Did you know that Russians celebrate New Year twice? Although this may seem strange, the reason is that the Old New Year, which is an unofficial holiday in Russia, is still observed despite the fact that the Gregorian calendar (new style) replaced the Julian calendar (old style) in 1918. In ancient times, the life cycle […]
I’m face down on a hot wooden bench, in a dimly lit steam room. To my side, a large, hairy man dressed in swimming trunks opens the door of a deep stove that resembles a pizza oven. Inside, red-hot metal glows at 700ºC. He throws in a ladle of cold water, which explodes into steam. […]
The tea of many names Fireweed – what’s behind the name? Many of us have wondered about the reason behind the name of a particular tea, but very few of us have ever discovered the answer. Fireweed is not the only name this herb is known by. The scientific name for fireweed tea or Ivan […]
As a Russian banya is a unique experience for many people, we have decided to run through the most frequently asked questions to explain how it works. Why do I need to wear a hat inside the steam room? Steam and high temperatures are good for the body, but not for the vessels inside the […]
I’m frustrated and concerned there’s no positive health information coming from the authorities on what to do once you have the virus. People who’re infected are told to just ‘hunker down and wait for a vaccine’ – Professor Marc Cohen With no cure for the Coronavirus, there is much debate in the wellness industry about […]