It can truly be said that Venik is symbolic of the Russian banya. Veniks are carefully prepared bundles of leafy twigs from various trees. These are used to bring steam to the skin and massage the body during Parenie treatment. This treatment has profound therapeutic value thanks to the medicinal compounds in the Veniks. Banya […]
Kombucha has taken the health industry by storm, quickly becoming the preferred drink of yoga enthusiasts and businessmen alike. The lightly fizzy drink is now the perfect substitute for sugary beverages. While Kombucha has become more popular, there are still a few surprising facts lurking behind those colourful labels. 1. Kombucha can help you lose […]
It’s a Russian Banya week at Pushkin House and I had an amazing opportunity to speak to “Young Pushkin” Madeleine Cuckson about my mission to bring Banya to the world. In this podcast we talk about the history of Russian banya in London – how it was brought by Jewish immigrants from Russia in 19th […]
Sea buckthorn berries have been used in traditional medicine for centuries and they are well known as a super-powerful food containing a high number of vitamins, protein, antioxidants, minerals and fibre. Sea buckthorn is one of the most nutritious and vitamin-enriched foods in the world. This tiny yellow-orange berry is approximately one-third of the size […]
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. […]