Brace yourself for this year’s hottest new spa craze… twigged it yet? The traditional Russian banya is a sauna with a difference: the steam is wetter and therefore easier to bear, making it more hydrating and, ultimately, more detoxifying. But there’s more to it than that. At East London’s hush-hush and super-smart Banya No. 1,

Tree twigs massage, also called Parenie, is an essential ritual of the Russian banya. Although some of our clients have described this treatment as “torture”, they soon come to realise that Parenie can help them achieve complete bliss throughout their whole body. It increases blood flow, improves the metabolism and opens the skin pores. As

To enable you to obtain maximum benefit from your session in the steam room, we have compiled a list of dos and don’ts to ensure you have a relaxing and safe time. Dos Here is a range of recommendations that will enhance your visit: Do dress appropriately Before entering the steam room, we advise you

Borsch is a perfectly balanced soup in traditional cuisine. It combines vitamins and minerals, organic acids and enzymes, folic and pantothenic acids, and mineral salts and carotenoids, and the ratio of proteins, carbohydrates and fats is close to ideal. The mix of vegetables is rich in fibre and acts as an excellent sorbent, gently removing

The chaga fungus mainly grows on the bark of birch trees in cold climates, such as the northern regions of Russia, Canada and Alaska. Chaga has been used for centuries as a traditional medicine to treat diabetes, heart disease and gastrointestinal problems. It also prevents inflammation and cancer, and helps boost overall immunity. Chaga mushrooms

Aloe vera is widely known as a medicinal and healing plant. According to legend, the ancient Egyptians added its juice to the pharaohs’ drinks as they believed this would lead to immortality. Aloe vera also became popular during the Greco-Roman period as soldiers believed in its healing power and took the plant with them on

According to Russian tradition, on every visit to the banya people should say “S lyogkim parom”. The literal translation of this phrase is “with light steam”, but in reality people are telling each other to enjoy their bath session. Since ancient times the Russian bathhouse has been considered the place to cleanse the body and

Are you wondering whether you can bring your children to the banya? Well, this article offers some tips and recommendations on how to introduce the banya to the younger generation. In fact, there are no strict conditions regarding the age at which children can be brought to the banya. Nevertheless, most paediatricians believe that a

A visit to the steam room is a traditional ritual that has been a part of different cultures and national customs since time immemorial. It has long been recognised that this type of bathing ritual strengthens the immune system, improves the cardiovascular system, speeds up the metabolism, removes toxins and rejuvenates the skin. In fact,

No visit to Banya No.1 would be complete without trying our mud face mask and full body mud wrap! As these treatments use mud originating from the Dead Sea, you will soon feel the benefit of its high levels of minerals and the unique combination of organic components. Calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, potassium and many

The unique bathing tradition has been present within society since ancient times. Each nation had its own type of baths where people would go to freshen up, relax and recharge their batteries. However, the temperature of the water and air, the level of humidity and the bathing rituals varied from country to country. Ancient Egyptian

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