How to go to the hammam correctly: features of the Turkish bath

Today, Turkish baths are in demand and popular not only in the countries of the East, but also in Europe, and here in Russia. When arriving in Turkey, Morocco or another country with ancient Eastern traditions, tourists first of all strive to visit the hammam in order to fully experience the charm of the captivating atmosphere of the East.

If you have already become familiar with the benefits that a visit to a Turkish bath promises, and you know that nothing threatens your health, then be sure to visit there. But first you should find out what the rules are for visiting the hammam, how to behave there correctly and how to steam in order to get the maximum benefit from all the procedures and not harm your body.

Hammam - what is it?

Hammam (eng. hamam) is the name of a steam bath, which provides for maintaining a certain temperature regime due to hot steam coming from special holes in the walls.

The uniqueness of the hammam lies in the fact that the temperature in it does not exceed 55°C, and the air humidity is about 100%. These parameters make it accessible to a wide range of bathhouse lovers.

The birthplace of the hammam is Turkey, where social life and everyday life necessarily included the ritual of steaming and where hammams began to be built using the principle of Roman baths. Today, the traditional Turkish bath is a huge success throughout the world. In terms of its purpose, the hammam is very similar to the Russian bath and Finnish sauna: it provides relaxation and cleansing of the body in the process and a healing effect as a result.

A Turkish bath gives complete relaxation, a feeling of spiritual pleasure and health to the whole body, and treatments such as massage, peeling, swimming pool, etc. organically complement the main ritual. In fact, this is why modern spa studios and prestigious health centers often include a hammam in their comprehensive spa programs.

Hammam traditions involve leisurely communication over a cup of hot tea or coffee. In a Turkish steam room you can relax with friends, resolve business issues with business partners, or arrange a romantic getaway for two.

This photo shows the “holy of holies” of the modern hammam - the steam room or “hararet” in Turkish.

Difference from sauna and bath

The most popular steam rooms today are the Russian bath, sauna, and hammam. Each of them has its own characteristics and differences. What is the difference between a hammam and a sauna?

• the hammam is made of marble or ceramic tiles and attracts with its colorful oriental interior; the base of the bathhouse and sauna is wood;
• in the hammam all structural elements are heated evenly: walls, floor, seats, sunbeds. The Russian bath and sauna are heated only by the stove;
• The temperature in the hammam is usually kept at around 45°C. In a Russian bath it rises to 70°C, and in a Finnish bath it rises to 100-120°C;
• air humidity in the bathhouse is 50-70%, in the Finnish sauna - 15%, in the hammam - 98-100%;
• visiting the hammam does not require additional accessories (tubs, tubs of ice water, massage broom, etc.).

Benefits of the hammam:

• creates comfortable relaxation conditions;
• suitable for those for whom high temperatures are contraindicated;
• protects hair and skin from drying out;
• does not “wash away” the tan, but, on the contrary, helps to fix it and even out the shade;
• has unique properties that help get rid of a number of ailments;
• has the same air temperature at the top and bottom, so the procedures can be taken in any position (standing, lying, sitting);
• warms up the body gradually, without dehydrating it.

The benefits and harms of hammam

Hammam is incredibly useful for both women and men, as evidenced by the records of healers from the times of ancient Turkey. His visit was prescribed to improve general tone, for various diseases, weak immunity and other problems. Steaming is considered equally beneficial for the skin: dead epidermal cells are naturally removed, clogged pores are opened and cleared of impurities.

Benefits of hammam:

• relieving physical fatigue and stress;
• mental rest;
• fight against insomnia;
• normalization of blood circulation;
• prevention and treatment of colds;
• stage of treatment of gastrointestinal diseases;
• cleansing and renewal of the skin;
• restoration of immunity;
• normalization of metabolic processes in the body;
• fight against cellulite and “extra” kilograms.

At the same time, the hammam can be harmful if you ignore the recommendations of specialists and contraindications, which we will discuss later.

Main stages of design and construction of hammams

In order to build a modern, economical, safe and high-quality hammam, it is necessary to comply with mandatory technological rules and construction standards at all stages of design, construction and installation work.

1. At the design stage, it is necessary to take into account all the circumstances that in the future may have a decisive influence on the operating conditions of the hammam.

After all, not only the comfort and ease of use of the hammam, but also the health and safety of clients using its services depend on many important characteristics and parameters.

Therefore, the design of a Turkish bath must be approached with oriental dimensions, but with seriously prepared and verified accurate calculations. Mistakes made at the design stage can certainly affect the stage of putting the Turkish bath into operation, so you should trust this work only to an experienced company with a high reputation, which has competent and highly qualified designers.

First, you need to choose the right place to place the Turkish bath, which must have good thermal insulation, it must be connected to an uninterrupted high-quality electrical network of sufficient power, as well as utilities that provide water supply and sewage drainage.

Since the hammam premises will have high humidity levels during operation and various flavoring agents may be used, it is necessary to provide a reliable ventilation system that can quickly ventilate the hammam premises during and after its use.

When designing a room for a hammam, it is necessary to take into account that the dimensions of the room are sufficient to accommodate all the necessary equipment and the intended filling of the interior with the necessary equipment.

2. The arrangement of the hammam can begin after the pre-designed room has been completely prepared for it, but more often it is more convenient and profitable to entrust the construction process to the same company that was involved in its design and will deal with the arrangement, installation of equipment and putting it into operation. Indeed, in this case, the risk of errors that third-party contractors can introduce into the hammam design will be reduced to zero and the costs associated with redoing poorly done work and bringing the facility to working condition will be significantly reduced.

3. When installing the necessary equipment and finishing the premises, it is necessary to use the most modern and safe equipment and finishing materials, designed for operation at elevated temperatures and 100% humidity levels.

All communication networks must be made from materials that allow constant operation at high temperatures and high humidity and at the same time not be subject to corrosion throughout their entire service life. Installation of electrical wiring must prevent direct ingress of moisture; all conductive parts and assemblies must have reliable grounding. In the event of short-term power outages, it is necessary to provide backup sources to power the emergency lighting system.

4. Installation of equipment and commissioning of the hammam

Upon completion of construction, installation and finishing work, special equipment is installed. Since today hammam can be installed not only in individual buildings and premises, but even in ordinary apartments, using a classic Turkish bath with a boiler in practice is unprofitable and dangerous. To replace the traditional boiler, an electric steam generator has appeared, which works much more efficiently than a boiler, has smaller dimensions, is fireproof and is much more economically profitable.

All that remains is to select the correct power and parameters of the steam generator for your room, connect it correctly to communication networks and, if necessary, install a special control panel for the hammam and additional multimedia and other equipment.

After this, as at any complex construction and installation site, when putting the hammam into operation, mandatory commissioning work is carried out, where the correctness of the installation work is checked, the operation of all equipment and the safe operation of the complex as a whole are tested.

Therefore, in order to avoid serious problems that may arise during the operation of a Turkish bath, which can lead not only to serious material damage, but also to a decrease in the level of safety, even if you have experience in building a Russian bath in the country, contact an experienced designer who will be able to take into account all the initial data at the design stage, which will reduce the costs of construction and commissioning of the hammam to a minimum, and safety to a maximum.

Procedure

A visit to a Turkish steam room can be called a real ritual of healing and rejuvenating the body. However, it gives new physical and emotional sensations if you steam “wisely”. In other words, you need to know how to prepare for the procedure and how to use the hammam correctly. Let's start with the general rules.

General rules for using the hammam:

• Be sure to wear slippers;
• find the most comfortable place and sit on it;
• close your eyes and relax;
• between procedures (massage, wraps, jacuzzi, etc.) give your body a rest;
• do not drink ice-cold drinks, limit yourself to warm tea, juices at room temperature;
• do not drink alcohol, as this will put additional strain on the heart;
• Before visiting the hammam, have a snack, but do not overeat.

How to prepare for steaming

• change clothes: put on a swimsuit (swimming trunks), slippers on your feet;
• remove remnants of decorative cosmetics using makeup removers;
• take a warm shower to wash away street dust and sweat;
• gather your hair in a bun; if you wish, you can wear a headscarf;
• drink a glass of water.

How does steaming work?

The procedure for steaming in a hammam is simple; you just need to follow the following steps in order.

Stage I. You need to lie down on a marble lounger and steam your body for 15-20 minutes until you sweat profusely. During this time, the muscles will relax and the pores will open, which will facilitate subsequent peeling of the skin.

Stage II. The heated body should be thoroughly rubbed with a washcloth, alternating rinsing with warm and cool water.

Stage III. You sit comfortably on a lounger and the masseur performs a soapy massage procedure.

Stage IV. The remaining soap solution is washed off the body and a moisturizer is applied to the skin. It is best to use a moisturizing body lotion as it contains the maximum amount of beneficial substances.

Stage V. After the procedure, relax in the relaxation room and drink a glass of cranberry juice or a cup of aromatic tea. You can do a light relaxation massage.

How often can you go to the hammam?

You can go to the hammam as often as you like these procedures and as much as your health allows.

Experts recommend that beginners limit themselves to one visit per week. Further, when the body gets used to it, the number of trips to the Turkish bath can be increased.

Soapy massage in the hammam

The highlight of the Turkish bath is the Asian foam massage. This is the so-called soap massage, the essence of which is that the massage therapist will lather your body with whipped soap foam so that you look like a fluffy white cloud.

For this massage, natural olive soap is most often used, the foam of which perfectly cleanses the skin, making the skin smooth and unusually soft to the touch. In addition to the aesthetic effect, soap massage has a therapeutic effect: relaxes tense muscles and improves blood circulation. By the way, a soap massage is short in time, so if you wish, continue it with a classic type of massage.

This video will help you get acquainted with the procedure of traditional soap massage in detail.

Hammam: how often can you go?

When visiting a Turkish bath, you need to relax and unwind. Time spent in the hammam can be compared to a short vacation.

The frequency of visiting the hammam depends on the individual characteristics of the body. Beginners should gradually get used to the Turkish bath.

The optimal number of visits to the hammam for experienced bathhouse attendants is considered to be 1-3 times a week. For a healing effect, 1 visit to the hammam per week is enough, but more frequent visits will only be beneficial.

Contraindications

Unlike other types of steam rooms, the hammam has the fewest contraindications.

Contraindications:

• increased body temperature;
• inflammation of internal organs;
• cancer;
• skin diseases;
• cardiovascular diseases.
• overheating in the sun.

During pregnancy, the hammam is allowed, but only after the prior approval of the gynecologist

for children , so it can be visited by the whole family.

Mistake #5 – incorrect insulation material

For a hammam to be energy efficient, it must retain heat well inside. Water and steam should not penetrate the walls and ceiling so as not to cause destruction, mold and mildew.

These criteria are fully met by foamed polystyrene panels, for example, Wedi, Lux Elements or Ruspanel. This is an excellent heat, steam and waterproofing material. It is bioresistant - does not rot, does not decompose, does not mold. Panels made of extruded polystyrene foam are very convenient to use: they are light, durable, and do not generate dust or dirt when cutting.

Modern Turkish steam room in classic style

Today it is difficult to find a hammam where all the procedures required by tradition are carried out. You can find baths that are as close as possible, perhaps, in Istanbul or Bukhara, but in most resort cities they are not at all similar to the old ones. To increase the temperature, steam generators are used, which are disguised by the interior decoration. Hamams are intended for public ablution, and this is no longer relevant for Arab countries.

Modern Turkish baths are small, because it is almost impossible to find a suitable place for the construction of traditional-sized rooms. A trend towards a revival of the idea has emerged in Russia in recent years. Modern establishments are becoming more and more similar to traditional ones. Many health centers and sanatoriums offer Turkish-style ablutions to their clients.

Modern hammams consist of only three rooms. The approach to the construction processes and selection of materials has been significantly simplified. If earlier buildings were made entirely of stone, now ordinary brick is used. The interior decoration is done in oriental style. The use of natural stone is encouraged. A modern Turkish bath consists of rooms for preliminary preparation (locker room), steam room (harareta), and cooling. Each room has its own characteristic features.

Locker room (jamekian)

This room resembles a traditional dressing room. Here a person must remove all clothes and shoes. Then here or in the next room (depending on the structure) they take a warm shower. This is how the body undergoes primary cleansing and prepares for other procedures. They walk into the next room wearing only a body bandage. It is important to note that the latter should be made exclusively from natural materials, for example, silk or cotton.

Steam room for hot baths

Hararet is a sacred place. This is a large round room with a lot of free space. They take hot baths there. First comes the steaming procedure to open the skin pores. This is followed by ablution with a coarse washcloth made of natural goat hair. Alternate rubbing and rinsing with warm water. After this procedure, it is proposed to visit the third room, where the body will regain strength after the stress it was exposed to under the influence of high temperatures.

The ceiling of the steam room deserves special attention. It is made in the shape of a dome and must be at least three meters in height. This is necessary so that condensation does not accumulate on top, it does not drip onto the floor and visitors to the hararet, but flows down the rounded walls and ends up in the drainage system. Lamps corresponding to the general stylistic design are mounted to the ceiling. Lighting should be bright, but not annoying.

Soguklyuk for cooling and restoring the body

In this room the temperature is lower than in the others, about 30-35 degrees. Here the body cools down and recovers after exercise. There are showers here. After massage and other procedures, a visit to this room is mandatory. As a rule, in a room to restore the body and cool down, you can not only lie down and relax, but also drink aromatic tea and enjoy oriental sweets.

The difference between a hammam and a Russian bath

To experience all the benefits of this establishment, you need to know how to visit the hammam correctly. It is very important to evaluate in advance all the benefits of Russian and Turkish baths, to find out what the health benefits and effects of each of them are.

It’s worth saying right away that the differences between these two types of baths are visible to the naked eye. If a Russian steam room is always decorated with wood, then a Turkish hammam is always decorated with marble. In the east, it is customary to create the most acceptable conditions for comfortable accommodation of guests and take care of their comfort. But the differences don't end there.