Fitness Benefits of a Banya | Banya No.1 - Hoxton
BLOG

Fitness Benefits of a Banya

Fitness Benefits of a Banya

Can you recall the feeling of your muscles aching after physical exercise? Whether you are a professional athlete or simply a casual gym-goer, you will have definitely experienced this sensation. While many people believe that this type of pain is completely normal and is caused by overtraining, it is in fact a result of ‘under-recovery’.

This means that as long as you are paying careful attention to your recovery after training, you shouldn’t feel any pain at all. Recovery activities include stretching before and after your session, massage, stress management, and a good night’s sleep. But the secret known by all professional sportspeople is … the banya!

Parenie - steam room

The heat in a banya raises your body temperature, dilates your blood vessels and increases your blood circulation. This in turn speeds up the body’s natural healing process, thereby reducing muscle tension and eliminating lactic acid which causes the pain in the first place.

Moreover, a banya has been proven to precipitate an increase in oxygen consumption and red blood cell production, and therefore enhanced cardiovascular performance and endurance, taking your training to a whole new level.

Remember, the complete banya experience is not just about the steam room, it is also about splashing yourself with cold water or jumping into the cold plunge pool between visits. This encourages your body to produce heat shock proteins that are very helpful for muscle growth, preventing muscle catabolism and weight loss.

Cold plunge pool

Numerous athletes have attested to the fact that regular visits to a banya helped them increase their training volume and intensity, allowing them to train harder, feel better and perform to a higher standard. In fact, many of them even visit a banya on a daily basis.

Why not visit us at Banya No.1 after your training session and experience Russia’s oldest and most popular wellness traditions? We can guarantee that this ‘best kept secret’ will prevent any muscle aches you may have and leave you feeling relaxed and stress-free.

other articles:

gif
Read Banya Hat: Why Should You Wear It?
Banya Hat: Why Should You Wear It?
Banya hat
Banya tips
Learn more
icon

Banya Hat: Why Should You Wear It?

If you’ve ever visited a traditional Russian banya or Finnish sauna, you’ve probably seen people wearing cone-shaped felt hats. They may look unusual, but these simple accessories play a crucial role in the sauna experience. A banya hat, also known as a sauna hat, is typically made of dense wool or felt. It acts as

Read Banya No.1 Wins Digital Marketing Award — Three Years in a Row!
Banya No.1 Wins Digital Marketing Award — Three Years in a Row!
Awards
Learn more
icon

Banya No.1 Wins Digital Marketing Award — Three Years in a Row!

This weekend at the BABTAC & CIBTAC Awards 2025, our team proudly took home the Digital Marketing Award — for the third year in a row!

Read Sauna & Breathwork: Breathing Techniques & Benefits
Sauna & Breathwork: Breathing Techniques & Benefits
Banya tips
Health benefits
Learn more
icon

Sauna & Breathwork: Breathing Techniques & Benefits

When people think of a sauna, they usually focus on the temperature or the steam – but the real transformation often happens through breathing. Conscious breathwork can completely change how your body and mind respond to heat. When combined with sauna therapy, breathing techniques help you relax more deeply, increase oxygen flow, and find calm

Read Stress Awareness Week UK – How a Visit to Banya No.1 Hoxton Can Help You Reset
Stress Awareness Week UK – How a Visit to Banya No.1 Hoxton Can Help You Reset
Beat stress
Russian Banya
Learn more
icon

Stress Awareness Week UK – How a Visit to Banya No.1 Hoxton Can Help You Reset

Every November, the UK participates in International Stress Awareness Week – a time to pause, reflect and act on one of the most pervasive issues of modern life: stress. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, juggling work, city life or parenting – a step into the heat of the steam, the calm of wood and the ritual

Read Naked Sauna: History & Etiquette
Naked Sauna: History & Etiquette
Russian Banya
World saunas
Learn more
icon

Naked Sauna: History & Etiquette

The naked sauna has always been more than heat and steam. Across cultures it symbolises freedom, equality and community. For newcomers in the UK, it can feel unusual – but once you understand the history and etiquette, the experience quickly makes sense. This guide explores naked sauna traditions and nude sauna culture, from Russian banya

Read Featured in Saunologia: Warm Recommendations for Banya No.1 – Hoxton
Featured in Saunologia: Warm Recommendations for Banya No.1 – Hoxton
Media Reviews
Learn more
icon

Featured in Saunologia: Warm Recommendations for Banya No.1 – Hoxton

We’re proud to be featured in Saunologia.fi — Finland’s leading sauna publication — among their top recommendations for sauna experiences in London. In his review, sauna expert Lassi A. Liikkanen highlights Banya No.1 as a must-visit destination for those seeking an authentic yet elevated wellness experience. Lassi A. Liikkanen about Banya No. 1 – Hoxton

Read The City A.M. Review: Steve Dinneen Learns to Perform Parenie at Banya No.1
The City A.M. Review: Steve Dinneen Learns to Perform Parenie at Banya No.1
Media Reviews
Learn more
icon

The City A.M. Review: Steve Dinneen Learns to Perform Parenie at Banya No.1

Award-winning City A.M. Life & Style Editor Steve Dinneen has been a loyal visitor to Banya No.1 for over a decade. In his latest feature, he went behind the scenes to learn how to perform the Parenie Ritual himself as part of our World Wellness Weekend celebrations. Dinneen writes that for ten years, Banya No.1

Read Why a Spa Gift Is the Best Idea
Why a Spa Gift Is the Best Idea
Russian Banya
Spa Gift Cards
Learn more
icon

Why a Spa Gift Is the Best Idea

Another birthday, anniversary or Christmas is on the horizon, and you have no idea what to buy. You want something personal but not predictable; meaningful but not complicated. That’s where a spa gift comes in — a thoughtful experience that suits anyone: your friend, partner, colleague or parent. At Banya No.1 – Hoxton, we believe

Read World Sauna Rituals: How Different Cultures Do Heat & Steam
World Sauna Rituals: How Different Cultures Do Heat & Steam
History
World saunas
Learn more
icon

World Sauna Rituals: How Different Cultures Do Heat & Steam

Humans have always loved a good sweat. We heat up, cool down, take a breather, and go again. From the cedar of the Russian banya to the marble glow of a Turkish hammam, every culture follows a version of the same loop: Hot → Cold → Rest → Repeat. Here’s a friendly tour. What makes

Read Health Benefits of Sauna: What the Science Actually Says
Health Benefits of Sauna: What the Science Actually Says
Health benefits
Sauna
Learn more
icon

Health Benefits of Sauna: What the Science Actually Says

Regular Finnish-style sauna bathing is more than a relaxing ritual – over the last decade, it’s been studied as a lifestyle practice linked with better cardiovascular health, potential brain benefits, and improved recovery when used sensibly. Below we cut through the hype and focus on what’s actually supported by evidence, how a traditional sauna differs

see more
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Tag Manager to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Additional Cookies

This website uses the following additional cookies:

Google Tag Manager, Microsoft Clarity, Facebook Pixel.