The mechanism of action of hot air on the human body
As soon as the ambient temperature rises above 37 degrees, our body instantly starts an active process of sweating , thereby protecting the body from overheating. It is this principle that is taken into account in the bathhouse. By releasing sweat through the skin, a person cleanses his body of unnecessary and harmful substances.
The higher the temperature of the environment where a person is, the more intense the sweat comes out through the opening pores. To avoid overheating of the skin and internal systems, blood circulation is activated, which can be identified by characteristic redness. Blood begins to circulate intensively throughout the body, supplying all organs with additional portions. As you know, the more blood flows to a certain area of the skin, the more useful substances it will receive. During a visit to the bathhouse, the entire human skin . There is also a downside to this miraculous mechanism - the loss of a large number of microelements, which are washed out later through the skin pores.
That is why you need to consume a large amount of liquid in the bath. You should not pour a huge volume of water into yourself at once. You need to drink in small sips, taking breaks, then the liquid will not leave immediately through the kidneys, but will be evenly distributed throughout the body, compensating for what came out through the skin.
Many connoisseurs of the Russian bath like to dive into a cold ice hole or jump into the snow immediately after the steam room. Is it correct? In this case, the pores instantly narrow. The hot blood that was in the skin due to the closing pores moves into the deeper layers of the skin. The temperature of these layers increases. The next visit to the steam room includes the process of cleaning these layers. Such cycles are repeated several times.
Rules and nuances of making bath brooms
There are rules that must be followed when cutting and using brooms. The massage effect is obtained by applying them in several stages:
- choosing the plant or tree from which it is made, taking into account the properties of this plant or tree;
- procurement time. For each type of tree or plant, there is a specific time of year when branches need to be cut. Then these brooms will bear tangible fruit;
- knitting brooms. The convenience and service life of a broom depend on a properly tied broom. An incorrectly linked attribute can only be used as a broom. A properly tied broom will have the traditional “fan” or “holder” shape.
What to take with you to the bathhouse?
In order for your trip to the bathhouse to be as effective as possible, you need to take the following necessary items with you:
- Several towels and a bathrobe.
- Bed sheet. Used for wrapping and sitting on wooden benches.
- Replacement linen for the steam room. For men it can be swimming trunks, for women it can be an ordinary swimsuit.
- A felt or wool hat that protects the head from high temperatures.
- Rubberized slates. For moving around the waiting room and rest room. They are removed in the steam room itself.
- Shampoo, soap, shower gel.
- Wool mitten. Helps cleanse the skin of dead skin and dirt.
- Scrub. Many people use natural remedies such as honey and salt.
- Broom. One of the main attributes of bath art. Everyone chooses to their taste which tree branches and leaves to use.
- Essential oils. Pour into water, which is poured onto hot stones to produce steam.
- Herbal tinctures. Medicinal herbs such as mint and eucalyptus will add a rich aroma to the steam.
- Drinks and any liquid other than alcohol. It is necessary to drink a lot of liquid, since during vaping the body loses a lot of water through sweat.
The benefits of linden broom
In terms of its beneficial properties, linden broom is more effective than oak or birch. Linden leaves also improve sweat secretion, which causes rapid elimination of waste and toxins. Also, a linden broom has the following effect:
- Antimicrobial;
- Increased immunity;
- Removing harmful substances from the body along with sweat;
- Treatment and prevention of asthma, bronchitis;
- Getting rid of salt stagnation in muscles and tissues;
- Relief from headaches.
Do you want to get the most out of your bath? Then always take with you a natural broom, which will give your skin a pleasant feeling, cleanse your body of stagnation and toxins, and remove harmful toxins. And it will make the body younger, more energetic, healthier.
Which broom to choose?
- Birch . It is the birch broom that holds the palm among other brooms. This is a recognized symbol of Russian baths. The essential oils and tannins released by birch leaves take an active part in air disinfection and the destruction of bacteria. Such a broom will be of great benefit to smokers and those who suffer from pulmonary tract diseases. In addition, birch, containing a large amount of vitamins, helps improve immune functions. Whipping with birch branches helps restore elasticity to the skin and eliminate wrinkles.
- Oak . In no way inferior to its birch counterpart. Perfectly relieves inflammation from dry and oily skin. It has a mild sedative and relaxation effect, so it is recommended for athletes and people with high blood pressure. It is worth taking a closer look at such a broom for those who have impaired functioning of the sebaceous glands, because tannins restore the process of sweating. This bath tool is heavier than the birch one, but it is more wear-resistant, which allows you to go to the bathhouse with it more than once.
- Linden . Linden, as you know, has proven itself as a folk remedy in the fight against colds and flu. By inhaling the vapors emitted by linden leaves, you can reduce headaches and improve sleep. A linden broom is also a natural cosmetic product, because with its help you can say goodbye to age spots and freckles, returning the correct color to the skin.
- Cheryomukhovy . Not so popular among those who like to steam, but nevertheless very useful and aromatic. Most often, women turn to its help, because its leaves and branches are not as rough as linden or birch. Bathing procedures with a bird cherry broom help eliminate minor wounds on the body.
- Coniferous . Brooms made of spruce, cedar, fir and pine stand apart from others. This is because their use is limited only to experienced steamers due to the rough components of the broom. Delicate skin can react with inflammation to blows from pine branches. But this prickly broom has a rich range of useful properties: it relieves toothache and headaches, eases the course of rheumatism, and relieves the symptoms of gastritis and ulcers. Coniferous brooms are softened by prolonged steaming, and leaves of other trees are also added to it.
- Eucalyptus . Perhaps the most exotic guest in a Russian bathhouse. Regular use of such a broom eases the course of pulmonary diseases. It is distinguished by its high cost.
The benefits of maple broom
Maple leaves are flexible and whippy. Their high density and large size allow you to quickly bring heat into the bathhouse and steam the body. In folk medicine, maple is used due to the presence of tannins, alkaloids, and carotene in it. Maple leaves are a powerful antiseptic that disinfects the air.
It is believed that maple combines the properties of oak and birch. Therefore, if you want to give your body great benefits from the steam room, then it is useful to choose maple brooms for the bath.
Basic rules when visiting the bathhouse
- It is strongly recommended to start bathing procedures no earlier than two hours after the last meal. Before taking a steam bath, you should not drink a lot of liquid, especially alcohol, it is categorically unacceptable in this situation.
- Before planning to visit the steam room, you should have a good rest and relieve fatigue after exhausting physical activity. But after prolonged mental work, you can steam immediately.
- Avoid unnecessary fuss . A favorable emotional atmosphere should reign in the steam room; only then can nervous tension be relieved.
- A carefully selected broom of leaves and branches should be steamed in a container of boiling water. In the shower room, you should rinse with warm water, but do not wet your head or rub it with soap.
- Before entering the steam room, you need to wash in the shower. Then you need to wipe yourself dry with the towel you brought and you can enter the steam room.
- Place a large towel on the shelf, because it often gets very hot; you can also use a special saddle for this purpose. They are placed on the shelf in such a way that the legs are raised on the stand and are above head level.
- If the temperature in the steam room is approximately 90 degrees and the humidity is 10%, then the optimal time spent in the room will be no more than ten minutes . Then they organize a short break in the dressing room, usually no more than 15 minutes. After the second and third entry, a cold shower or swimming in a cool pool is required. At the end there is rest in a supine position.
- Rushing in bathing matters is not encouraged. If it is possible to adjust the heating so that when the door is closed the temperature is around 60 degrees, then you can sit for 5 minutes in a relaxed state. After opening the door, slowly increase the temperature for 15 minutes. The temperature regime at different levels of the steam room is different, so in the first minutes you should sit on the lower tiers, and then go up to other benches. The lying position best promotes uniform distribution of heat throughout the body, with the legs placed on a support. Once you feel that your body has sweated enough, you need to leave the steam room to rinse and rest for five minutes.
- For the second entry into the steam room you will need a broom. To increase the heat, hot water is poured onto the stones in small portions. If the bath is well heated and dry enough, then such manipulation should not increase the air temperature, only the formation of vapor increases. When the humidity is high, the heavy air can cause breathing difficulties; you should not steam in such conditions. In this case, it is advisable to maintain the correct moisture and temperature parameters: when the thermometer readings are 70–90 degrees, the humidity should not exceed 30–40%.
- The hand with the moistened broom is held at the ceiling for several minutes. It is important to hit the body with a broom correctly so as not to cause pain, and worse, damage the skin. The body being whipped warms up, and blood circulation in the organs and tissues increases. When leaving the steam room, you need to take the broom away, because it can quickly wither. A dried out broom is dipped into water. However, it is worth considering the fact that an excessively wet broom will make the air humid with its splashes. To avoid burns, use mittens made of thick fabric, and put a woolen hat on your head.
- It is recommended to steam not alone, but with a partner . One lies face down on the bench, and the other makes swings and blows with a broom. The broom acts as a fan. It blows layers of hot air from the feet, following through the legs to the back, until the first drops of sweat appear. The procedure is then repeated with the person lying on his back. During the second pass, you can start whipping your partner, adjusting the strength of the blows depending on the temperature: the lower the temperature, the stronger the blow. Having finished steaming, you should not immediately leave the steam room; you need to get down to the lower benches and take a short breath. After this, go under a stream of warm water and cool down.
A few more recommendations
- While in the steam room, they breathe not through their nose, but through their mouth. The number of times you enter the steam room and the time spent there is determined based on the person’s well-being and health. Three sessions of 15 minutes each, with a rest period of the same amount of time, would be optimal.
- As soon as you feel general malaise, difficulty breathing, feel dizzy or your heart is beating strongly, you should immediately stop steaming and leave the steam room.
- During the last visit, you need to use a broom less than in previous times. 3–5 minutes is enough . It is important to thoroughly warm up the body if after all the steamer has to plunge into cold water or dive into a snowdrift. Cooling procedures should be short, because there is always a risk of getting sick from hypothermia.
- Once cooled down, you should take a contrast shower and dry off in the waiting room. Only wipe your head with a towel, because rubbing with a cloth can cause sweating. Until the sweat disappears, you should not wear underwear or outerwear.
- After the steam room you always want to drink. You can quench your thirst with clean drinking water, fruit juices or kvass. A cup of hot tea will be a good end to your relaxation in the bathhouse. What you should be wary of is cold beer and other alcoholic drinks.
- For people watching their weight and wanting to lose extra pounds, abstaining from liquids for two hours is recommended.
What can you do between visits to the steam room?
After each entry, it is recommended to walk a little and fill your lungs with oxygen, then you can take a warm shower (room temperature) and relax. To keep your body from losing too much moisture and causing dehydration, drink fluids between sessions. Herbal tea and water are best. The time spent in the dressing room should be equal to the time spent in the steam room. Experts often recommend rubbing yourself with a special hard mitten, which was prepared in advance, after entering. At the very end, you can apply special scrubs or moisturizing masks to your body and face, which can be easily washed off with a shower.
The most optimal number of visits to the steam room is five to seven times. A smaller number may not give the desired effect, and a larger number may be detrimental to the body.
Contrast procedures
One of the types of such procedures is considered to be: dousing with cold water, wiping or diving into the snow, diving into an ice hole or pool. But such procedures are permissible only for regular visitors to the bathhouse, unless medical recommendations contradict them. A new body should not immediately resort to such contrasting procedures, otherwise you can harm your health and expose the body to severe stress.
For those who are not regular visitors to steam rooms, we recommend taking a dip in a pool with water at room temperature, or taking a warm or cool shower.
Cooling
The time has come for such a popular moment as diving into cold water (pouring with ice water or wiping with snow). This procedure helps to quickly close the pores and the following happens: hot blood goes deep into the body, thereby warming them up, and the next time you go to the steam room, work is activated not only on the skin, but also inside the organs.
Tea drinking in the bathhouse
Based on everything, it’s clear why you should drink as much liquid as possible. But this must be done gradually, not in any case with soda or alcohol, but only in the form of compote, fruit drink or tea from herbal infusions. These fluids are not removed from the body, but disperse smoothly throughout the body and restore all lost reserves. Be sure to replenish your water balance from time to time to avoid dehydration.
Final stage
It would be incorrect to assume that a visit to the bathhouse consists of: a steam room, wiping with a towel, and care. Remember!!! No towels during last call! After all, due to the “rubbing” movements that you make with a towel, you will only increase sweating.
Never go outside until you feel that your sweating has returned to normal. It is also necessary for breathing to stabilize, heart rate to become calmer, and body temperature to return to normal. To do this, you need to spend some time in the dressing room, gradually dry out, rest, and only then leave the room. If you leave the dressing room too early, then all your efforts and visits will not bring the desired result. The optimal amount of time to spend in the dressing room is considered to be 20-30 minutes. While you wait, you can drink warm herbal tea, dry off, and then go home calmly.
It is very important to feel and understand your body’s reaction to all procedures in the steam room. Nausea, slight malaise or dizziness are the first signs that your body is not feeling entirely comfortable. If you feel unwell, we recommend leaving the steam room; you need to do this slowly, hold it by the walls, or ask for help. Rest a little, then try to enter the steam room again. If during the second attempt the symptoms do not disappear or intensify, then you should leave the room and forget about visiting the Russian bathhouse; unfortunately, this is not for you.
The benefits and harms of baths
Those who regularly visit the bathhouse protect themselves from many diseases and illnesses:
- Joint and muscle pain
- Hypertension
- Vegetovascular dystonia and migraine
- Diseases of the kidneys and genitourinary system
- Respiratory diseases
- Flabbiness of the skin
Unfortunately, not everyone can go to the bathhouse, because there are restrictions and contraindications for health reasons . So, those who have:
- Oncological diseases
- Heart problems
- Epileptic seizures
- Period of exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases
The benefits of juniper broom
One of the most valuable advantages of a juniper broom is that it contains natural antibiotics that have a positive effect on the entire body. Thanks to a juniper broom, you can strengthen the immune system, clear the respiratory tract of mucus, improve the condition of the skin, give it tone and rejuvenate. The aroma that appears when using juniper cannot be expressed in words, so you just need to try a steam room with this broom.
Using a juniper broom has the following effects on the body:
- Raises vitality, improves mood;
- Relieves chronic fatigue;
- Relieves skin diseases, acne, wounds and shallow cuts.
Unlike other plants, a coniferous bathhouse broom can be made at any time of the year. Therefore, juniper broom is very popular among people who care about their health.
Technique for knitting bath brooms
There are several features that must be observed when knitting brooms.
The largest branch is placed in the center of the product itself, around which thinner ones are placed. The branches laid in this way form the correct fan shape, which is the classic way of knitting a broom.
In order for the broom to be held comfortably, the broom handle must be properly shaped, which is trimmed with garden shears and removed from knots and excess leaves. The handle is fixed in two places: at the base of the broom it is tied with strong twine, and the ends of the broom are tied with cloth tape.
You can order the finishing of a Russian bath or Finnish sauna on our website or by calling: 8 (499) 110-97-56.
Bath - a means for losing weight
How to take a steam bath to lose weight?
- Use brooms, preferably two at a time. Whips and massage help increase blood flow, sweating and lose more weight.
- If you cannot sit in the bathhouse for a long time, you can go into the steam room for a short time (up to 5 minutes) several times (5-8 times). The process of sweating continues after leaving the steam room, so frequent visits provide high-quality sweating for the body and noticeable weight loss.
- To increase sweating, rub your skin with honey and salt. Increased sweat leads to greater weight loss.
- In order for sweating to continue, after the steam room, take a warm shower, not a cold one. Cold water tightens pores and stops sweating. Warm or hot water flushes away toxins and continues the sweating process.
- Drink hot tea. It is necessary to restore water balance even when you are losing weight. Therefore, you need to drink tea during the bath, but in smaller quantities (up to 0.5 liters per visit). To quench your thirst, drink the healthy drink in small sips.
- The composition of tea for quick weight loss should include sweat- and diuretics: rosehip decoction, chamomile, horsetail, juniper berries, lingonberry leaves.
- Do not eat after the bath. If your visit to the steam room is scheduled for the evening, limit yourself to a light snack (salad or baked vegetables) or a dairy dinner (cottage cheese, kefir, fermented baked milk).
Women's bath: hot beauty
For women, a bathhouse is a guarantee of health and visual attractiveness. General cleansing of the body improves the condition of the skin, reduces the number of acne, makes the skin more elastic and younger. In addition, the effect of fluid loss ensures guaranteed weight loss. How to take a steam bath in a Russian bath for women?
Doctors do not recommend visiting the steam room on critical days. The heat stimulates the dilation of blood vessels, which affects heavy bleeding. This is especially true for those who have heavy periods. For healthy women with light discharge, a bath does not cause harm even during menstrual periods.
Important: focus on your well-being. Reduce the time you enter the steam room to 1-2 minutes and be sure to take a cool and then a cold shower after leaving the steam room. Cold stimulates the contraction of the walls of blood vessels. In this way, increased bleeding can be avoided.
During pregnancy, a sauna helps prepare for an easy birth. Periodic warming of the ligaments and cleansing of toxins ensure timely dilation of the cervix and easy birth of the baby.
Interesting fact: Russian midwives took a woman in labor to a bathhouse at the beginning of labor. Hot steam and temperature contributed to the softening of tissues and the easy birth of the baby.
Children also tolerate baths well, both in infants and at older ages. For them, you can take wooden toys (blocks, cars, puzzles) into the steam room and place them on the bottom shelf.