Banya banya banya!

[groovlstk]

I'm sure many of the members here have had the pleasure of experiencing a Russian banya. I hadn't, until yesterday.

Last night for my birthday, my wife surprised me and took me aboard a subway train bound for Coney Island. I thought we'd be dining on Russian food but when we arrived at the station she led me to the Royal Palace Baths.

My posts over the last month or so may seem a bit Russophobic, but I think most guys who marry a Russian woman - and make it a point to try to understand her culture - experience swings between intense pride and enormous frustration, boundless admiration and grave disappointment, all in the span of a 10-minute conversation about Russian history or current events. Regardless, two things I know for sure that Russian people have over Americans, hands down:

They know how to have a good time, and they know how to relax.

I've read numerous accounts in US newspapers and magazines about Russian banyas. Always, there is a sense that the experience is prickly and uncomfortable, made bearable only through lots of vodka. I've squirmed while reading descriptions about people beating each other with birch branches while lying in 120-degree heat. Always it seemed to me to be... if not uncomfortable, at least kind of primitive.

Anyway, for you folks out there who have never experienced it, don't listen to press accounts, an afternoon in a banya is the most relaxing thing you'll ever experience. At the joint we visited, there are rooms of various temperatures and moisture levels, from very dry to clouds of steam. My favorite room was exceedingly hot, but there were taps and buckets throughout the room. Whenever someone would feel too hot they'd fill a bucket full of freezing tap water and then upend it over their heads. Man, it's the most amazing feeling ever. You'd think it would feel uncomfortable, but it's pure, unadulterated pleasure. There are also pools of ice water outside each room, I'm guessing to imitate the traditional feeling of jumping in a frozen river. There is also a large swimming pool and several jacuzzis, and whenever we needed a break we'd down some cold Balktikas in the adjoining social room, which had a bar and cafe.

I envied the Russian guys who were obviously banya veterans, they had these cool-looking caps that looked like a cross between something a hip-hopper would wear and a dunce cap. My wife explained that people wear these caps because the dry heat can make for uncomfortable scalps, but I didn't have any problems. One of the Russian men I talked to explained that having conversations with total strangers in banyas was unlike any conversation anywhere else. When I told him how relaxing the experience was he lamented that he's been trying to convince his American co-workers to join him but they always make excuses. Their loss! I'm sure these same Americans think they're "relaxing" by downing a few beers after work and watching TV. No wonder we're all so tense...

Anyway, for you single guys living near Russian communities, do a search because it's very likely you have a banya nearby. At our place, at least, there were many bikini-clad young women and the relaxing atmosphere made it very easy to talk to strangers.

Just don't do what I did: My wife and I were in a jacuzzi when suddenly the air jets switched off. Assuming that, like other jacuzzis, there was a timer nearby to reset the action, I pressed a likely-looking button which resulted in an ear-splitting siren reverberating throughout the building. Unfortunately there was nowhere to hide, so in the minute before the attendents turned the alarm off I'm sure there was more than one "stupid American!" muttered by my banya-mates

On our train ride home, I was so relaxed I was afraid I'd melt completely and slip through the crack between the seats.

[55North]

I had, of course, heard of the banya, and had a mental image derived from an old spy movie (starring Michael Caine, I think).
 
But this New Year' Day, in a village in the North Caucasus, as I struggled into the world after a night about which I had memory gaps, I was informed by my hosts that we would 'have banya' today.  Huh!

Told that the banya was down the road in the policeman's house, I was invited to undress and put on a robe and slippers and stroll down the snow covered street at -15C.  In the end, we didn't do that, but changed at the house.  Igor had built the real mccoy on the back of his house, complete with communal room for eating and drinking, and dinky cold pool for jumping into.
 
We were aged 6 - 60, and took gender turns about.  Some experience, and totally unpremeditated.  I guess if I had been asked before arriving in the village, I might have been negative about it, but now look forward to doing it again, say, the night before my wedding.

[viking]

Groov. That was a great BD present. Sounds wonderful. Looks like she is upping the ante from last year. In about 5 years you will need to fork over a Ferrari to keep even!! (And she will look a whole lot sexier in it than you, sorry to say) PM me with the name/address of this place. I can use a good few hours of relaxation.

[SANDRO43]

At the joint we visited, there are rooms of various temperatures and moisture levels, from very dry to clouds of steam.

Sounds like a combination of a Scandinavian sauna (dry heat) and a Turkish hamam (humid heat), and similar (also in name) to the Roman balnea (public baths, only the very wealthy could afford an inhouse solution), a designation alternative to Greek-derived thermae, which included:

- the caldarium (L. cal(i)dus, "hot")
- the tepidarium (L. tepidus, "lukewarm")
- the frigidarium (L. frigidus, "cold")
sometimes there were also steam baths: the sudatorium, a moist steam bath, and the laconicum, a dry steam bath much like a modern day sauna.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermae)

On our train ride home, I was so relaxed I was afraid I'd melt completely and slip through the crack between the seats.

IINM, heat reopens peripheral capillaries and thus improves general blood circulation, hence the feeling of well-being, causing however a slight drop in blood pressure, hence the resulting relaxation or even drowsiness .

[Christian]

I had, of course, heard of the banya, and had a mental image derived from an old spy movie (starring Michael Caine, I think).
 
But this New Year' Day, in a village in the North Caucasus, as I struggled into the world after a night about which I had memory gaps, I was informed by my hosts that we would 'have banya' today.  Huh!

Told that the banya was down the road in the policeman's house, I was invited to undress and put on a robe and slippers and stroll down the snow covered street at -15C.  In the end, we didn't do that, but changed at the house.  Igor had built the real mccoy on the back of his house, complete with communal room for eating and drinking, and dinky cold pool for jumping into.
 
We were aged 6 - 60, and took gender turns about.  Some experience, and totally unpremeditated.  I guess if I had been asked before arriving in the village, I might have been negative about it, but now look forward to doing it again, say, the night before my wedding.

Greetings North55,

Your visit to the North Caucasus and reference to your dip in the banya reminds me of the imagery and historical references to the natural mineral springs in Asia Minor (present day Turkey) in a city then named Laodica.  Cf Revelation 3:14-22.

Cheers,

Christian

[KenC]

groovlstk,
Great story, thanks for sharing.  I had a flash of the Southwest airlines commercials, "Need to get away?" with your errant alarm story.

I have offered to put one in our yard next to the pool for Lena.  They sell a small 2 person sauna all redwood with a built in stereo system for not too much money.  It can be used wet or dry too.
KenC

[START2]

Kenc, I 've been casually looking at those as well.  But lately, I've been feelin a little cabin fever around here. Groov, if the wife and I flew in for a long/short weekend later next month, would you two be up for another visit to the banya with some company? Might be a great way to spend a saturday afternoon. Banya,  Balticas, and some RWD company.  Anyone else?

[Jet]

Ahh, the pleasures of the banya! Truly one of my favorite experiences in Russia 
This is one of two banyas my father-in-law has built, it's out at the family dacha in the forest:

The area to the right of the pic, with the door windows and blue paint, houses a 6 x 12 Stainless steel swimming pool. To the left of the door are the social & changing rooms with the wash room beyond. The pic only shows about half the building. The other half is comprised of the sauna area, firewood storage and a respectably sized workshop. I recall reading stories of the old timers, who as groov mentioned, made it sound rather unappealing, but it is truly a fantastic experience for those who dare to try it. F-I-L has also built one behind the Lil's little green house in town (there's a pic of the house in the RWD gallery, it's a bit smaller but very well finished and quite comfortable for two 

For those who haven't made the trip abroad but are reading this - if your G/F invites you, take her up on the offer, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!

[KenC]

http://thesaunadealer.com/2_person_infrared_sauna.htm

Here's a link to some ready made saunas.  A two person unit is only $999.
KenC

[Serebro]

I like banya, unfortunately I can't go there now because of my health condition but I like it very much, so I am envious, groovlstk,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

[groovlstk]

Start2, we'd love to get a group together and make a banya run when you arrive.

I'm sure we can recruit other locals like Viking and maybe Bruce.

Anyone else out there care to join us?

[timothe]

I've never been in one...it seemed uncomfortable, as you said.  However, I just noticed a Russian Banya right up the street from my house in Carrollton.  I might have to give it a whirl. 

[groovlstk]

I've never been in one...it seemed uncomfortable, as you said.  However, I just noticed a Russian Banya right up the street from my house in Carrollton.  I might have to give it a whirl. 

Timothe, I had the same concerns, and now I feel a little silly    As in Sandro's description above, if they combine Finnish, Turkish, and traditional Russian rooms you'll easily find something that is comfortable for you. My wife was too chicken to jump in the icy pools after spending some time in the hotter rooms, there's no pressure to do anything that might seem extreme, it's all about relaxing.

Here's the place we visited:
http://www.royalpalaceny.com/

It's in Coney Island, I understand there's another place in the Jersey burbs (30 mins. from Manhattan) that is also very nice:
http://www.brcsaunaspa.com/

Royal Palace has private rooms that could be rented for 2-hour periods, if we get a large enough group together we can get a private room for a reasonable price.

[Voyageur]

groovlstk,

Your description of Banya took me back to some great memories!  My most recent experiences was in Stavropol with my wife and a couple that we knew very well, two Happy New Year's ago. It was in the city proper, and we went every other day first thing in the morning. I was beaten, and beat others with palm leaves which was an acquired taste but actually turned out to be quite refreshing. Same goes for the jump in the freezing pool after baking for minutes on end. It make you feel great for the rest of the day, especially after those days when you awake feeling the effects of the night before  .

It is not uncomfortable at all, especially when you are with those fun loving Russians who are used both Banya and to drinking at such early times in the morning.

[SANDRO43]

I've never been in one...it seemed uncomfortable

Small tip: if you usually wear some gold artifact, be sure to remove it BEFORE ENTERING a dry-heat room : when having my first-ever sauna in Helsinki (105°C), I didn't and was painfully reminded within a few seconds that gold is one of the most efficient heat conductors around .

[BC]

Small tip: if you usually wear some gold artifact, be sure to remove it BEFORE ENTERING a dry-heat room : when having my first-ever sauna in Helsinki (105°C), I didn't and was painfully reminded within a few seconds that gold is one of the most efficient heat conductors around .

hmm.. guess intimate piercings could be a problem too..

[55North]

I didn't hear anyone present moaning about their traditional dentistry, in the banya.   I guess the trick is to keep your mouth closed. 

[groovlstk]

Kenc, I 've been casually looking at those as well.  But lately, I've been feelin a little cabin fever around here. Groov, if the wife and I flew in for a long/short weekend later next month, would you two be up for another visit to the banya with some company? Might be a great way to spend a saturday afternoon. Banya,  Balticas, and some RWD company.  Anyone else?

Start2, another option is we talk Ken into getting the 5-person banya model and then come knocking on his door 

[START2]

I was thinkin too that maybe a trip out to Dego we could camp out in his back yard and we'd have it all. Let's see, lots of dry heat from the fires out there, and most recently those cold torrential like rains. Grab a few of those palm branches and whack each other. I guess that's the banya coming to you right in your own back yard.

[KenC]

I was thinkin too that maybe a trip out to Dego we could camp out in his back yard and we'd have it all. Let's see, lots of dry heat from the fires out there, and most recently those cold torrential like rains. Grab a few of those palm branches and whack each other. I guess that's the banya coming to you right in your own back yard.

You guys are always welcome.  Well, as soon as we have some vacancies, that is.  Lena's parents are currently enjoying the Casa de KenC right now.  Call ahead and book early.
KenC

[2tallbill]

Groove, another thread that is simply too cool for school !!!

Otpad  kryto, klevo or krooto kruto Clasno!!! (all variations in Russian for cool)

Bill