam room, which is adjacent to the laconium, enters the room through numerous cracks in the walls and floor.

Turkish bath... In the east they were especially sensitive to the bath procedure. In terms of its structure, a Turkish bath resembles a Roman one, only the transition to a higher temperature is even softer here. The interior is orientally rich, people are seated on heated stone beds, ideally lined with marble.

The classic Turkish bath hammam is five rooms with high humidity, in which the temperature gradually rises from +35 to +55°C. Steam penetrates into the steam room through evenly distributed cracks in the walls and floor, which softens the feeling of heat and gives special comfort.

How to take a steam bath in a Turkish bath? First, you should warm up for half an hour in the dressing room, then vacationers move to the next, hotter room, and lie down on stone loungers, which are pre-moistened with water. Then transition again, etc. (depending on how many rooms there are in a particular bathhouse). The hike ends with a bath with olive soap and a massage using a hard “peeling” mitt.

Irish bath... This “steam room” arose relatively recently (in 1856) at the suggestion of the famous Irish doctor R. Barter. It has become a successful “hybrid” of Russian and Roman steam rooms, where high humidity is combined with constant air circulation from numerous cracks in the walls and floors of the rooms. Unlike the Roman bath, the Irish version is softer in action; the first room with a temperature of +25°-+27°C is replaced by a warmer one (+32°-+35°C), and in the hottest “compartment” - only + 55°C. Thanks to this gradual transition, deep and, most importantly, gentle warming of the human body is ensured.

As for the interior, it is as close as possible to the Roman version, but lacks its luxury and sophistication.

Japanese bath... This method of bathing procedure is fundamentally different. A person immerses himself in a wooden barrel of hot water (+50°C), to which salt impurities are added, and massages the body with a hard washcloth. The time spent in the font varies from 3 to 15 minutes. Then you should dry yourself, wrap yourself in a sheet or robe and rest.

The Japanese bath is divided into FURO and SENTO. They are distinguished by the number of people bathing in the vat. FURO is an individual bath designed for one person, SENTO is a collective bath for 5-6 people. The first domesticated version was available to wealthy Japanese, while less fortunate compatriots used the SENTO public bathhouse.

The bath procedure is complemented by a stone massage and a mandatory walk in the fresh air.

Finnish sauna... A feature of this sauna ceremony is dry heat; the room is heated with hot air up to +100°C (and higher), while the humidity is only 10-30%. Despite the extreme conditions, “hyper-heat” is well tolerated, but still, beginners should start their “trip” with short visits (2-3 minutes). Then the period of stay in the sauna can be increased to 10-15 minutes. After each entry, the vacationer is doused with cold water. Gourmets use tinctures of essential oils during the procedure to enhance the healing effect. After warming up, massage and rest follow.

Traditionally, the Finnish sauna room is made entirely of coniferous wood and consists of three sections, a steam room, a cold pool and a relaxation room. If a Finnish sauna is built on the shore of a lake or river, then they do without an artificial cooling “reservoir”, preferring a natural font.

How to take a steam bath in a Russian bathhouse, a wellness “set” for a bathhouse attendant

The bathhouse is not only an “island” of cleanliness, there is a real opportunity to improve your health. In addition to standard detergents (soap, washcloth, etc.) and bath accessories (robe, towel, flip-flops, etc.), be sure to take with you׃

  • Tinctures of medicinal herbs (eucalyptus and mint)
  • Homemade body scrub mask
  • “Your own” nourishing face mask
  • Two brooms from the selected type of wood

Now let's decipher this useful list.

  • Why are tinctures needed?

To maintain the amount of steam in the steam room, specially prepared water is used, which is poured over the stones and walls of the room. In the first ladle, take 2 liters of hot water and pour in an alcoholic tincture of eucalyptus (10 ml), into the second - an extract of mint according to a similar recipe. As soon as the steam becomes smaller, “additives” are used for the stones – mint water, and for the walls – eucalyptus “fat”. The mixture of two healing aromas gives a colossal healing effect; eucalyptus has a beneficial effect on skin “imperfections” (pimples, pustules) and prevents their appearance, and mint “works” as a disinfectant, analgesic and sedative. A person inhales the “medicine”, the steamed body absorbs it deeply, and increased blood circulation only speeds up the delivery of the drug to all organs.

  • How to prepare a scrub-mask for the body and a life-giving “cocktail” for the face?

Cleansing procedures are a mandatory ritual in the art of bathing. In this case, they do not use fancy store-bought “chemicals”, but only natural, fresh ingredients. Take lemon with you to the bathhouse, which will act as a catalyst for the rapid and wide opening of pores, and rub your body with it before cleansing.

As for the body scrub, there are several recipes. Most often, steamers prepare honey masks by adding liquid honey (250 g), sea salt (200 g), sugar or ground coffee (boiled grounds), a couple of spoons of sour cream or cream, and a drop of essential oil. If you are allergic to honey, then olive oil is the base. The resulting paste is carefully rubbed into the body with massage movements, and then sent to the steam room for 5-10 minutes to consolidate the effect.

A nourishing “cocktail” for the face made from cream, ground bran and yeast, which is suitable for any skin type, is applied at the end of the visit. The steamed, cleansed face will greedily absorb this “appetizing additive” and “thank” the owner with its magnificent appearance.

  • Which broom is better?

Massage with a broom in the steam room is the main and mandatory program, since there is no point in steaming in a Russian bath without this accessory. These are not chaotic pats on the body, but a consistent cycle of “herbal” massage with a special technique, which we will describe in detail below. Now we will focus on the choice of the main accessory, the quality of which determines the nature of the therapeutic effect on the human body.

Here are some popular options׃

  • Oak broom

Used to reduce blood pressure, relieve skin inflammation and improve the appearance of oily, porous skin.

  • Birch broom

This is an excellent skin cleanser and “fighter” against rheumatism. The broom is easy to use due to its flexibility and strength.

  • Linden broom

This is a godsend for those who suffer from headaches. “Linden” massage soothes, relieves migraines and perfectly tones the skin.

  • Coniferous broom

It is a fighter against diseases of the upper respiratory tract and has powerful anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating effects.
For gourmets, combined brooms or special versions (from nettle, wormwood) are prepared, which are aimed at combating several diseases.

In terms of the power and comprehensiveness of its effect on the body, visiting a steam room has no competition among any health procedures. But to get the maximum positive effect, you need to follow certain rules.

In general, it is better to allocate 4-6 hours for a bath, in the afternoon. During this time, you need to turn off your phones and leave all your problems behind. And the second half of the day is considered the best, because after a properly carried out bath procedure, a person will not be able to engage in any type of activity that requires even a slight concentration of attention.

To achieve the effect of a health procedure in a bathhouse, certain rules must be followed.

Modern means of self-defense are an impressive list of items that differ in their operating principles. The most popular are those that do not require a license or permission to purchase and use. IN online store Tesakov.com, You can buy self-defense products without a license.

A simple rule says: “If you can get to the steam room, then you can take a steam bath.” But there are exceptions to the rules. A priori, doctors prohibit visiting the bathhouse:

  • cancer patients;
  • with exacerbation of chronic heart diseases;
  • patients with high fever;
  • chronic hypertensive patients;
  • with dermatological diseases.

There is an element of reinsurance here. It is easier for a doctor to prohibit something than to scrupulously monitor the dynamics of changes in the patient’s health. And an experienced bath attendant has his own approach to each client.

Therefore, when going to the bathhouse, always focus on your condition.

How to prepare?

Ideally, before a bath a person should be:

Visit the bathhouse only when sober

  1. Sober. Alcohol and sauna are incompatible!
  2. Not hungry, but not full either. You cannot eat 3-4 hours before the bath.
  3. Sleepy. If you haven't slept for more than a day, the load on your body can be critical.

The general condition should be like that of an athlete before the start: cheerful, perky, daring.

But this is an ideal state. In reality, a person can get tired after work or study, or simply after household chores. This is not an absolute restriction, just: focus on how you feel.

It is quite possible that a tired person will reduce the number of visits to the steam room. But the benefits for the body will be enormous.

The first two points are mandatory.

What to take with you to the bathhouse

We will omit hygiene items, but without the accessories listed below, a trip to the bathhouse can be considered useless:

Strong green tea sugarless:

  • increases the intensity of respiratory exchange;
  • expands skin pores;
  • increases sweating;
  • cleanses pores at a biochemical level;
  • lowers blood pressure in hypertensive patients (tea leaf catechins are responsible for this).

To get the maximum effect, green tea must be brewed correctly. Follow two rules:

- double the amount of tea leaves compared to the normal volume;

— pour not boiling water into the teapot, but hot water at a temperature of 93-98˚C. At this temperature, the water becomes milky white.

Additionally, it would be very good if you have a timer with a sound signal. It will allow you to control the time you spend in the steam room.

Scenario for visiting the bathhouse

Upon arrival at the bathhouse, you should steam the broom. To do this, it is first immersed in cold water for 1-2 minutes, then in very hot water for the same time. After this, pour 1-2 cm of hot water into the basin, put a broom in it and cover it with a pile on top. In about a quarter of an hour, the broom will acquire the desired condition. Remove it from the water and shake it to fluff it up.

General information

There is no single method of visiting a bathhouse. Each bathhouse attendant adds something to the general recommendations and comes up with his own scenario for going to the bathhouse. It can be compared to karate. Although martial art has one name, there are many different schools, and it is impossible to determine which one is the best.

We will describe our method, which is suitable for any healthy person. All specified time and temperature standards have been tested many times, and although they seem extreme, in fact this is exactly what the doctor ordered.


Remember the number 120. This is the sum of the combined indicators of air temperature and humidity. A value of 120 is optimal.

For example, the temperature is 50˚C and the humidity is 70%, giving a total of 120. The effect will be the same as when entering a steam room where at a temperature of 80˚C, the humidity is only 40%.

This parameter is not critical, but you should strive to comply with it. A rule of thumb you can use is: “If the leaves of a broom stick to the body, then the humidity is more than 60%. If the leaf rustles, then the humidity is less than 40%".

At the same time, air temperature affects the chemical composition of sweat. At temperatures up to 60˚C, the pores are open, and the sweat released contains the maximum amount of waste and toxins.

If the temperature exceeds 60˚C, the pores close and intercellular fluid begins to secrete onto the surface of the skin. There are no more toxins in it, but such sweat flushes electrolytes and microelements from the body.

From this fact the following conclusion follows: “hotter does not mean better”.

  1. The number and duration of visits to the steam room is regulated by the formula 1+3. Where 1 is a warm-up run (warm-up), and 3 is the number of target runs.

The duration of each target run is 9 minutes, and the warm-up run is 12. For more scrupulous adherence to time intervals, set a timer for this period and leave it outside the steam room.

Soar in a horizontal position with slightly raised legs

  1. Body position. The only correct body position in the steam room is horizontal, with legs slightly raised. In this position, the body is exposed to the same temperature. In any other position, the legs will be in a colder atmosphere, and the head, on the contrary, will experience overheating. This approach completely belittles the golden rule: "Keep your feet warm and your head cold".
  2. Of course, if you do not have a personal steamer, then when working with a broom, your body position must be changed. But still, even if you’re not lying down, try to be in the steam room at least sitting, with your legs raised on the shelves.
  3. Duration of rest. Between each entry into the bathhouse, rest is required, which is twice the time spent in the steam room, i.e., 18 minutes. After the warm-up run, the rest should be less, 12-15 minutes.
  4. Quenching thirst. After leaving the steam room, you can drink tea.

You can't swallow tea like a rabbit boa constrictor. Once in the gastrointestinal tract, tea is affected by digestive enzymes, and its biochemical activity changes significantly. The best option is to dissolve the tea infusion in the mouth. With this method, the infusion is absorbed into the blood through the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and immediately enters the bloodstream.

Take small boluses of green tea into your mouth and rub it across the roof of your mouth with your tongue. In just a minute, your body will be covered with large beads of sweat.

ATTENTION: Learn to distinguish between bitterness and astringency. Green tea is tart, but not bitter. If you clearly feel bitterness, the tea was most likely brewed incorrectly (with too hot water).

Warming up

When you first enter the steam room, you should not climb to the very top, where it is hotter. In such a place it will be difficult to breathe, and your skin will burn.

When warming up, you need to lie down on the bottom shelf, rest your feet against the wall (or put them on a slight elevation) and lie quietly. Breathe deeply and evenly. The optimal temperature for a warm-up run is 40-45 ˚C.

Remove protruding drops of sweat with a scraper.

A couple of minutes before leaving, take an upright position. This will avoid dizziness due to orthostatic collapse.

The purpose of this run is to prepare the body for real temperature loads (draw an analogy with warming up for athletes).

After leaving the steam room, you need to rinse yourself in a warm shower and wrap yourself in a towel or sheet. This time the body was only warming up, and the heat did not penetrate deeply. The sudden cooling will close the pores and sweating will stop.

Targeted visits to the steam room

The next visits to the steam room follow the same scenario, and this time you will need a broom. In the first one and a half to two minutes, the body gets used to the temperature. Then you can climb to the top shelf.

The intensity of touching with a broom increases during the process of cleaning

You need to work with a broom with an understanding of the essence of the cleaning process.

First, use a broom to blow hot air from above. There is no need to whip yourself yet, your body should warm up.

You can do this lying down, with your legs slightly raised on the wall.

Then you can whip yourself a little with a broom. Touches should be light, with gradually increasing intensity.

They hover themselves with a broom, starting from the feet and gradually moving towards the head. This is due to the flow of lymph, it moves from the limbs to the thoracic duct. Each subsequent pass should be a little more intense. First, a broom, lowering hot air from above, just touches the body. The next pass, the touches are a little more noticeable, and with each circle, the force of the pat increases.

If in the first circles the body warms up more, then gradually the broom begins to lightly massage the skin. Microvibrations occur in the body after each blow with a broom. These vibrations eliminate congestion in small capillaries and improve the dynamics of lymph movement.

When the timer is set to 9 minutes, it is recommended to steam your chest a little and immediately after leaving the steam room plunge into ice water.

Contrast water procedures

If you don’t plunge into ice water after the steam room, the effect of visiting the bath will not be the same. Rapid immersion in cold water causes a sharp narrowing of all vessels and capillaries that are located closer to the surface of the body. The warmth, which has managed to saturate the blood with its life-giving power, seems to be locked inside. And if during your stay in the steam room only the surface of the body was heated, then after a contrast bath the heat goes deep into the body.

As a result, the temperature deep in the body increases by 1-1.5 ˚C. The overwhelming majority of pathogenic bacteria and viruses die in the body.

Stay in ice water for no more than 10 seconds! If you stay in such water longer, the process of habituation (adaptation) begins.

Getting used to cold water also has its advantages, but the sudden impact of cold on the body leads to powerful stress. A large number of hormones are consistently released into the blood.

TESTED: testosterone levels after such stress increase in the short term by 25-30%.

Rest

Between visits to the steam room, you should rest while sitting, not lying down. It is better if your feet are placed on a platform so that they are raised.

Sip and dissolve green tea in small boluses.

TIP: if you have some kind of old injury, or just a chronic disease of the musculoskeletal system, then rub honey into the target area while resting.

Honey and salt scrub cleanses the skin well

Remember about the duration of rest, do not linger in the waiting room.

Final entry into the steam room

It differs only in that, in addition to a broom, you also need a washcloth.

After the timer beeps, using the washcloth as a scrub, thoroughly scrub the skin. While the epidermis is steamed, it easily rolls off and is peeled off.

When leaving the steam room, first rinse off in a warm shower, and only then plunge into ice-cold water.

After such a procedure, soap will only harm.

Rest after the bath

Approximately 45-60 minutes after entering the steam room, it is recommended to lie quietly in a warm dressing room. During this time, the body will give off excess heat and residual sweat. Therefore, it is best to wrap yourself in a sheet during this time and sweat.

Before getting dressed, go back to the washroom and rinse your body under a slightly cool shower.

After the bath they drink green tea

Only then can you get dressed and sit down at the table.

IMPORTANT: alcohol is not allowed after the bath!

At the table, do not load up on heavy dishes. Considering that the body has just been cleansed of waste and toxins, give the stomach a chance to rest. If your appetite is working up in earnest, then eat something light and quickly digestible.

Try not to drink a lot of liquid. Do not swallow drinks, but dissolve them in your mouth. This makes thirst quenched much easier, and in general it is the best way to replenish the lack of electrolyte in the body.

Ideally, after the bath you should sit at the table for an hour and a half, drink tea, and then go to bed. The next morning you will feel reborn.

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The bathhouse is a wonderful place for recovery and a pleasant pastime. After all, a visit to the steam room in combination with contrasting water procedures helps to relax, lift your spirits, strengthen your immune system and simply have a good rest. But how often can you go to the bathhouse for health benefits? What should be the frequency of bath procedures and is it worth visiting the steam room every day?

The benefits of visiting a steam room

To maintain the health and youth of the human body, experts recommend starting to visit the sauna and bathhouse.

The steam room has a unique beneficial effect on the body: stimulates regeneration processes, cleanses and strengthens blood vessels, relaxes the muscle corset, reduces the negative effects of stress, expands and cleanses pores, removes toxins, improves blood circulation and well-being.

Regular bathing procedures strengthens the heart and lungs, cleanses the respiratory system, and tones the skin. This is a wonderful prevention of colds, a means to strengthen the immune system and rejuvenate the body.

Contraindications to bath procedures

Despite the obvious benefits of visiting a steam room, many people do not undergo such procedures.

Fans of passive relaxation feel a boost of energy and vigor every time after visiting the steam room, so they are ready to go to the bathhouse every day.

According to many medical studies, with regular visits, the bathhouse actually has a powerful therapeutic effect on a person. The result of such a rest can be improved well-being, normalization of blood pressure, and a decrease in insulin levels.

To get the maximum benefit from bath procedures, you need to know how many days a week you can visit the steam room:

  • The optimal frequency of visiting baths and saunas for beginners is once a week, and the duration of one procedure should not exceed 5 minutes.
  • People with heart and lung diseases can go to the sauna and bathhouse once every two weeks to gradually accustom the body to serious thermal stress.
  • Active bath attendants in good health can do this up to 4 times a week, while the time spent in the steam room is halved.
  • When carrying out cosmetic procedures, visiting the bathhouse is enough only 2 times a week.

Duration of the bath procedure

The optimal duration of the procedure depends on several indicators: the type of steam room, state of physical health, preliminary preparation and goals.

The main rule is not to harm your own health. If you experience discomfort or feel unwell, you must stop the procedure.

The optimal time to stay in the steam room in one session is from 4 to 25 minutes.

Rules for visiting the bathhouse

All bath procedures are carried out in stages, with visits to the steam room alternating with short rest breaks.

The first run prepares the body for temperature stress and relaxation, so it is the longest. The duration of stay in the steam room is from 10 to 15 minutes.

When you first visit the steam room, the body may react to the high temperature conditions by the appearance of burgundy spots. This suggests that the vessels are actively expanding and adapting to new conditions. For effective vascular training, it is recommended to alternate regular visits to the steam room with contrasting water procedures.

After the first run, it is necessary to cool the heated body and cleanse the skin. To do this, just take a warm shower and lightly cleanse your skin. This is followed by a rest break, during which massage procedures are allowed.

To replenish fluid in the body, you can drink anything - warm tea, herbal decoction, fruit juice or clean water.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that they understand how to properly take a steam bath in a Russian sauna. I must say that this is real art. It has its own specialists, who know for sure that if treated carelessly, a bathhouse can cause serious harm to health. You will learn from this article how to properly take a steam bath in a Russian bath, how to enhance the effect of the procedures, what rules must be followed.

What should you take with you?

  • regular mittens or felt mittens;
  • broom (two if possible);
  • flip-flops;
  • bath cap;
  • bath mat or terry towel;
  • comb, soap and other hygiene items.

It is necessary to prepare brooms in advance before going to the steam room. It is advisable to soak them a day before the bath in cool water, then wrap them in a damp cloth. After this, the brooms will retain their aroma and become more elastic. When you find yourself in the steam room, the brooms will need to be allowed to steam by placing them on the stones. There they will acquire the desired softness and also fill the steam room with an amazing aroma.

Preparation

So, how to properly take a steam bath in a Russian bath to lose weight? It should be noted that there is no need to overeat before the hike. It is advisable to visit the steam room no earlier than one hour after your last meal. But you should also not go on an empty stomach. The layout of the bathhouse includes 2 main rooms: a steam room and a dressing room.

After you undress in the dressing room, it will be good to splash yourself with water or stand in the shower for a couple of minutes. There is no need to use gel or soap to leave a layer of fat on the skin that protects you from overheating. Try not to get your hair wet, as this can lead to overheating in the steam room. It is better to wet a bath cap with cold water and put it on. Then you can wipe your body dry with a towel and only after that go to the steam room.

Steam room

Once you get here, you don’t need to immediately grab a broom and start beating yourself with it. It is necessary for your body to get used to the sauna atmosphere, because you are going to enjoy and relax. Therefore, first sit down on the bottom shelf with a towel under you.

Lie down or sit for 2-3 minutes and go back to the dressing room, not forgetting to immediately close the door behind you so as not to let out the steam. You can drink some herbal tea, thus warming your body from the inside. Just no alcohol, as it goes against tradition! Experienced bathhouse attendants never drink alcohol at all in the bathhouse.

If the temperature in the steam room on the first run should be about 50-60˚C, then you can turn up the heat on the second run! But there is no need to overdo it - 80˚C is quite enough. Only apply hot water. After this, go up one shelf higher and stay in the steam room for 5-7 minutes. Then get back out. Walk around a bit or drink some tea.

After a few minutes, you can go back to the steam room, taking a broom with you. Now it's time to steam. Hold the broom over the stones, thus allowing it to warm up thoroughly. In order not to get burned, you need to hold it wearing mittens or felt gloves.

It is advisable to steam together. At the same time, one, having relaxed, lies on his stomach, and the second, with the help of a broom, actively creates steam, slightly touching the body, as if with a fan. Then you need to roll over onto your back, and then repeat the same procedure.

Once sweat appears on your body, you can steam for real. Moreover, the lower the temperature in the steam room, the stronger the blow should be. Therefore, you should not whip a person forcefully at high temperatures. After steaming, you can’t get up from the shelf suddenly.

You must act slowly or you may lose your balance, which is dangerous because you may fall and there are hot objects around. If you steamed while lying down, sit down for a while and then leave the steam room, remembering to take a broom.

There is no need to set “survival” records in the bathhouse. This is completely contrary to the spirit of all bath procedures, which are aimed at rejuvenation and healing, but not at resistance to high temperatures. You need to protect your health by not staying in the steam room for too long. One visit is enough for 5-7 minutes. Listen to your own body sensations. If you have the feeling that you have had enough, there is no need to delay.

At the same time, contrasting procedures, such as diving into a pond, dousing with cold water and jumping in the snow, must be carried out between visits to the steam room, but definitely not after them.

Tea in the bath

People who know how to properly take a steam bath in a Russian bath rightfully consider tea the most suitable drink for it. Many lovers take a thermos of tea with them and, after taking a good steam, slowly sip it.

It is also taken by people who want to get a healing effect from it. Real steamers especially revere tea that has been brewed with honey or currant jam. It has absorbed a huge amount of various beneficial substances that enhance the healing effect of the steam room. This tea includes: tannin, essential oils, vitamins C, B2 and B1, caffeine. Tannin contains vitamin P, which strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

How to properly take a steam bath in a Russian bath with honey?

Honey here leads to increased sweating and opening of pores, due to which toxins are removed from the human body and the skin is restored. All kinds of procedures using natural honey can also relieve inflammatory processes, including wounds and eczema.

The most popular treatment method is rubbing honey into the skin while steaming. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the stove in the bathhouse is heated. The treatment process with this natural remedy will not take much time. Everything is very simple here. Go to the steam room and wait for the moment when the pores open, due to which toxins and the first sweat begin to come out. Splash yourself with water to wash off any accumulated sweat. The pores will not close, but the skin will be prepared for the procedure. Then, using gentle movements, begin to rub the honey into the skin. The main thing is that there are no unpleasant sensations. After this, sit a little longer in the steam room and pour water over yourself to wash off the remaining honey.

Banya broom

A bath broom is the item without which a bath loses its meaning. Our ancestors have been using it since time immemorial, so some people still know how to properly take a steam bath in a Russian bathhouse with a broom.

We steam, building up the heat, thoroughly warming the skin, and also subjecting it to massage. In addition, brooms are used for medicinal purposes, since each of them has its own properties.

Oak broom

It is extremely popular together with birch broom. Only oak is much stronger. It will please you much longer than the birch one, and in the hands of real bathhouse attendants it will last up to ten visits to the steam room. Its leaves are dense and large; they are good for generating steam.

Eucalyptus broom

Currently, the eucalyptus broom is gaining immense popularity among those who are not indifferent to the Russian bath. How to steam properly with it? Just like with any other broom. The main thing about it is its unique healing properties. Eucalyptus leaves contain all sorts of healing microelements, due to which it becomes indispensable for dislocations, relieves pain, and perfectly helps with neuralgia, radiculitis, bruises, sprains, joint pain, and muscle inflammation. Due to these properties, it is very popular among athletes.

Fir broom

It also has many medicinal and beneficial properties. If you feel the first signs of a cold, take a fir broom and go to the bathhouse. It is very useful during flu epidemics, as it has a good effect on human immunity. It is also recommended for people suffering from neuralgia, radiculitis, and rheumatism. Steaming with a fir broom is also useful for back pain.

Juniper broom

If you already know how to properly steam yourself in a Russian bath with a broom, then you can use a juniper broom in the steam room. It stings the skin more than nettle, in addition, it is prickly, hard and rough. Before using it, it must be steamed for half an hour in boiling water - in this case, using it on the skin will not be so sensitive.

Bath caps

So, we have already learned almost everything about how to properly take a steam bath in a Russian bath. Now we need to say that a bath cap is an integral part of the steam room. When visiting it, we always wear a hat. It protects the fragile blood vessels of the head and hair (which become more brittle and dry from the heat). In the steam room, instead of a hat to protect your head, you can also use a scarf, a towel, some even use earflaps, although this is not as practical and convenient as a special bath hat. Nowadays in stores you can buy a hat for every color and taste, the choice is unlimited, you can choose models with different inscriptions, different colors, there are even children's models.

Infusions

Infusions fill the steam room with a stunning aroma and have a beneficial effect on the body. Mint infusion can calm the nerves and also relax. Linden helps with profuse sweating and also helps with viral diseases. An infusion of thyme helps with insomnia.

Before applying the infusion to the stones, you need to douse them with plain water. In addition, you can rinse the walls in the steam room with the infusion, most importantly not on people, as this can create an unpleasant odor.

How to properly take a steam bath in a Russian sauna for weight loss

In order to enhance the effect of the bath, you must:

  • make short and frequent visits to the steam room;
  • do not take contrast procedures;
  • drink warm non-alcoholic drinks that stimulate profuse sweating;
  • do not eat much before the bath;
  • steam while lying down.

Bath for illnesses

People who suffer from various serious diseases need to be especially careful when visiting the bathhouse. It is ideal if you consult a doctor on this issue.

The bath will be very useful for lung diseases, as it helps cleanse the bronchi and promotes the removal of phlegm. For joint diseases, the steam room relieves pain, strengthens the immune system and relaxes muscles. For skin diseases, it is useful to go to the bathhouse, as it has a positive effect on the skin, improves metabolism and blood circulation.

If we talk about how to properly steam in a Russian bath for hypertensive patients, then it should be noted that people with high blood pressure are strictly contraindicated from visiting the steam room!

Steam room during pregnancy

Pregnant women are also not recommended to go to the bathhouse, since the pressure in the steam room increases significantly due to the high temperature. In addition, the use of infusions can cause toxicosis. Therefore, it is better to play it safe during pregnancy and not go to the bathhouse.

Conclusion

In this article we found out how to properly take a steam bath in a Russian bathhouse. Visiting a bathhouse once a week can have an amazing rejuvenating and healing effect. This has been confirmed by various medical studies.

It is necessary to follow the rules for visiting the steam room, constantly listening to the sensations of your body. In addition, avoid drinking alcohol in the bathhouse. It is advisable to eat a hearty meal afterward and drink hot tea with honey or jam. In this case, you will feel the completely beneficial effect of the steam room on your health and mood, and will also receive a charge of vivacity and energy for a long time. Be healthy!