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Banya Traditionals: The Complete Winter Experience
Visit The Bath House this winter to share heat, food and conversation. And to make your visit even more special we’reintroducing a selection of traditional seasonal dishes. kholodets A classic Eastern European delicacy, kholodets is a slow-cooked meat jelly, gently...
A cup of stories: the history behind herbal teas
Tea has been a part of human history for centuries, not just as a drink but as a symbol of health, tradition, and even mystery. Let’s explore some of that history to enrich your tea experience.Buckwheat Tea: The Forgotten SuperfoodBuckwheat tea, made from roasted...
Epiphany: a celebration of renewal and tradition
Epiphany, celebrated on 19th January in Russia, is one of the most profound holidays in the Orthodox Christian calendar. It commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan, marking the revelation of the Holy Trinity. This sacred day is intertwined with...
Traditional festive dishes at the banya for the New Year
The New Year is a special time in Eastern Europe; a time when loved ones gather to share food and drink, festivities, and to reflect on the past year and prepare for the new one. One unique tradition involves writing down a wish on paper, burning it, and then drinking...
My banya story
Finnish WimbledonMy grandfather was from Finland and, although he died long before I was born, I always felt an affinity for the place, its landscape, traditions and culture. On a visit to see family there when I was 12, I visited the headquarters of the Finnish Sauna...
Banya and Chinese culture
It was Chinese New Year on February 10th, and it is now the Year of the Dragon. There's a common thread between the banya and the Year of the Dragon as both symbolise warmth. A well-known and moving Chinese film called “Shower” made in 1999 celebrates the joys and...
Banya in cinema
The banya is an integral part of Slavic culture so it’s no surprise that it features in a range of different films and has been portrayed in a variety of ways. In some it is an eternal symbol of all that is healthy and positive in Russian life, while in others it is a...
Depictions of the banya in art
Nobody knows when the first banya was lit but people have been gathering and washing in banyas for more than a millenium. The banya existed before the emergence of the early Slavic state in Kiev, survived the Mongol invasion, persisted as Moscow united the Russian...
Sauna can save the world
The Bath House recently hosted Mikkel Aaland, film maker, photographer and the author of "Sweat", a pioneering study of the history and culture of communal bathing traditions first published in the 1970’s. Mikkel is a passionate advocate of the benefits of bathing...
What types of veniks will you come across at the banya?
If you are a banya fan, you already know that the parenie ritual is a unique steam massage carried out using a venik or bunch of leaves. But did you know that we use a range of different veniks and that each has different qualities and is used for a different...
Board games at the banya
Playing board games or cards at the banya has a long and rich tradition and both bring together and appeal to a wide range of people. There’s no better way to pass the time in between time in the steam room and board games can enhance the health benefits of visiting...
It’s watermelon season
Delicious and refreshing watermelonIt’s important to stay hydrated at the banya and we have a range of home-made drinks as well as water to quench your thirst. This month we also have watermelon! Watermelon is the taste of summer - bright red, sweet and more than...
Special events at the banya
The banya is an inherently social experience and a great place for a range of different events. Here are a few ideas for you.Bring a date!That first meet-up can be pretty stressful, so why not invite your date to the banya? Any nerves you might have felt will soon...
BANYA AND WOMEN’S HEALTH
Women’s fitness has been the subject of far fewer studies than men’s and many fitness coaches have more or less said that women should train just like men. To dispel this myth, we interviewed Alla Meijer, fitness bikini (a competitive form of bodybuilding) champion,...
How banya can help recovery after exercise
Oxidation and how banya can help recovery after exerciseWe spoke to the leading banya master and world champion of parenie, Vladas Jokubauskas, about the benefits of using the banya after working out or going to the gym and this is what he had to say. Oxidation is one...
Banya and mental health
Sigmund Freud is sitting half naked on a bench with his legs crossed, his middle covered by a checked towel, while his friend Carl Gustav Jung has a towel slung over his shoulders and sits on a step a few meters away. Both men are relaxing on the porch of what...
Why should you wear a hat in the banya?
Hats have gone out of fashion in most places and aside from weddings it’s rare to see many people wearing one. There is one place however where they are still an essential accessory and that is in the banya when you are in the steam room itself.Why you should wear a...
The banya can change your life
For past generations It’s a Wonderful Life was the classic Christmas movie, whereas now it might be Home Alone or Love Actually. In Russia, where New Year and not Christmas is the big winter celebration, the most popular seasonal film is one that starts in a banya on...
The history of the banya
Before there was Russia, there was the banya. It existed before the emergence of the early Russian state, survived the Mongol invasion, persisted as Moscow united the Russian lands, prospered under Peter the Great’s campaign of Westernisation and gained renewed...
Steam and heat: health benefits of banya
Do you know how exposure to steam and heat affect the human body and can benefit you during the cold and flu season? Are you aware of the health benefits of a visit to the banya? Read on to find out more.The health benefits of a visit to The Bath House - Banya LondonA...
Rituals of the banya: the venik
In the 12th century, the Apostle Andrew visited what was to become Russia and discovered the bizarre bathing practices of the locals: "I noticed their wooden bathhouses. They warm them to extreme heat, then undress, and after anointing themselves with tallow, they...