Before you go somewhere, you should know the accepted rules in advance. This is especially true for places that are not entirely familiar to our culture, such as the Turkish bath hammam, the rules for visiting which few people still know. But they are the ones who guarantee that you will get maximum benefit and pleasure from this event.
If you manage to go to Turkey and set aside time there to visit the hammam, then first you should prepare yourself mentally for the fact that it will be very beautiful, rich and unusual. The fact is that for Muslim countries, steam rooms have long been one of the few places for meetings, relaxation and communication, so they did not skimp on their construction and decoration.
Most of the decoration is stone and marble. Even the beds are made not from the usual wood, but from this material. But in the atmosphere of the hammam they heat up to 35-40 degrees, and it is very pleasant to relax on them.
Traditionally, the hammam consists of three main rooms. In the first room, nothing special awaits you: a reception desk, a wardrobe. The only feature, a mandatory attribute, is a fountain.
The second room is something like a locker room, where you can take off your clothes, put on a swimsuit, tie a mandatory sheet, change into wooden slippers, and visit the restroom. The temperature inside is close to normal, but clearly higher than outside. Those who know how to properly go to the hammam prefer to sit in this room for a while, warm up and prepare for visiting the steam room.
The third room is the steam room itself. It must have a round shape and a dome-shaped arch. Thanks to this, condensation does not drip onto the head, but flows down to the walls. It is in this room that all the most interesting and useful things happen.
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.
Contraindications to visiting Turkish baths - hammams:
- Various serious inflammatory processes of various internal organs;
- Various heart diseases, or previous heart attacks or heart attacks;
- Oncological diseases, benign tumors;
- Various serious kidney diseases;
- Diseases of the visual and hearing system;
- Serious various respiratory diseases;
- Various infectious diseases;
- Various mental illnesses
- Phlebeurysm;
- Serious thyroid disease;
- pregnancy.
Even despite this, Turkish baths are very in demand and popular both in the East and in European countries. Hammam is the first establishment where all tourists strive to go in order to get acquainted and immerse themselves in the captivating culture of the East.
Gentle conditions
You can find out how to properly visit the hammam in Russia from this article. An important feature is that in a Turkish bath the effect of steam on the body is more gentle. The air temperature in the hammam fluctuates between 40-50 degrees Celsius. While in a Russian bath it usually reaches 75 degrees.
At the same time, there is high air humidity in the hammam. It reaches 100 percent. And the air itself at this time is saturated with essential oils. Due to the fact that the temperature in this bath is lower than in a Russian one, even those who cannot stand extreme conditions and extreme heat can visit the steam room. It is much more comfortable to be in the hammam. There is virtually no risk of problems with blood pressure, since the vessels dilate slowly. In a Russian bath, everything happens exactly the opposite.
It is mandatory that the hammam has comfortable and comfortable sun loungers. Such rest is excellent for not only restoring physical strength, but also inner peace. One of the rules for visiting the hammam is to drink tea. It has special healing properties.
What is a Turkish hammam?
The most common type of hammam is the classic type; these are rooms that are usually built according to the principle of a palm with fingers. Turkish baths in their modern form have five rooms that are interconnected and built in the form of niches. Each room has its own air temperature, which has a different effect on the human body.
The first room is considered the dressing room. There the air temperature fluctuates between twenty-five and thirty degrees. In the center of the hammam there is a special lounger, in order to warm up the body completely, it is customary to lie on it with your stomach, then various niches are placed in a circle. In each of the niches, the air temperature is from seventy to one hundred degrees Celsius with one hundred percent air humidity. In each niche there are sun loungers that are used not only for warming up and lying down, but for various massages. The main difference between hammams and other types of baths is the materials from which they are built. Marble and only natural stone are used for interior decoration of all premises.
Benefits of a Turkish bath
So, why is hammam so useful? Firstly, the skin is freed from sebaceous plugs, the work of the sweat glands returns to normal. Blood circulation in the body improves, and blood vessels become elastic. As a result, your body is completely cleansed of toxins, waste and harmful substances. If inflammatory processes develop in the joints, they subside. It is recommended to visit the hammam if you have gout. A Turkish bath helps to quickly remove acid from the body and helps relieve pain.
In the hammam, thanks to essential oils and aromatic tea, the respiratory tract is cleared, a lingering cough is cured, and phlegm disappears. The skin acquires a healthy appearance and metabolism accelerates. After a visit to the bathhouse, the body's protective functions are enhanced. Hammam can even save you from depression, providing a feeling of complete relaxation, eliminating fears and heavy thoughts.
Turkish bath - effects on the body
Hammam is a great way to relax the human body and the entire nervous system. After carrying out all the required procedures, not only does the body tone noticeably increase, but also the mood improves.
The main beneficial effects of a Turkish bath on the human body are:
- Removing toxins, completely cleansing the body of toxins;
- Significant cleansing of the skin, prevention of various inflammatory processes;
- Relieving irritation, fatigue, depression. A noticeable improvement in a person’s overall emotional background;
- Complete cleansing of the respiratory system, getting rid of inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx and larynx, getting rid of bronchitis;
- Relaxation of the human nervous system, relief from migraines, insomnia and headaches;
- Prevention of various diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
- Improving blood circulation and metabolism;
- Positive effect on joints, muscles, treatment of bruises and injuries;
- Improving and cleansing the gastrointestinal tract and lung function;
- Normalization of the sebaceous glands on the scalp, significant improvement of blood circulation in the scalp;
- It has a beneficial effect on absolutely all vital systems of the human body.
If we take into account all the above written indications for visiting Turkish baths, then we can safely say that the Turkish hammam is a powerful immunostimulating agent for the human body.
Who is the hammam recommended for?
Anyone who has learned how to properly visit a hammam can go to a Turkish bath. This will be especially useful for those who often suffer from flu, colds, and have weak immunity.
If you suffer from gout or arthritis, then bath procedures will help solve joint problems once and for all, forget about stiffness and pain. The same applies to those who suffer from osteochondrosis.
If you constantly experience nervous tension and often experience stress, then the hammam will help smooth out the negative impact of external factors. It is also useful for everyone for general health and ridding the body of toxins and harmful substances. There are only a few exceptions.
Who is contraindicated for hamam?
There are several categories of people for whom visiting a Turkish bath is contraindicated. These include cancer patients, people with varicose veins, severe asthma, epilepsy and seizures, and some types of thyroid and kidney diseases.
If you have problems with the cardiovascular system, then you can go to the steam room in the Turkish bath, but not for long. The main thing is to prevent a sharp temperature change. If you have heart disease, it is forbidden to jump into an ice pool immediately after the steam room and suddenly become hypothermic.
Compliance with customs and traditions, Turkish baths
A hammam or Turkish bath is not only a place where the body is healed and cleansed, it is also a unique culture with its own customs and traditions, which are still revered in eastern countries to this day. Visiting the ancient baths was considered one of the obligatory activities, a neglect that could earn censure in society. A large number of ancient traditions have survived to this day. For example, women were supposed to visit only women's hamams, and men were supposed to visit men's hammams. It was customary to celebrate significant events in people's lives in Turkish baths. For example, the first ritual of washing with water with a broken egg was performed for a newborn forty days after birth, and after that the first cut tooth. In eastern countries, the ritual associated with the bride is quite seriously revered; it is called Jalim Hamami, ablution of the bride. But it was not only customary to celebrate festive events in the hammam, everyday events also fell under the celebration, since they were significant for a person: engagement, circumcision, visiting the hammam with a guest, the end of military service, getting rid of an illness, etc.
The cleanliness of the Turkish baths was mainly monitored by the city authorities; they carried out very thorough cleaning of all rooms, and daily fumigation with useful incense.
In the modern world, a traditional visit to the hamam is a whole complex, which consists of cleansing, restoration, healing, physical and spiritual relaxation, which is accompanied by a whole traditional tea ceremony.
How to take a steam bath in a Turkish bath?
If you decide to go to the hammam, you should know that it consists of three rooms. The first is the locker room. There are also tables for drinking tea and casual conversation. In the hamam it is called jamekan. From there you enter Soguluk. Here the air temperature is already higher (about 35 degrees). Soguluk helps the whole body get used to the heat and begin to relax.
Finally, the last room is the hararet. The temperature there can already reach 50 degrees. It is recommended to spend no more than 20 minutes in Soguluk, drink hot herbal tea, and wait for the first sweat to appear.
Already in Hararet, on a marble lounger, an experienced Turkish bath attendant will give you a relaxing massage. At the same time, he uses special rough mittens. After this, it is time for peeling. The skin is thoroughly cleaned with special brushes.
Finally, the body will be soaped with a special composition containing vegetable oils. Then you can dive into the pool or jacuzzi.
How to behave correctly in the hammam?
There are certain rules for visiting steam rooms. Before starting massage and cosmetic procedures, you need to sweat very well. To do this, spread a sheet on a marble rack and sit or lie on top. Due to the fact that marble beds are constantly heated, the body steams quite quickly and the pores open to the maximum. This takes about thirty minutes, after this time you can begin the massage.
The massage is accompanied by manual exfoliation of the entire body. In the modern world, massage is performed only by a specialist massage therapist, but in the ancient world this was done by a specially trained attendant of the Turkish bath - a telak. Vigorous body massage is usually carried out using hard, rough gloves; this can improve blood circulation. Peeling is done using special soft scrubs that not only do not injure the skin, but also cleanse the pores and remove dead skin particles. Peeling and massage are carried out in a large central hall. After these procedures, a wrapping session is carried out using special aromatic oils, clay and salt. Next, immersion in cool water is done to close the pores after a deep and beneficial peeling.
The hammam does not have a swimming pool because the Turks consider still water unclean. Instead of a swimming pool, the steam room can have a couple of fountains with cool and warm water; they can be used at any time. In between procedures, you can go to Jackamen and relax a bit and drink cooling drinks.
After immersing yourself in cool water, you can go to the steam room or sikalik Turkish bath. Each wig has a temperature of seventy to one hundred degrees. And thus, if you start steaming in a room with a lower temperature, you can adapt to the hot air and slowly move to other steam rooms.
After visiting the steam room, you can begin the following procedures: washing and ablution. These procedures involve generously lathering the entire body with foam using a rough washcloth, then dousing it with cold water, and finally dipping it in cold water.
After all wellness procedures are completed, the final stage is a visit to the relaxation zone. There you can not only relax, but also pour out any of the offered drinks, coffee, juice or tea. After all the procedures, rest takes place in a room called Jamekian, where the latest news is discussed and conversations are held.
The average time to visit a Turkish bath is one and a half to two hours. Since the temperature there is not very high, you don’t have to worry about overheating. After you leave the hammam, it is recommended to sit for a while and drink hot tea with milk.
If you want to lose weight...
To lose weight, many experts advise visiting a bathhouse. Moreover, the majority is inclined to the idea that a Russian bath is best, since in it you will lose the most fluid, achieve increased metabolic processes, and get rid of extra centimeters in the waist.
It is also important to know how to properly visit the hammam for weight loss. Here, of course, it is not as hot as in a Russian bath. But it is the most favorable environment for removing toxins and opening pores. It is Turkish baths that help get rid of cellulite.
Knowing how to properly visit the hammam for weight loss will help you get rid of excess weight. After all, in a Turkish bath you will definitely receive peeling, massage, wrapping and other pleasant and useful procedures. They will give the skin a beautiful and smooth appearance.
Hammam, peeling + foam massage
Duration of the procedure:
2.5 hours.
Price:
from 5000 rubles.
Maya Jamaican, Lifestyle section editor:
“For me, the spa has always been a way to escape from Groundhog Day and take time for myself and my body. But it should be noted that I was skeptical about the procedures in the hammam. Judge for yourself, it’s one thing to run into a hammam heated to a temperature of 40-50°C for a couple of minutes after an intense workout. It’s quite another thing to spend about two hours in a similar temperature regime.
But my fears were unnecessary; at the very beginning of the procedure, a comfortable temperature is selected and set for you. And in between peeling and foam massage, you spend time in the relaxation zone, where you can rest a little and replenish your water-salt balance. But more about everything.
First, you go to the hammam, where you “warm up” your body. I spent about 10 minutes in the steam room. Then, when the body has already warmed up enough, thanks to the moist air vapor in the hammam, the pores on the skin began to open, which means it’s time to begin the procedure called “peeling.” For those who have never heard this name, I’ll tell you that peeling itself is the exfoliation of dead cells. A professional massage therapist does this with a special mitten made of rough natural material. The result is renewed, smooth and tightened skin.
This is interesting:
If many people absolutely unfairly consider peeling to be a “purely female procedure,” then representatives of the stronger half of humanity are unlikely to be able to resist foam massage. The thing is that thanks to the increased temperature in the hammam, your muscles become much more pliable, in other words: they relax as much as possible. Thanks to this massage therapist, it is much easier to work on all the most “problem areas” and relieve you of pain in the lower back, back and neck.”
Hammam on vacation
Russian tourists often use the services of a Turkish bath at resorts. Moreover, in order to get to the hammam, it is not at all necessary to go to Turkey. Hamam services are offered in all tourist eastern countries.
For example, hammams are common in Tunisia. This is an African Muslim country that has increasingly attracted Russian tourists in recent years after airlines refused to cooperate with Egypt, and for some time with Turkey. Getting into a Turkish bath in Tunisia is not a problem. You just need to know how to properly visit the hammam in Tunisia.
Hamams are often located right on hotel premises. Muslims consider the procedure of visiting a Turkish bath sacred. For them, this is a kind of cleansing of soul and body. Tunisian hammams have an important feature. Men and women attend them separately. Representatives of the stronger half of humanity can stay in the hammam from dawn until noon, and women - from noon until sunset.
Many local residents are sure that in the steam room they not only wash their bodies, but also get a unique opportunity to be alone with themselves, put their thoughts in order, and get true pleasure.
What is needed to visit the hamam
In the East, morning hours are considered ideal for visiting a Turkish bath, because... cleansing is more effective at this time. You shouldn’t overeat before the hammam, but you shouldn’t go on an empty stomach either. The optimal time is an hour or two after a light breakfast. You should not go for a steam bath if you have liver disease or after a long stay in the sun. After the steaming procedure, you should not cool down suddenly; first rinse with warm water, only then with cold water. Then you need to relax for 15-20 minutes in the relaxation room, sitting in a warm robe or wrapped in a dry sheet. After all operations, it is advisable to drink a cool or warm drink.
On a note.
In the hammam, it is mandatory to take a steam bath in a towel; stripping naked is not customary in the East.
When visiting the hammam you will need: flip flops, soap, shampoo, aromatic oils, body scrub, moisturizing body emulsion, bath towel, mat.
Massage in the hammam
Massage is a mandatory procedure in the bathhouse, allowing you to fully experience the delights of this establishment. The massage is performed after washing with soap. In some hammams, the massage is performed directly in the foam, without washing it off. In others, you first need to rinse off the soap. To create this lather, naturally occurring olive soap is dipped into a soap bag and whipped until foamy. The massage begins from the head, gradually moving lower. The technique is rough, but it helps relieve fatigue and stretch your joints and muscles. They become soft and flexible. The massage is usually performed for 50 minutes on a special heated massage table. Often in Turkish hammams they offer a Cleopatra massage, performed using oils and fruit juices. This massage is recommended after heavy physical activity, for pain in the back or back muscles. The procedure is performed using special gloves to protect against infections. Typically massage is performed by male massage therapists. There is also a foot massage, for which you need to steam thoroughly; the massage therapist takes a stick, rings or bars of a suitable size so as not to lose your balance.
Beverages
After the massage, it is recommended to recover in the relaxation room, lie down, drink a glass of warm tea or fruit drink, diluted juice. Alcohol (even weak beer) in the hammam is strictly prohibited throughout the entire steaming process due to the high load on the heart. You can drink only after completing all procedures. Drinks should not be very hot, so as not to cause overheating, but cold ones are also contraindicated, because... there is a risk of catching a cold and causing chills. You need to drink slowly in small sips, enjoying each of them.
You can read about what drinks you can drink in the bathhouse and sauna in the article at the link.
Why go to the hammam after training?
Recently, it has become increasingly popular to place hammams at large sports clubs or fitness centers. Many doubt the advisability of this. Let's try to figure out how effective this is.
The fact is that the classic design of the hammam helps the body recover as much as possible after heavy physical activity. If you learn how to properly visit the hammam after a workout, you will be able to recover quickly. The whole secret is that it is in the Turkish bath that it is possible to achieve the optimal combination of a cold stone surface with hot steam. This makes it easy to tolerate even fairly high temperatures. That is why a Russian bath or a Finnish sauna, with their very high temperature conditions, can put too much stress on the heart. Because of this, the effect can be negative even in a person who has never experienced such health problems.
If you carefully study how to properly visit the hammam in a fitness club, you will be able to quickly recover from grueling workouts and get rid of aching pain in your joints and muscles. To achieve this effect, it is enough to spend no more than a quarter of an hour in the hammam.
We visit the hammam without harm
The optimal number of visits to the hammam is 1-3 per week. Even one weekly visit is enough to get a healing effect, improve the condition of your skin and hair, improve your sleep, “displace” cellulite from the piquant parts of the body, and improve the condition of the musculoskeletal system.
More frequent procedures are fraught with depression of the nervous system, dehydration and other troubles. Since the temperature regime, as mentioned above, in the hammam is quite gentle, you can afford more visits than if we were talking about a Finnish sauna or bathhouse. You can visit the Finnish sauna no more than 1-2 times a week, and certainly not after every workout in the fitness room.
What else determines the recommendation about how often you can go to the hammam? Well, for example, skin diseases, which risk getting worse due to overly regular and diligent trips to humid rooms (in the hammam the humidity reaches 100%) and long stays there.
High temperatures and humid air put a strain on the heart, kidneys, and respiratory system. It is unlikely that anyone would think of doing inhalations every day without special medical indications.
Frequent exposure to 40-50 degree heat, as already mentioned, depresses the nervous system, and this can lead to an exacerbation of some of its diseases, stress, and depression. Even the idle inhabitants of eastern harems did not wash in the bathhouse every day, and not at all because they were saving water.
Hamam is suitable for all ages
Another important point: you can visit the hammam at any age, even if a regular sauna is strictly contraindicated for you. This Turkish bath has high humidity as well as optimal body temperature. These factors help achieve maximum peace and relaxation. In addition, the hammam helps to relax muscles, pain goes away, and tension is relieved.
If you follow how to properly visit the hammam in the gym, you are guaranteed to lose several kilograms, get rid of colds, stabilize the functioning of the cardiovascular system, and improve sleep.
Construction of a Turkish bath in a gym or fitness center requires special knowledge. In order for the hammam to bring the desired effect, it is necessary to use only high-quality materials, not violate construction technology, and be attentive to details. After all, the health and safety of people will depend on this. Therefore, such an event should only be trusted to professionals.
Features of visiting the hamam for women
Before visiting the hammam, women must remove all jewelry, wash off all makeup, body cream, etc. In the hammam you can not only relax, wash, but also have a heart-to-heart talk. It is important to remember that in the East, steamers and massage therapists are only men. Therefore, when visiting a hammam, a woman needs to be prepared for the fact that a male representative will do the steaming and massage. At the same time, because Stripping naked is prohibited; there is nothing illegal or depraved in this approach. If an attempt is made to harass a massage therapist or bathhouse attendant, they are immediately fired from their job, so women can safely visit the hammam.
The hamams offer not only massage, but also an hair removal procedure, carried out after steaming to reduce the pain effect, which is already carried out by women.
Advice.
During menstruation, visiting the hammam is not recommended to avoid increased bleeding and increased blood pressure. If you are feeling well, visiting the hammam is not forbidden, but it is better to play it safe and come to this establishment in a couple of days.
Pregnant women are not forbidden to take a steam bath, but they should definitely consult with a specialist and inform the hammam workers about their situation. You need to strictly monitor your condition and blood pressure. If there is a sharp deterioration, the procedures must be stopped immediately. In general, high temperatures are not recommended for a pregnant woman, as is cold dousing, so when visiting the hammam, the expectant mother should be very careful and follow safety rules. If you have the slightest doubt about your health and the health of your unborn baby, it is better to postpone visiting the hammam. When breastfeeding, it is also undesirable to visit the hammam because high temperatures can cause a rush of milk, and then its stagnation. If immediately after the procedure you manage to express milk or feed the baby, then you can visit the hammam, but again, strictly monitoring your condition.
Hammam in the pool
In order for a visit to a Turkish bath to bring maximum effect, it is best to combine it with a swimming pool. After all, at the end of the procedure, peeling is followed by a soap massage. This, by the way, is one of the most pleasant stages of visiting a Turkish bath. An experienced bath attendant will definitely put a piece of aromatic soap in a small mesh bag and quickly get foam by shaking it. The visitor will find himself covered in this foam from head to toe. The massage will begin only after this.
The rules on how to properly visit a hammam in a pool state that after a soapy massage, you must definitely go to a pool with water at room temperature. Already in this tank you will finally come to your senses after peeling and massage, which will warm you up to the maximum.
Since visiting a hammam with a swimming pool correctly is important for human health, do not forget to drink a cup of aromatic tea immediately after leaving the water. This will put your thoughts in order and calm your nerves. Remember that after a Turkish bath you should generally drink as much liquid as possible. By the way, it doesn’t have to be tea. If you are not a big fan of this drink, you can replace it with mineral water. Alcohol is best avoided. It is best not to drink alcohol at all when visiting any bathhouse, both Russian and Finnish.
After tea, another massage will await you. This time using essential oils. Remember that if you regularly start visiting the hammam, you will guarantee yourself not only a healthy, but also a strong, athletic body. In addition, your blood vessels will be in order, your nerves will calm down, and you will be able to solve life and work problems more quickly and effectively.
How often to visit the hammam on vacation
By the way, if you are planning a vacation in hot countries and you intend to bring back a luxurious, even tan, then you should start your vacation with a visit to a Turkish bath. Cleansing with peeling and then nourishing the skin with healing oils will prepare it for sunbathing. The tan will be quick, rich and beautiful, and the likelihood of getting burned is low. But it is not advisable to end your vacation with a hammam - very little will be left of the golden bronze hue. To summarize: you can go to the hammam more often than to the Finnish sauna or Russian bath, but you still shouldn’t overuse it. Let a weekly trip to the hammam be a holiday for the soul and a pleasure for the body, and not the cause of any troubles.
Healing in a bathhouse is one of the favorite procedures of most people, which is not surprising: you can warm all the cells of the body, relax your muscles and have fun. Each country has its own rules and features of both the construction and decoration of saunas, and the conduct of their own rituals in them: for example, to obtain the most beneficial effect, it is important to know how to properly steam in a hammam - in a Turkish steam room, which is radically different from Russian or Finnish.
The hammam differs from a Russian bath primarily in the air temperature: here it reaches only 35–50°C, while Russians are accustomed to a steam room with 70°C. In a Finnish sauna, for example, this parameter reaches 70–110 degrees Celsius.
The level of humidity is also different: if in Finnish it barely exceeds 10%, in Russian it reaches 90%, then in the hammam the humidity is maintained at 100%. That is why the effect on the human body is different.
The layout also has its own characteristics.
- The hammam always has 5 rooms, arranged according to the principle of an open palm.
- These rooms are connected by a common hall, from which you can enter each of them.
- Jamekan is the first room and lobby. A fountain is most often located here. There should also be changing rooms in which the visitor must take off his clothes and put on a sarong (naked bathers are not allowed to bathe in the hammam). The sarong is made from linen, so the skin breathes well during the procedure. To properly steam in a hammam, this is the best canvas.
- A shower room in Turkey is called Sogukluk. This is already a fairly warm space, intended for ablution before a person goes to take a steam bath.
- Hararet is a steam room itself, the temperature in which is maintained at 35–50 degrees Celsius.
In a general hammam, the steam room is usually a fairly large room with separate niches with a higher temperature, and it can be different so that everyone can find a more comfortable option for themselves. And changing temperatures allows you to better relax and warm up all your muscles.
In the middle of such a hall there is a table - chebek (the so-called belly stone). A wide variety of procedures are performed here - most often foam massage, rubbing with a goat's hair mitten.
In addition, a significant difference between a Turkish bath and a Russian and Finnish one is the absence of wooden finishing: here all surfaces are made of stone and ceramics. The table in the center is always made of natural wood. The Turks believe that it is correct to make it from marble. The walls can be covered with ceramic mosaics.
The Turkish hammam is actually an amazing bathhouse, since taking a steam bath in it means significantly improving both the condition of the body, mood, and appearance.
- Spending time in the hammam involves complete cleansing of the body - both through sweat cells and physically through massage with a hard mitten. In the process, the skin is cleansed of dead particles, blood supply and blood flow in small vessels improves, and muscles are toned.
- Wet steam effectively cleanses the lungs and bronchi, removing pathogenic mucus. If you use essential oil, you can have a targeted effect on the body: strengthen the immune system, tighten the skin, cure a number of diseases - women's diseases, osteochondrosis, skin problems, cellulite can be treated in this way.
- With the permission of a doctor, patients with cardiovascular diseases can also visit the hammam (only correctly). If you are prone to hypertension, it is recommended to choose a steam room with a lower temperature.
- For Turkish residents, visiting a bathhouse has its own philosophy: according to them, bathing gives clarity of mind, strength, youth, purity of both body and thoughts, vigor, beauty and, of course, health. Men are sure that after a steam room they become more attractive to women, especially since this is exactly what ancient Turkish wisdom says.
- Traditionally, steaming is recommended to significantly improve the condition of the skin, normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands, improve metabolism and the natural removal of toxins from the body.
- A visit to the hammam will also be useful for the prevention of various diseases, including colds and problems of the musculoskeletal system and digestive system.
- Thanks to the Turkish bath, you can get rid of headaches, fatigue, and increased irritability.
Before going to such a bathhouse, it is important to learn everything about the hammam: how to steam properly, what to drink, what to wear, etc. If you go to a steam room directly in Turkey, you should take into account that such establishments are divided into men's and women's. It is important to respect the traditions of this people, especially since Muslims are orthodox and condemn many of the habits of Christian peoples. There is no need to impose your opinion on them, so consider other rules.
- If you can't wear a real sarong to take a steam bath, you can use a towel provided or your own to cover your nakedness. Even in a common bathhouse, being on the women's or men's side, you should not walk around completely undressed.
- You are not allowed to drink alcohol in the hammam. In addition, it is not recommended to drink chilled lemonades and teas: here it is correct to drink only hot tea.
- You should not eat 1–1.5 hours before the procedure. This rule should be followed especially by those who want to lose weight.
- To massage on the “belly stone” or on a hot bench, be sure to lay out your own towel.
- In this bathhouse, after warming up on the stones, it is not customary to cool down the body using a cool pool or dousing with cold water. It would be better to drink warm tea.
Of course, the residents of Turkey undergo the procedure in the hammam from beginning to end, not only because it is good for health, but also according to their beliefs in the complete cleansing of soul and body. For Christians, of course, such a bath does not carry a special philosophy, but if you follow the order of the procedure, you can achieve the maximum effect from visiting the hammam. Before taking a steam bath in such a steam room, pay attention to the procedure.
- First you need to go into a warm room, where the temperature is quite comfortable and its humidity is optimal for an ordinary room. Here you can lie down on stones or benches to warm up your muscles and whole body.
- Then they go to the steam room, where they wait for the sweat to release. Properly taking a steam bath in such a bath means lying down on a bench and literally warming up your body from head to toe.
- It would be right to do a massage in a Turkish bath. It is usually carried out with the addition of essential oils and using woolen mittens. This is a beneficial procedure for joints, skin of the whole body and, of course, well-being. You can learn how to do this type of massage correctly yourself - using videos from the Internet.
- Next, the steamer suggests cleaning the epidermis with soap, which has unique properties, as it includes olive, peach and argon oils.
- It would be right to treat your body with a nourishing cream after such a bath.
- Now it's time to move into a cool room and relax with a cup of tea.
- They leave the hammam only when the body has cooled down after the procedures.
Of course, you can go to the hammam without a massage, but still try to add a few drops of essential oils to the steam, once chosen by Turkish women for beauty, youth and maintaining attractiveness. Then you will be able to steam with a more significant effect and pleasant sensations for every cell of the body.
The bathhouse has long been a special place. In it, people rested body and soul, since water has always had a beneficial effect on the human body and the state of his soul. There are several dozen types of baths in the world and each is good in its own way. The Turkish bath or hammam is considered one of the most beneficial for health. What is good about a Turkish bath, how to steam in it correctly and at what temperature? Is it possible to visit the hammam often? We will talk about this in the article.