Bath has always been considered a good prevention of many diseases, especially colds. Russian bath is traditionally not only a means for cleansing the body, but also a special national ceremony. A good bath has always been the pride of the owner, and its reception is a real celebration of the soul.
Russian steam bath relieves colds, and also allows a person to cleanse not only physically, but also mentally.
Sauna steam with heat is an effective mechanism for the regulation of blood circulation and metabolic processes. The Russian bath has always been a serious competitor to the Turkish hammam, and even surpasses them in its healing effects. Many argue that even a single intake of the bath procedure allows you to reset a few years from your age.
The Russian bath has the main distinctive property - the body is steamed out in the environment of heated air saturated with water vapor. Steam room, which provides such a condition, maintains the air temperature in the range of 50-70ºС at a humidity of up to 65%.
In general, the bathing procedure in Russian takes place in two stages: steaming in a wet steam room using massage with brooms and washing the skin with water under normal conditions. Another difference - the furnace firebox is carried out by firewood.
It is established that the Russian steam bath effectively cleanses dirt, cleans pores, stabilizes the secretory functions of the sebaceous glands, removes dead skin cells, activates blood circulation, improves the metabolic process, and, as a result, improves skin condition, wrinkles, eliminates acne, etc. .
The temperature in the bath is provided by a sauna stove, which is constructed using a special technology. Humidity in the steam room is maintained and regulated by pouring water on stones heated to temperatures above 300 ° C (sometimes up to 1000 ° C). Instantly generated water vapor fills the space. The volume of steam is governed by the amount of water poured on the stones. The temperature distribution in the steam room is subject to physical laws: the higher, the hotter the air.
Bath classification
Traditionally, Russian baths are divided into two main types: black and white. The black process implies the absence of a chimney, that is, part of the smoke from burning firewood enters the steam room and is mixed with steam. The reception of the procedure begins after the firewood has burned down and the first steam with smoke is released from the room through the door, but the main principle of this type of bath is preserved. Such an atmosphere has an increased antiseptic effect.
Bath in white includes a stove with a chimney, which provides the removal of combustion products. In the steam room creates almost pure (white) water vapor. Acceptance of the procedure can take place while the furnace is in operation, which allows maintaining the high temperature of the steam stones. In rare cases, an intermediate method is used - in gray. It is carried out by partial overlapping of the chimney flap, which provides controlled entry of smoke into the air-steam environment.
Necessary tool
When building a Russian bath on your own, you will need the following equipment and tools:
- bulgarian;
- circular saw, milling machine;
- electric drill;
- screwdriver;
- hacksaw;
- plane;
- ax;
- hammer;
- shovel;
- master OK;
- putty knife;
- bit;
- chisel;
- level;
- level;
- plummet;
- roulette.
The design of the Russian bath
The classic Russian bath consists of three rooms separated by a partition: a steam room, a waiting room and a sink. In modern establishments, one more room is often added - a rest room. A waiting room is a room where a person leaves their clothes. It communicates with the steam room door; sometimes there may also be an aisle creating a vestibule near the entrance door to prevent cooling of the room.
Sink is intended for washing off of the steamed out body. The classic content of the room is a bench with basins (tubs), where the body is washed first with hot and then with cold water. Hot water is taken from a container placed in a bath stove. In modern baths in the sinks installed showers. In the absence of space, the sink can be combined with a steam room.
Russian steam bath or sauna is the most important element of a Russian bath. It houses a wooden shelf on which a person is seated or lying down. Shelves can contain 1, 2 or 3 tiers, where the visitor can choose the optimal temperature (height). On one of the walls there is a bath stove where the tray with steam stones is placed.
Bath stove.
The heart of the Russian bath is a sauna stove-heater. A traditional stove is made by masonry and is a rather complicated structure. It contains the following main elements: a foundation, a brick building, an ash chamber (blowing in), a firebox, a grate, internal smoke channels and a chimney, a shelf and a slab for a pallet with stones; water tank. Its functions include: maintaining the desired temperature in the rooms, heating the steam room to a temperature of 70 ° C, heating the steam stones, heating the water.
The stove is located so as to warm up all the rooms of the bath, but its main wall with a tray is in the steam room, and the firebox door in the dressing room or recreation area. Internal smoke channels must redistribute heat flux to warm up all the walls of the furnace. A chimney with a total length of at least 5 m provides traction for the removal of combustion products through a pipe on the roof.
Designing a Russian bath
Construction of the bath begins with the development of its project. In compiling it, some recommendations should be taken into account.
Family Russian bath: 1 - steam room; 2 - shelves; 3 - clean benches; 4 - water tank; 5 - oven; 6 - waiting room; 7 - hallway.
- Waiting room. The calculation of the area of the waiting room should take into account the following conditions: the need for one person area of at least 1 m²; the width of the room must be at least 1 m; there are at least two doors in the room (entrance and steam room); it is necessary to place a bench and hangers, a place for storing dry firewood for kindling the furnace and a service area for the firebox. The optimal width of the bench is 30-40 cm with a height of approximately 40 cm. Hangers can be placed above the bench at a distance of 1 m from each other. The main recommendations for the design of the waiting room: the entrance should be located on the south side (less outlines of snow in winter); a window opening should be made to control the entrance and natural light; doors and windows should fit snugly to the frames to prevent drafts.
- Wash. Sink is projected based on the availability of water supply. If there is a possibility of water supply, then one or more showers are provided. In the absence of water supply, the washing procedure is carried out from a heating tank installed in a bath stove. The size of the room is calculated based on the minimum area - 1 m² per person; for two people, a 2x1.8 m sink is sufficient. The area takes into account the location of a 60 cm wide sunbed and two benches 40x80 cm in size. When the shower is installed, its size is added. It is necessary to take into account the presence of one door from a steam room or two - from a steam room and a waiting room.
- Steam room. When designing a steam room, one should proceed from the fact that at least 2 people should be simultaneously located in it. For them, the minimum area is 1.8x1.8 m. The shelves are placed along the wall and have a sitting width of at least 40 cm, for lying is 60 cm. The distance between the tiers is 40-60 cm. The door in the steam room must be of minimum size to conserve heat . Porozhek becomes high - up to 30 cm. The shelves are located on the opposite wall from the oven.
Russian bath has always been considered an indispensable attribute of any home. Bathing procedure with soaring is a whole science. The steam room of the Russian bath is a folk remedy, as everyone knows, from beginners to sauna lovers with experience. But like any medicine, a steam bath requires careful handling. Going to the steam room is better after prior advice with your doctor. This is especially necessary for the elderly, weakened, having one or another disease. Let's look at the most important moments of the bath procedure, the tricks of the Russian bath and the rules for staying in the steam room.
Rules for visiting the bath
How to bathe in the bath
A person who visits a steam bath of a Russian bath for the first time in his life is entitled to only one run without a broom. Do not immediately climb on the top shelf. First you need to sit for 2-3 minutes below, where the air temperature is 10-15 ° C less than the top. Your body should be preheated at a relatively low temperature (45-50 ° C), and then you can go to the middle shelf. On the middle shelf, it is best to lie down for another 3-4 minutes, when active sweating begins. To evenly warm all parts of the body, it is necessary, lying on the middle shelf, to turn from side to side, which will greatly facilitate the work of the heart.
To properly bathe in the Russian bath, you need to learn how to breathe in the steam room only with your nose. At the same time, the nasopharynx warms up well and the inhaled air is cooled.
A beginner should limit the time of his first stay in the steam room to 7 minutes. Coming out of the steam room, you can not immediately go to rest, it is better to walk for 2-3 minutes. After a rest, you need to wash, freshen up with hot tea, cool kvass or lingonberry-cranberry mors and cool. On this first visit to the steam bath of the Russian bath for beginners is over.
The next stage - the transition to two, three times visits to the steam room, respectively, gradually increasing the total time spent in the steam room to 15-35 minutes, depending on age and health.
Rest between visits to the steam room 15-20 minutes, but you should first take a cool shower. During the holidays it is not bad to drink a cup of hot tea, a glass of kvass or fruit water. Resting in the dressing room, changing room, be sure to hide the sheets, a large towel or bathrobe so that the body does not cool. The cold and the slightest draft crosses out all the positive effects of the steam room.
How to bathe in the bath for children
In the Russian bath, which has long been a family, at the same time with adults there were children in the steam room. Generous, healing heat is useful to children from 3-4 years. But parents should understand that for children the time spent in the steam room is much less. And the temperature of the procedures for children should be reduced.
Children 3-6 years old can do one set-up and should stay in the steam room for no more than 4-5 minutes and only on the lower bench. After visiting the steam room you can not take a cold shower - only warm (36-37 ° C). This is due to the peculiarities of the child's body, which is still poorly developed adaptation to sudden changes in temperature.
Children 6-10 years old can already make two visits to the steam room lasting 3-4 minutes each at a temperature of 55-60 ° C. and may not be long on the middle shelf with constant care of adults. After each entry into the steam bath, you can use the shower or pour water just below normal body temperature (32-34 ° C).
Children 10-12 years old can take more intensive bath procedures, but also limit themselves to two visits to the steam room with a duration of 4-5 minutes each at a temperature of 60-65 ° C.
For adolescents 12-14 years old, the total duration of the bath procedure may be already 10-12 minutes, that is, two entries into the steam room for 5-6 minutes. Teenagers can bathe on an average bench at a temperature of 65-70 ° С and even stay on the top shelf for no more than one minute also under the constant supervision of their parents. After a steam room, adolescents are allowed to use a cool shower with a water temperature of 25-28 ° C.
Only reasonable care with proper use of the Russian bath will promote the health of all family members, both adults and children.
Steam room in the Russian bath
An individual Russian bath is good because everyone here can easily create the most comfortable conditions for staying in the steam room. It can create temperature and humidity conditions in very wide ranges - from the Finnish sauna (low humidity - 10-20% and high temperature - 90-100 ° C) to the hearty Russian steam bath with venic steam (high humidity, about 80%, and relatively low temperature - 60-70 ° C).
If you need to warm up, you need dry steam, with a humidity of 30-40% and a temperature of 70-80 ° C, in which you breathe easily and freely. To do this, on the hot stones of the stove it is necessary to splash boiling water 2-3 times (it is possible with a decoction of herbs) in small portions of 100-150 ml with a break between portions of about three minutes. It is small portions of water that make the steam less wet, soft, “light”. The variety of temperature and humidity conditions in the steam room allows everyone to choose their own, individual way of using the fragrant healing heat of the Russian steam bath. However, there are a few simple rules:
- in the steam room with high humidity (up to 80%) the temperature should not exceed 60 ° С;
- for the elderly and weakened people, the air temperature in the steam room is 40-45 ° С;
- at a humidity of 30-35%, the temperature can be raised to 70-75 ° С;
- at a humidity of 15-25%, the temperature should not exceed 80 ° C;
- at a humidity of 10-15%, the temperature should be in the range of 90-100 ° C. These are the parameters of the “dry” bath, sauna.
No related posts.
Russian bath - these are the words that sound when referred to the Russian traditions.
About the bath, its structure, functions and usefulness, a lot is said in the media and on the Internet, but no one has been able to precisely define what it is and why it is needed.
Our primordial bath is a national phenomenon, as it is at the same time a building for performing hygienic procedures, a historical tradition, and a remedy for most diseases.
And the whole thing is that we need to consider the Russian bath from several points of view: what it was intended for for the XVIII-XIX centuries and from the perspective of modern man. About the appointment of the bath, its device, and many other things we will discuss in this publication.
A bath in the life of a Russian man of that time performed several functions at once: they bathed and warmed in it, taking bath procedures a person was healthier. In addition, the bath in the life of a person played a social role. Communicating in it, visiting her with friends, occurred as if a ritual of joint purification not only of the body, but of the soul.
The baths of that time, like the houses, however, were drowned in black, that is, they did not have a chimney.
The fire heats up a red-hot dome-shaped hearth made of flat, smooth stones, and smoke escapes through a hole in the ceiling or wall. The hot stones warmed the room and were used to heat the water. He was simply thrown into a tub or barrel with water. Even Catherine II the Great, she loved to warm her legs, putting them in hot water and putting them on a heated stone.
Due to the fact that the baths were fueled "in a black way", the smoke spreading through the room acted as a disinfectant, and this was what protected people from numerous epidemics. Despite this, it was always clean in the correctly folded Russian bath, there was no soot on the walls, and even during the heating it was possible to be in it.
To maintain the temperature, the hot stones were poured with water and infusions of medicinal herbs, thanks to which the so-called “light steam” was created. Its advantage was that the person was warming up slowly, and then, following the steam rushing upward, climbed to the upper shelves. Inhalation of “light steam” with healing herbs created the effect of inhalation, and massage with a broom, as V. Gilyarovsky said in the work “Moscow and Muscovites” ... dispersed the blood and brought out the ailment.
Noble people, also visited the bath, only it often drowned "in white." The only difference was that the stove, in such baths, as a rule, was brick and had a chimney. But experts say that, neither brick, nor any other material, except a hot stone, is capable of creating the right microclimate and the very “light steam” for which the Russian bath is so famous.
Important! "Light steam" is considered to be the air temperature in the room within 55С ° -70С ° and humidity of 40-60%. Anything that does not fit into the framework of such a microclimate is called “heavy steam”.
The device is a classic steam room
The bath two centuries ago and the modern steam room were made approximately equally. The only difference between them is the finishing materials and the presence in the modern steam chimney, as now there are not so many fans to heat the bath on the "black".
Construction of the bath begins with a careful selection of the site. The classic Russian bath is a small hut on the edge of a lake or river, made of coniferous logs. It consists of two rooms: a waiting room and the steam room itself, which was also a washing room.
A bench and clothes hanger are installed in the dressing room, as the dressing room plays the role of a dressing room and rest room.
The dressing room is separated from the steam wooden partition with a tightly fitted door. A small window, as a rule, is placed near the furnace, which serves not only as a source of light, but also as a ventilation hole. The third part of the classic Russian sauna's steam room is occupied by a wood-burning stove, near which a tub with water is placed. In the steam room there are obligatory shelves where bathing procedures are actually taking place.
The modern bath is very different from its predecessors, but mainly by the presence of some "excesses", such as:
- The pool, which in the modern bath plays the role of a reservoir.
- Technical room, which is often done during construction for storing a stock of firewood, equipment, brooms, etc.
- Rest rooms, shower rooms and other elements of the “baror's life”.
Sauna - a modern version of the Russian steam bath?
Unfortunately, in the second half of the 20th century, the words Russian bath and sauna began to be perceived by many as synonymous words. The fact is that in the 60s of the last century, a commercial bath project was created in Finland, which was compact and electric. The ease of installation and the small dimensions of the electric oven made it megapopular. By the way, such saunas could be installed not only in private houses, but also in apartments.
Such dry air saunas began to be established by the owners of hotels and ... go for export! Although the Finns themselves consider electric saunas to be a product for poor people. And of course, they have nothing in common with the Russian bath. And the whole thing - that's what.
Initially, electric heaters were not yet able to isolate, so pouring water on them could get quite a tangible electric shock. But since the manufacturers of electric furnaces for saunas had to search for new markets for their products, a legend was invented about the life-giving power of dry steam, which cannot be called steam either. That is why it was absolutely forbidden to pour water on stones in the new-fashioned saunas of the second half of the last century.
And if there is no steam, then what is a Russian bath?
A bath in which the temperature of the air reaches 120 ° C, and the humidity of not more than 10% is not associated with the "light steam", which is so famous for our own steam room. If, in this heat, you splash water on the stones, you get a burning thick fog that burns your hands, skin and lungs. But before, the Finnish and Russian steam rooms, were twin sisters, who developed in parallel directions and looked like one another like two drops of water.
How to stoke a classic Russian steam bath
As we wrote earlier, there are two options for the steam bath:
- In white. The wood-burning stove has a chimney, so smoke and smoke do not enter the sauna room. The stove heats the room and water for bathing.
- In black. Indoor steam room stove wood stove-heater. After the furnace broke out, the chimney was closed, and the doors in the steam room, on the contrary, opened slightly. In the process of bathing, nobody should be in the steam room. After the stones turn red, they wait until the fire is completely burned, the heat is removed from the furnace, doors and windows are opened for airing. At the same time, the shops and shelves are washed from the settled soot.
Watering the hot stones with water results in that “light steam”. Being in a bath with such a microclimate, the body slowly warms up, and then harmful substances come out, the skin begins to "breathe", the blood circulation and enrichment of the body with oxygen increases. The process of soaring in the Russian bath is long, at least 4-5 hours.
Today, there is a mass of detergents, and earlier, the hair and body were washed with a solution of lye, which was cooked from wood ash. Bast made from linden bark was used as a sponge.
All this created a healing effect and it was the spirit of the Russian bath that is so appreciated by amateurs and professionals of the bath art of the whole world.
And if you want to feel this indescribable atmosphere, this stunning effect after taking bath procedures, then listen to the advice of the “experienced” and build a real Russian bath at your country house or country site. By the way, in Russia, especially in its northern part, the construction of the house always began with the construction of a bath.
Hello dear readers! A hike in the bath and in the steam room was very important for the Russian people. It was very important to have special things with you without which it is not advisable to enter the steam bath.
From the article you will learn many interesting points. What you need to take with you. How soared in the bath correctly. What is important to know about the steam room. What benefits can it bring to health.
What is useful for skin and body in the steam room. What then, after the steam room. As in Russia, called the steam bath. What they say about the steam room doctors. What does a steam bath treat? In some cases, a steam bath is dangerous.
Steam bath in Russia, do you know how it was called before? maybe in the villages and now they call it that. And so called her - movnya, vlznya, mov, soap. Slavic peoples knew the Russian steam bath already in the fifth sixth centuries.
It was allowed to build baths to everyone who had enough for this land. Baths were heated once a week on Saturdays. At that time, all the people, despite their age and gender, bathed and steamed together.
In one thousand seven hundred and forty third year it was forbidden to wash and soar all together. The German scholar Olearius, who traveled in Muscovy in the seventeenth century, wrote:
« The Russians can endure very high fever and soar until they are no longer able to stay in the steam bath. They jump out onto the street, pour cold water or roll in the snow, and then again in the bath».
Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, a Portuguese doctor, Sanchez, also wrote about the Russian steam bath, and when he left Russia, he decided to open Russian steam baths in Europe and contributed to this.
Preparing for the bath and steam room
If you want to go to the bath, you must first have a good treatment of the body, especially intimate places and legs. If you have your own bath, you can do it at home, and if you go to the public, you can do it in the soap compartment.
When we are preparing for a bath and a steam room, it is very important that after washing, it is imperative that you wipe yourself dry with a towel. If you go dry in a steam room, your body temperature will rise faster and intense sweating will begin. Hair do not wet.
Pay special attention to your arms and legs before visiting the steam room. Be sure to warm them in hot water if they are cold. People who regularly visit the Russian steam bath, before going there, prepare napers for the heater and broom. Also prepare special masks.
How soared in the bath
Going into the steam room to get used to the heat, sit for a few minutes on the bottom shelf. In the steam room, so that the blood circulates properly, it is better to lie and not sit. Then the heat will act on the body evenly.
Also in the supine position all the muscles will relax and they can very well hover. If there is not enough space in your bath, you can sit on the shelf and raise your legs on it. After steaming, sit for three minutes, and then get up and walk.
How soared in the bath and how much is in it, it is purely individual. It all depends on your health. Everything is important, even the mental state.
Often, athletes and fat people go to the steam room in order to lose weight. I want to say that not everyone who came to the steam room for the first time starts sweating immediately. The process of sweating can get better later when the thermoregulation mechanisms return to normal.
How soared in the bath broom
If you want to sweat a broom, prepare it in advance, then visiting the steam room will be more effective. First rinse a dry broom under the shower with warm and then hot water.
Then shake it off and put it in a plastic bag. About six seven hours before the bath it needs to be done. In the bath it needs to be steamed again in hot water. With water, in which you steam the broom, rinse your hair after the steam room. This infusion removes dandruff and strengthens hair.
And as it is soared in the bath with a broom:
Entering the steam room, first lie down on the bottom shelf to get used to the heat, then go out and rest for about fifteen minutes and twenty. At this time, it is very useful to drink a cup of tea with lemon, herbs or jam not in big sips and return to the steam room. First, lift the broom up so that it warms up from the heat.
It is good if your partner soars because it is difficult to do it yourself. Start stroking the leafy part of the broom. Start from the feet and slowly run it over the calves, then the hips, along the back and neck and in the opposite direction. Repeat this up to three times.
Then put a broom on the waist and for three seconds, press it to the places where it hurts. Then with the end of the broom, light, quick swings. These movements are considered the main process of soaring.
Start from the back, then the calves and end with the feet. After that, spend a broom on the stomach slightly pochagivaya. If your partner soars, you first need to do these procedures lying on your back, and then on your stomach.
Then start to whip. Just do not whip a broom under the knees. Finish the procedure with a broom with light stroking movements. In the steam room, try to breathe through your nose. So you learned how to steam bath in a broom.
Microclimate in the steam room
You can create the microclimate in the steam room yourself - both dry and wet. It will depend on how much water you will pour on the stove. The main thing is to clarify for yourself the important points.
What are these moments:
1. Although the air temperature may be the same, but in a dry climate where the humidity is relatively low, you will experience less stress on the body than in humid conditions.
2. The heat load on the body is stronger and faster, the higher the humidity. This is especially felt by the cardiovascular and endocrine systems and respiratory organs.
It is very important to remember that the microclimate in the steam room can have not only health and healing effects, but also cause a stress state and changes in the body in a negative direction.
It is very dangerous for health if you combine too low humidity with too high (less than 10% to 100%). The more people in the steam room, the faster the atmosphere in the steam room becomes heavy.
Since the air is gradually saturated with evaporation of sweat and carbon dioxide, it damages the human body. Therefore, it is necessary to ventilate the steam room, then the microclimate in it will be what the body needs.
Scientists have established that the novice bather should be considered. It is very important to remember one thing: in the bath you can not take alcoholic beverages and products that are hard to digest. Only with the right behavior in the bath there is a pleasant feeling of cheerfulness and freshness.
What is important to know about the steam bath
In order to avoid danger to life, the maximum permissible temperature for heating internal organs should be thirty-eight - thirty-eight and nine degrees Celsius.
When you warm yourself up intensively, the skin temperature rises to forty, forty-four degrees. Because of this, it is very red and may even appear burns.
- Be sure to dose the heat load. At the same time, consider everything - your health, age and your gender.
- do not allow dehydration
This is what is important to know about the steam bath, so that it does not harm you, but brings benefits.
After the steam room
As usual, every person who is well steamed in the steam room wants to cool. Of course this can be done, but only correctly, so as not to harm health.
For example, you can catch a cold if not cool correctly. Experienced bathers already know how to do it, but beginners need to be more careful and take into account not only their state of health but also their completeness.
What the centuries-old experience of the Russian people says:
This experience says that the best way to cool is fresh air. Previously, it was accepted. Well parry immediately went out into the air, diving into a pond or river, or lying in the snow if it was winter.
Now, too, many are doing it. For those who for some reason after the steam room cannot do this, they can just go outside and take a few sighs, walk around the grass if this is summer. If you are a seasoned person, in winter you can walk in the snow.
Cool after a steam room, you can shower or pour cold water from a basin or bucket. If you have a pool and the water temperature is not more than ten degrees Celsius.
What is important to remember:
If you are a core, it is not recommended to cool in this way due to the load that these methods exert. Hypertensive patients also need to be careful. When immersed in cold water, blood pressure rises very quickly.
Cool until you want to warm up again. If your feet are cold, be sure to warm them in a basin of warm water. Procedures in the steam room and cooling can usually be repeated twice. Lovers do it up to five times.
Rest after the steam room in the rest room. Relax, lie down on the couch or sit in a chair. If you have lost a lot of fluids, drink water, juices, kvass, and other non-alcohol related drinks.
Well, it seems that everything, my knowledge about the Russian steam bath has been exhausted. I really hope that the information given in the article will be useful to you. If you have your own information about the steam room, share it in the comments.
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Be healthy and happy.