It is great to see sauna awareness are increasing in Perth these days. More and more pop-up saunas are appearing everyday in different locations. It has become a trend for people to include sauna fitness as part of their daily routine.
However, this trend comes with unfortunate simplification and misrepresentation of what original sauna tradition is. One of the first simplifications of original saunas happened long time ago with appearance of electric heating and exclusion of steam from the sauna room. Then, electromagnetic cubicles appeared and they were presented as “infrared saunas”. Well, not everything that heats your body can be called sauna. Such cubicles come with EMF radiation a person is subjected to in a small space due to electrical wiring and heating principles of “far infrared” spectrum which are very much similar to a microwave oven.
Another and the most recent step in sauna simplification can be seen in Perth today, with pop-up saunas appearing in location with minimum facilities and they charge their visitors by the hour or even 45 min in some cases. Those who never experienced original sauna way might think going to sauna is simply to make a quick stop over to “sweat it out” in a short time and continue with their busy day. Very much like fast food eateries misrepresented what food actually is, the current “fast-food saunas” bring a very different meaning to this ancestral therapy.
Original Eastern and Northern European sauna (in Russian language called Banya) has deep roots in local traditions and lifestyle of people. Often Banya (sauna) used to be built even before the family house and most of the families would have their own family Banya. Dear guests that travelled from afar used to be welcomed and treated with the cleansing ritual in a family Banya before they are invited to dinner.
Banya is an energetic place where four nature’s elements (water, fire, air, and earth) meet and work together to reset, re-energise and cleanse human body and spirit. Correct steam and specially made leafy tree whisks “veniki” are used by a sauna master (in Russian language “banschik”) to direct energy flow. This process creates certain beat and flow on a guest’s body which is an essential part of all Banya (sauna) sessions. After this treatment, not only the body is detoxed and re-energised, but also bad spirits being are expelled. Therefore, Banya guests become relaxed, happy and honest with each other.
Usually, Banya relaxation takes at least 2-3 hours but can often take half a day. There are three stages of Banya therapies. They are: hot (being inside steam room), cold (cold shower or submergence into cold water or snow), relaxation (taking a rest in a comfortable position without rushing to get back to Banya). All three stages are equally important and you cannot skip one to fast forward the experience. No rush and no timing are the other important rules of relaxation. Time stops in Banya. Only this way can one reach the full potential of the energy of Banya.
There are also the fourth and fifth stages of Banya’s traditional relaxation. A warm, nourishing dinner and good night sleep after being in Banya. You will still feel healing effect of yesterday’s Banya treatment the next morning when you wake up.
At Vëska by the Lake we offer the original way of traditional sauna relaxation and Banya therapies. Visit us to experience it by yourself.
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