How to properly steam in a hammam - general tips and recommendations

The difference between a hammam and a Russian bath

To experience all the benefits of this establishment, you need to know how to visit the hammam correctly. It is very important to evaluate in advance all the benefits of Russian and Turkish baths, to find out what the health benefits and effects of each of them are.

It’s worth saying right away that the differences between these two types of baths are visible to the naked eye. If a Russian steam room is always decorated with wood, then a Turkish hammam is always decorated with marble. In the east, it is customary to create the most acceptable conditions for comfortable accommodation of guests and take care of their comfort. But the differences don't end there.

Features of the Turkish steam room

Hamam differs from Russian and Finnish baths in that all rooms in it are heated using a boiler placed under the floor covering or built into one of the walls. The steam generated in it is supplied through several small holes, which are located at a height of approximately 1.5 meters.

Note!

A distinctive feature of the steam room is the low temperature (30-50C), which is combined with 100% humidity. The steam in it is warm and soft. This allows you to visit it even for those who do not like very hot air or cannot breathe it for health reasons.

The interior of a modern oriental bathhouse is always made almost entirely of stone, mosaic or tile. Wood is not even used to decorate sun loungers. The ceiling of the steam room has a dome shape. This is done so that condensation does not drip from it and does not disturb visitors, but flows down the walls.

Gentle conditions

You can find out how to properly visit the hammam in Russia from this article. An important feature is that in a Turkish bath the effect of steam on the body is more gentle. The air temperature in the hammam fluctuates between 40-50 degrees Celsius. While in a Russian bath it usually reaches 75 degrees.

At the same time, there is high air humidity in the hammam. It reaches 100 percent. And the air itself at this time is saturated with essential oils. Due to the fact that the temperature in this bath is lower than in a Russian one, even those who cannot stand extreme conditions and extreme heat can visit the steam room. It is much more comfortable to be in the hammam. There is virtually no risk of problems with blood pressure, since the vessels dilate slowly. In a Russian bath, everything happens exactly the opposite.

It is mandatory that the hammam has comfortable and comfortable sun loungers. Such rest is excellent for not only restoring physical strength, but also inner peace. One of the rules for visiting the hammam is to drink tea. It has special healing properties.

What rooms does a modern hammam consist of?

In a modern standard Turkish bath, three rooms with different air temperatures and different purposes are provided for visitors:

• The first room, called jamekan
  , is the dressing room, where there are lockers for clothes, a locker room, and a cash desk where you can pay for all services. Here visitors receive towels, wooden slippers, and sheets. Here you can chat and drink tea.
• From the jamekan, the visitor goes to the second room - sogukluk
  . There are showers and toilets here. This room has a special temperature regime of 30–35°C, which prepares the human body for the higher temperatures of the steam room. After taking a warm shower, you can move to the next room.
• The warmest third room is hararet
  . Here the temperature ranges from 40°C to 55°C. In its center there is a marble “belly stone” - a special elevation with a firebox that maintains the desired temperature. There are also marble beds on which massages are performed and a kurna - a large bowl of water for ablution. Here you can take a steam bath and take wellness treatments.

Benefits of a Turkish bath

So, why is hammam so useful? Firstly, the skin is freed from sebaceous plugs, the work of the sweat glands returns to normal. Blood circulation in the body improves, and blood vessels become elastic. As a result, your body is completely cleansed of toxins, waste and harmful substances. If inflammatory processes develop in the joints, they subside. It is recommended to visit the hammam if you have gout. A Turkish bath helps to quickly remove acid from the body and helps relieve pain.

In the hammam, thanks to essential oils and aromatic tea, the respiratory tract is cleared, a lingering cough is cured, and phlegm disappears. The skin acquires a healthy appearance and metabolism accelerates. After a visit to the bathhouse, the body's protective functions are enhanced. Hammam can even save you from depression, providing a feeling of complete relaxation, eliminating fears and heavy thoughts.

Treatments for rejuvenation

It’s just the right time to apply nourishing products to pristinely clean skin, instantly penetrating through open pores into the deep layers of the dermis. It is not forbidden to carry out:

• Massage with coconut oil;
• Rub in the honey-vitamin mixture;
• Wrap with Moroccan clay, chocolate, seaweed.

Select procedures from the list or limit yourself to applying peach, grape seed, or olive oil.

Treatments in the hammam are not only pleasant, but also useful for rejuvenation and health promotion.

• Decay products and salts are removed from the open pores along with moisture.
• Tissues and blood are saturated with oxygen.
• Cell division and blood flow increase.
• The keratinized cells of the epidermis are removed.
• The skin texture is evened out.

Who is the hammam recommended for?

Anyone who has learned how to properly visit a hammam can go to a Turkish bath. This will be especially useful for those who often suffer from flu, colds, and have weak immunity.

If you suffer from gout or arthritis, then bath procedures will help solve joint problems once and for all, forget about stiffness and pain. The same applies to those who suffer from osteochondrosis.

If you constantly experience nervous tension and often experience stress, then the hammam will help smooth out the negative impact of external factors. It is also useful for everyone for general health and ridding the body of toxins and harmful substances. There are only a few exceptions.

What benefits does visiting the hamam give?

The most important positive effects of a Turkish bath are the following:

• relieving nervous tension;
• eliminating stress;
• improved sleep;
• increased performance;
• improvement of skin condition;
• elimination of acne;
• general health;
• weight loss;
• elimination of cellulite deposits;
• improved kidney function;
• normalization of the heart and blood vessels;
• normalization of metabolism;
• prevention of muscle inflammation;
• prevention of radiculitis;
• prevention of respiratory tract pathologies.

Who is contraindicated for hamam?

There are several categories of people for whom visiting a Turkish bath is contraindicated. These include cancer patients, people with varicose veins, severe asthma, epilepsy and seizures, and some types of thyroid and kidney diseases.

If you have problems with the cardiovascular system, then you can go to the steam room in the Turkish bath, but not for long. The main thing is to prevent a sharp temperature change. If you have heart disease, it is forbidden to jump into an ice pool immediately after the steam room and suddenly become hypothermic.

Worry about how I look

My husband (yes, I'm married) suggested that I have breakfast at a cafe. I went to get ready and discovered that the dry shampoo (and shampoo in general) had run out. I've already worn jeans twice. And three years ago I would definitely have told him that I was not ready to go somewhere like this. And now I thought, damn it, my beloved man is inviting me to have breakfast with him. Does it matter if I washed my hair? He saw me this morning and he wants to go to the cafe with me. Don't you care what the people at the next table think? And yes, I didn’t iron the T-shirt. I don't even pet them anymore. They are clean. It's enough.

How to take a steam bath in a Turkish bath?

If you decide to go to the hammam, you should know that it consists of three rooms. The first is the locker room. There are also tables for drinking tea and casual conversation. In the hamam it is called jamekan. From there you enter Soguluk. Here the air temperature is already higher (about 35 degrees). Soguluk helps the whole body get used to the heat and begin to relax.

Finally, the last room is the hararet. The temperature there can already reach 50 degrees. It is recommended to spend no more than 20 minutes in Soguluk, drink hot herbal tea, and wait for the first sweat to appear.

Already in Hararet, on a marble lounger, an experienced Turkish bath attendant will give you a relaxing massage. At the same time, he uses special rough mittens. After this, it is time for peeling. The skin is thoroughly cleaned with special brushes.

Finally, the body will be soaped with a special composition containing vegetable oils. Then you can dive into the pool or jacuzzi.

Turkish steam room: what is it?

The first Turkish baths began to be built in the 7th century. Classic hammams are large buildings with several rooms, each of which maintains a certain level of humidity and temperature.

Photo from cocoony-domicile.fr

Such saunas are built according to the “palm” principle - there are several small rooms around the main steam room:

• Jamekian is a locker room where all visitors leave everything they need (clothes, shoes, belongings) and put on a loincloth made only from absolutely natural materials (cotton or silk fabric).
• Pestemal is a place where guests take a shower.
• Chebek is a room where you can warm up your body on a hot lounger, which is made of natural marble (“chebek-tashi”). It is quite comfortable to sit on it for a long time.
• Hararet is a steam room designed for deep cleansing of the skin. Here they perform intense foam and oil massage and peeling.
• A cafe is a room in which, after all procedures, one rests, eats or drinks healing herbal teas.

If you want to lose weight...

To lose weight, many experts advise visiting a bathhouse. Moreover, the majority is inclined to the idea that a Russian bath is best, since in it you will lose the most fluid, achieve increased metabolic processes, and get rid of extra centimeters in the waist.

It is also important to know how to properly visit the hammam for weight loss. Here, of course, it is not as hot as in a Russian bath. But it is the most favorable environment for removing toxins and opening pores. It is Turkish baths that help get rid of cellulite.

Knowing how to properly visit the hammam for weight loss will help you get rid of excess weight. After all, in a Turkish bath you will definitely receive peeling, massage, wrapping and other pleasant and useful procedures. They will give the skin a beautiful and smooth appearance.

The effects of hamam on the body

The main positive effects after visiting the hammam are as follows:

• toxins are removed, the body is completely cleansed of toxins;
• the skin is perfectly cleansed, various inflammatory processes are eliminated;
• irritation, fatigue, depression are relieved, and you can also notice an improved general emotional state of a person;
• the respiratory system is completely cleansed, the body is freed from inflammation in the nasopharynx and larynx, you can get rid of bronchitis;
• the nervous system relaxes, migraines and insomnia disappear, headaches stop;
• prevention of diseases of the musculoskeletal system is carried out;
• blood circulation and metabolism improves;
• has a beneficial effect on muscles, joints, and treats injuries;
• the functioning of the stomach and lungs improves;
• the functioning of the sebaceous glands on the scalp is normalized;

People often ask the question, how often can you take a steam bath in a hammam? You can visit the Turkish bath as often as your health allows.

Usually it is enough for a person to visit the hammam once a week on a day off.

This will be enough to improve your body’s health, preserve muscle flexibility, and clean skin.

It is not advisable to eat food before taking a steam bath in the hammam. Several hours should pass after your last meal.

The towel must be laid on the benches. The peculiarity of the hammam is that you need to steam in a lying position. Legs should be higher than head level. It is undesirable to make sudden movements, otherwise you can damage heated muscles.

Now it’s clear how to properly take a steam bath in a Turkish bath. Listen to our advice and you can improve your body health. Follow the rules of visiting, and after the first procedure you will be able to feel all the benefits of a Turkish bath. We wish you good health!

One of the most wonderful places for rest and relaxation, as well as health improvement, is the bathhouse. Since ancient times, people have been exploring the unique properties of water and its beneficial effects on the state of mind and the human body. Today there are dozens of types of baths all over the world. At the same time, the Turkish bath - hammam - is considered to be one of the best.

The Turkish bath is a whole range of procedures: steaming, massage, complete cleansing. The main difference between a Turkish bath and a Russian bath is the presence of a special temperature regime and wet steam. Steaming in a Turkish bath occurs at low temperatures: from 35 to 50 degrees. But at the same time, the humidity of the steam is quite high, it reaches almost 100%. That is, the secret of hammam lies in light, warm steam, but at the same time highly saturated with moisture.

Another distinctive feature of the Turkish bath from other baths is the combination of traditional heating in the steam room with other procedures - massage, peeling, wrapping.

In order to understand how to properly steam in a Turkish bath, you need to know its structure. Classic Turkish baths are designed according to the palm principle: there are five niches around the main steam room. The temperature in the niches is designed to increase, that is, in the first it is 70 degrees, and in the last - 100 degrees and above. In the dressing room the temperature is much lower and is only 35 degrees. A large hot stone lounger is located in the very center of the steam room. Also in the Turkish bath there are three pools with cold, warm and warmer water.

Now let’s look at the process in order of how to properly steam in a hammam. First you need to warm up in the dressing room. Then they move on to niches, starting with cooler ones and ending with hotter ones. And only after this comes the turn of the large stone lounger. Usually it is poured with hot water. It is recommended to lie with your stomach down on a stone lounger, as in this position the body warms up better.

It should be noted that massage in a Turkish bath is one of the main procedures. Typically, massage begins after completion of all steaming procedures. The combination of steaming and massage is a therapeutic procedure. This massage is effective because the ligaments become more elastic and the muscles more flexible.

After the massage is done, proceed to the next procedure - washing. It is also divided into several stages. First, a washcloth is soaked in soapy water and then passed over the entire body to scrub away dead skin cells. Next, after rinsing, you need to wash your body again, lathering the washcloth with more soapy lather.

After washing, they move on to swimming in the pools, also starting with the warmest and ending with the coldest.

Hammam on vacation

Russian tourists often use the services of a Turkish bath at resorts. Moreover, in order to get to the hammam, it is not at all necessary to go to Turkey. Hamam services are offered in all tourist eastern countries.

For example, hammams are common in Tunisia. This is an African Muslim country that has increasingly attracted Russian tourists in recent years after airlines refused to cooperate with Egypt, and for some time with Turkey. Getting into a Turkish bath in Tunisia is not a problem. You just need to know how to properly visit the hammam in Tunisia.

Hamams are often located right on hotel premises. Muslims consider the procedure of visiting a Turkish bath sacred. For them, this is a kind of cleansing of soul and body. Tunisian hammams have an important feature. Men and women attend them separately. Representatives of the stronger half of humanity can stay in the hammam from dawn until noon, and women - from noon until sunset.

Many local residents are sure that in the steam room they not only wash their bodies, but also get a unique opportunity to be alone with themselves, put their thoughts in order, and get true pleasure.

Oriental sauna for weight loss

Nutritionists say that the steam room is one of the best remedies against cellulite and fat deposits. Hot air accelerates lymph flow and blood, which helps fight subcutaneous deposits. The optimal effect is achieved by combining diet and spa treatments - anti-cellulite massage, mud or algae wraps. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

• To improve oxygen supply
  and penetration of nutritional components, steamed skin is cleansed with peeling. The following abrasives are used: salt, coffee or a special product with fruit acids.
• The body is rubbed with handmade soap with anti-cellulite components
  - essential oils, Dead Sea minerals, olive oil and peeling is performed.
• The active substance is distributed onto the thighs, buttocks, and thighs. The body is then wrapped in film
  .

What do you choose for wraps?

To eliminate orange peel, applications with green coffee, berry extracts, kelp, coconut oil, special gels and creams are effective.

• Coffee
  promotes the breakdown of fat and accelerates cell renewal.
• Vitamin-mineral complex
  with brown algae nourishes and tightens the skin.
• Creams
  are not able to get rid of subcutaneous fat, but they have a lifting effect and even out the texture.

Ideally, a bandage wrap with gel impregnation is used, which activates drainage in the subcutaneous matrix. After 30 minutes, the applications are removed. The temperature of a heated body decreases gradually. To tighten the pores, pour cold water on yourself or jump into the pool. In one session, up to 3 cm of volume is lost.

How often should you go to the hammam?

I want to visit this piece of paradise often. Turkish women do not deny themselves pleasure and find a reason to spend quality time once a week. There are no restrictions for experienced steamers, but one visit per week is enough for beginners. After a month you can increase it up to 2 times. If you wash in the bathhouse more often, the therapeutic effect will decrease.

Benefit

Despite the high humidity, due to the low temperature and soft steam, you can breathe deeply. A visit to a Turkish bath will help with ARVI, nasal congestion, and persistent cough. The procedures strengthen the immune system and allow you to forget:

• About a cold;
• Sore throat, laryngitis;
• Diseases of the respiratory system, except asthma;
• Joint pain due to arthritis, rheumatism, gout, radiculitis;
• Neurosis, melancholy;
• Chronic fatigue;
• Muscle pain after sports training and injuries.

Regular visits to the hammam will stop the development of hypertension in the initial stage

In the modern world there are different types of baths and saunas. They differ in their characteristics and advantages, which are determined by the country of origin and its national culture. It is common to visit a Turkish bath - hammam - in beauty and health centers.

Currently, it is quite possible to equip a bathhouse in a house or apartment if you have sufficient space and financial resources. The choice of bath depends on individual tolerance to temperature and humidity. Fashion trends play an important role. It is important to understand that the idea of ​​a hammam should not be limited only to the warm air in a room with stone benches. Turkish bath is a broader concept.

Why go to the hammam after training?

Recently, it has become increasingly popular to place hammams at large sports clubs or fitness centers. Many doubt the advisability of this. Let's try to figure out how effective this is.

The fact is that the classic design of the hammam helps the body recover as much as possible after heavy physical activity. If you learn how to properly visit the hammam after a workout, you will be able to recover quickly. The whole secret is that it is in the Turkish bath that it is possible to achieve the optimal combination of a cold stone surface with hot steam. This makes it easy to tolerate even fairly high temperatures. That is why a Russian bath or a Finnish sauna, with their very high temperature conditions, can put too much stress on the heart. Because of this, the effect can be negative even in a person who has never experienced such health problems.

If you carefully study how to properly visit the hammam in a fitness club, you will be able to quickly recover from grueling workouts and get rid of aching pain in your joints and muscles. To achieve this effect, it is enough to spend no more than a quarter of an hour in the hammam.

Enjoy Your Bath!

Lying on a heated stone, it is easy to forget about chronic fatigue and everyday problems. No need here:

• Give in to the heat;
• Torture the body with a broom;
• Cool off periodically in the pool.

A visit to the steam room comes down to one goal - to sit on a towel and sweat heavily. After 10 minutes, sweat flows in streams, and because of the veil of thick steam, it is impossible to distinguish objects half a meter away. After a quarter of an hour, the relaxed body is ready for bath procedures.

A professional massage and a cloud of soap foam will help you feel bliss. First, the dexterous hands of the bathhouse attendant knead each joint until it crunches. Not only the arms are used, but also the legs. Classic Turkish massage involves kneading the prone body with the soles of your feet. After the execution, rest is required. Then the bath master puts on a kise mitten woven from horsehair or hard fibers and literally removes the skin in layers.

The bathhouse attendant dilutes olive soap in a mesh bag and squeezes a mountain of snow foam onto the body. Gently rubs the skin and at the last moment pours ice water over it. Instead of a soap massage, you can choose a classic or lymphatic drainage massage. After the procedures, the body becomes weightless. The feeling of lightness and pleasant sensations are worth subjecting it to “torture”.

Hamam is suitable for all ages

Another important point: you can visit the hammam at any age, even if a regular sauna is strictly contraindicated for you. This Turkish bath has high humidity as well as optimal body temperature. These factors help achieve maximum peace and relaxation. In addition, the hammam helps to relax muscles, pain goes away, and tension is relieved.

If you follow how to properly visit the hammam in the gym, you are guaranteed to lose several kilograms, get rid of colds, stabilize the functioning of the cardiovascular system, and improve sleep.

Construction of a Turkish bath in a gym or fitness center requires special knowledge. In order for the hammam to bring the desired effect, it is necessary to use only high-quality materials, not violate construction technology, and be attentive to details. After all, the health and safety of people will depend on this. Therefore, such an event should only be trusted to professionals.

About contraindications to visiting the hammam

Hamam is contraindicated in the following cases:

• the presence of skin diseases;
• serious cardiovascular pathologies;
• acute viral and bacterial infections;
• decreased body temperature;
• pregnancy;
• hypertension;
• hypotension;
• epilepsy;
• intolerance to the Turkish bath.

It is important to remember that it is better to separate visits to the hammam and solarium. This is due to the fact that under the influence of a Turkish bath, the sensitivity of the skin sharply increases, which threatens to get a burn in the solarium.

Love yourself!

Hammam in the pool

In order for a visit to a Turkish bath to bring maximum effect, it is best to combine it with a swimming pool. After all, at the end of the procedure, peeling is followed by a soap massage. This, by the way, is one of the most pleasant stages of visiting a Turkish bath. An experienced bath attendant will definitely put a piece of aromatic soap in a small mesh bag and quickly get foam by shaking it. The visitor will find himself covered in this foam from head to toe. The massage will begin only after this.

The rules on how to properly visit a hammam in a pool state that after a soapy massage, you must definitely go to a pool with water at room temperature. Already in this tank you will finally come to your senses after peeling and massage, which will warm you up to the maximum.

Since visiting a hammam with a swimming pool correctly is important for human health, do not forget to drink a cup of aromatic tea immediately after leaving the water. This will put your thoughts in order and calm your nerves. Remember that after a Turkish bath you should generally drink as much liquid as possible. By the way, it doesn’t have to be tea. If you are not a big fan of this drink, you can replace it with mineral water. Alcohol is best avoided. It is best not to drink alcohol at all when visiting any bathhouse, both Russian and Finnish.

After tea, another massage will await you. This time using essential oils. Remember that if you regularly start visiting the hammam, you will guarantee yourself not only a healthy, but also a strong, athletic body. In addition, your blood vessels will be in order, your nerves will calm down, and you will be able to solve life and work problems more quickly and effectively.

Bath etiquette

This option is suitable for those who like to relax and feel the beneficial effects of air scented with herbs and essential oils. In such conditions, oriental women love to engage in spa treatments and have leisurely conversations. Traditionally, they spend the whole day in the bathhouse, but a couple of hours is enough for hygiene procedures and relaxation. To get maximum benefit, it is important:

• Do not hurry;
• Follow the rules;
• Do not break the sequence of steps.

Before visiting the steam room, first enter a room with a temperature of + 35°C. Staying in a warm dressing room prepares the heart for thermal stress. After adaptation, they go to the hararet - the washing room. In the round marble hall in the middle there is a gobektashi (belly stone), on which procedures are performed. Below it in the basement there is a firebox with a boiler, from where steam is supplied through pipes.