Why did the Russians need a bath, in addition to washing. Why do we need a sauna: benefits, harms, how and when to take a steam bath, useful tips Pleasant with useful

The bath has served man since ancient times. People use it not only as a place where you can take a steam bath and wash, but also as a place where you can rest your body and soul. Many peoples believed that the bath heals many diseases and prolongs life. And so far, mankind has not come up with a replacement for the bath.

Baths are used for healing and relaxation. After the bath, the state of the nervous system, skin, internal organs improves and blood circulation normalizes.

Baths have always been popular all over the world. And today they have gained special love the people who lead sedentary image life.

Of course, there are craftsmen who can build a bathhouse on their site with their own hands. But if there is not enough time or knowledge, then you can always order a turnkey bath, which will be a great place for a relaxing pastime at any time of the year. Usually, baths are built from chopped or rounded logs, the thickness of which is from 18 to 24 centimeters.

Bath construction is a technically complex process, so it is best to entrust this work to professionals. They will complete their task quickly and efficiently. You can also order a bath on your own own project.

Usually, specialists immediately provide an estimate so that the customer can immediately find out how much money will be spent on construction.

The best option placement of the bath will be the shore of the reservoir. But the coast should not be steep. Also, the bath should be installed where the impact of wind on structures will be minimal. Among other things, it is important to take care of the removal of polluted water, so it is better to build a bathhouse on a hill.

What is the bath made of?

The bath consists of three parts: vestibule, dressing room and steam room. The tambour of the bath serves as a kind of air buffer and does not allow cold air to penetrate further into the following rooms. In the dressing room there are places for changing and resting. The steam room is the central room in the bath. There is a stove-heater, wooden shelves and benches for washing.

The construction process depends on the type of bath being built. There are two types wooden baths: from a bar or from a log house.

In order for the result of construction to be also externally attractive, it is necessary to use materials High Quality, without shells and knots.

Most experts prefer pine to give the structure a special appeal. Also, pine baths are distinguished by warmth and comfort.

Health

modern sauna, which will be discussed below, wasinvented in Finland . Its analogues appeared about 2 thousand years ago. The Finns, like other peoples of the north, cannot imagine their life without a steam room and visit it regularly.

According to statistics, there are electric saunas in every second Finnish apartment. And if someone does not have a sauna in the apartment, then there will definitely be one or two steam rooms for public use in a high-rise building, where apartment residents can go whenever they wish.

Sauna inextricably linked with Finnish culture and is considered national symbol Finland. No wonder it has become so popular in other countries, because it has so many benefits!

In Finland, there is a legend about the sauna: one day, drops of rainwater seeped through the roof andfell on hot rocks in the hearth, which caused a pleasant heat in the room. People realized that they could make such a steam room with hot steam on their own. In ancient times, it was believed that steam is a spirit that can give health and happiness.

1. What is a sauna? The difference between a bath and a sauna

Word sauna came to us from Latin - that's what they call today Finnish bath, a type of steam room in which the hot air is dry, without steam. Today I would like to talk about this type of bath, since it is he who is very popular, they can be found in cities, and special electric saunas can be installed even in an apartment.

Culture use hot water, hot steam and air for heating, hygiene and medicinal purposes is rooted in time immemorial. An interesting fact is that baths as such appeared in different peoples almost simultaneously and independently of each other.

Sauna- this is the bath, only with its own characteristics. Sometimes a sauna is called a Finnish bath. It differs from the Russian bath in that it is basically a dry steam room, where there is no steam or very little of it. Thanks to these features, Russian baths and Finnish saunas have different influence on the human body.

In the Russian bath, the air temperature is not too high - 40-70 ºС, when the air humidity is very high - 90-100%. If the temperature in the bath were higher with such humidity, one could simply get a steam burn!

In the Finnish sauna, on the contrary - the temperature - 70-100 ºС, and humidity is 10-25%. To avoid burns from hot steam, it is not advised to pour hot stones in the sauna with water in large quantities.

dry air heats the body evenly and sweat is released to cool the skin naturally.

It is believed that the Russian bath is not so shocks the body, How Finnish sauna because the temperature is lower. However, according to the effects for a weaker body, it is still advised to choose a dry sauna.

The stones on which water is poured are located in the stove with the lid closed, so they heat up more. Stones in the sauna lie open.

They steam in baths and saunas in different ways - people in baths constantly moving: carry water, water, bathe, etc. In the sauna - just lie down and relax.

In the baths I use brooms to stimulate sweating, the sauna is so hot that a person sweats without any stimulation. Sometimes, nevertheless, brooms are taken to the sauna for massage.

2. Types of saunas: conventional and infrared

A typical sauna is a room upholstered wooden planks , where heat is usually supplied using a stove and burning wood, but there are also modern analogues based on the supply of heat using electricity.

infrared saunas differ in that the heat supply to the cabin is by radiation of an infrared heater. This radiation gives heat, but the peculiarity of such heat is that it is not the air that is heated, but objects directly, including the body of a person who is inside the cabin.

Heat penetrates the body about 4 cm, thereby warming it up better than a regular Finnish sauna does. This allows you to increase sweating and release toxins from the body through sweat.

The temperature in the infrared sauna 40-60 º WITH, so people can calmly bathe there, having heart problems.

To visit the infrared sauna, like any other, there are contraindications, and not everyone can normally tolerate the thermal effects of a certain strength.

Infrared saunas appear today in many spa centers and sports complexes. They are ready to use already. after 15 minutes after being turned on, when it can take at least an hour to heat up a normal sauna.

3. Sauna Benefits: Why go to saunas?

The main question that worries everyone who is interested in the sauna is why is it needed at all? Is there any benefit to sauna use other than just the good feeling and good time with friends? Undoubtedly, there are benefits, and anyone who visits saunas on a regular basis can attest to this.

Positive effect on the SKIN and elimination of various skin problems with the help of a sauna:

Cleansing microbes, bacteria, various types of contaminants invisible to the eye from the skin;
Removal of the dead layer of cells and increased metabolism, and as a result - skin rejuvenation;
Removal of excess sebum along with sweat: this prevents the appearance of acne and blackheads;
Restoration of natural blood circulation, which helps eliminate problems such as pallor, dry or oily skin, enlarged pores; improvement of skin health indicators: elasticity, softness, etc.;
Training of sweat glands, improvement of the body's thermoregulation system;
Smoothing wrinkles, slowing down the aging process of the skin;
Training the skin's ability to withstand the negative effects of the environment.

Positive effect on the HEART AND VESSELS with the help of sauna:

Restoration of the cardiovascular system;
Stimulation of the work of the heart muscle (the heart has a similar training when physical activity);
Activation of reserve blood, which gives the cells a signal to renew.

Positive effect on the NERVOUS SYSTEM with the help of sauna:

Reduced mental stress, relaxation due to brain oxygenation and flushing more blood to muscles
Elimination of stress, reduction of excitability.

Positive effect on the RESPIRATORY organ using sauna:

Improved air exchange in the lungs due to deeper breathing;
Improving lung ventilation;
Elimination of excess mucus from the lungs and bronchi;
Improved oxygen consumption;
Help in the treatment of chronic and common colds.

Positive effect on MUSCLES with sauna:

Decrease in the level of lactic acid in the muscles, which accumulates after physical exertion and gives pain and discomfort (immediately after the sauna, the level is halved, and an hour after the procedure - another three times);
Eliminate overwork in the muscles, relax them;
An increase in muscle endurance, reaction speed (when used in saunas, the temperature is about 100 º WITH)/

Positive effect on JOINTS, LINGUES and BONES with the help of sauna:

Improving the elasticity and mobility of the ligaments;
Increase in the flow of nutrients to the joints and ligaments (by activating reserve blood);
Resorption of salt deposits;
Resorption of fluid around the joints (decrease in swelling);
Faster healing of injuries of ligaments, joints or bones, acceleration of recovery processes;
Reduction of discomfort in the joints after physical exertion;
Bone renewal.

Positive effect on the KIDNEY with sauna:

Facilitate the work of the kidneys due to increased sweating, reducing the load on them.

Positive effect on METABOLISM with sauna:

Accelerating the excretion of sodium chloride salts, nitrogenous substances, uric acid, urea, inorganic phosphorus and lactic acid from the body.
Activation of metabolic processes, increase in metabolic rate;
Help in losing weight;
A surge of strength, vivacity and improvement in well-being, also associated with an acceleration of metabolism.

Other positive influences that the sauna gives:

Improving visual acuity;
Increased light sensitivity of the eye;
Improving concentration;
Removal of overwork, fatigue and stress;
Feeling of lightness, improved mood, increased optimism;
Normalization of sleep, getting rid of insomnia;
Improving immunity, reducing the number of infections with colds and viral diseases to a minimum, and often to zero;
Removal of symptoms of a hangover;
Good adaptation to the summer heat (or preparation for holidays in hot countries), working out the mechanism of protection against overheating.

Thanks to all the benefits of a sauna for physical and mental health, regular visits to the steam room increase energy, productivity, self-confidence, and optimism.

Sauna in winter helps the body adapt to the winter cold, boosting immunity, and in the summer - to the heat (you feel much more comfortable in the summer heat and do not even need air conditioning!)

4. Sauna harm: contraindications and warnings

Speaking about the positive properties of the sauna, of which there are undoubtedly a great many, it is also worth noting that the effect of high temperatures, as well as temperature changes that the body is exposed to in saunas, can harm. Problems come when a person begins to misuse a resource, because with the right approach there will never be harm.

The sauna is an instrument that should be used very MODERATELY! Overheating with frequent visits to the steam room and a long stay in it leads to the following problems:

Loss of moisture reserves that are very important for health;
Increased heart rate to a critical state;
thickening of the blood;
Dangerous increase in pressure;
Overexcitation of the nervous system;
Weakness, apathy, loss of appetite;
Fainting, loss of consciousness.

Contraindications:

It is better to refuse visiting the sauna for those who suffer from some of the serious diseases presented below. If you do not have these diseases, but still have any doubts, then you should check with the doctor can you visit the sauna and which one.

Heart disease (especially hypertension);

Kidney disease with impaired function;
Cholelithiasis(with seizures);
Chronic inflammation of the peritoneum;
Neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract, stomach and intestinal ulcers;
chronic hepatitis;
Inflammation of various organs;
severe neurological disease and mental illness;
Oncological diseases.

Also, you should not visit the sauna immediately after surgery. You should also refuse if at the moment you are suffering from diarrhea, you feel unwell, you have an acute respiratory viral infection with fever, you have any infectious diseases, tuberculosis, epilepsy, psychosis and others. severe illness.

Saunas are also contraindicated if a person afraid to visit her or experiencing extreme discomfort from high temperature. It is highly recommended not to “drag” such a person into the sauna and insist too much, because it will not bring him any benefit, and you may feel extremely uncomfortable being in his company.

5. Can a pregnant woman go to the sauna?

Pregnant women often hear about the various restrictions that are imposed on them by virtue of their position. Pregnancy is not a disease, but precautions are necessary, because the second body in a woman’s body may react in a completely different way than her own body before pregnancy.

Strong body heat and temperature changes for a pregnant woman are often not recommended - just in case! But in fact, visiting the sauna is not prohibited during pregnancy, if you act carefully and under supervision the attending physician.

IMPORTANT! Before visiting the sauna, you should consult with the doctor who is in charge of your pregnancy. This is true for any potentially dangerous procedures, even if you got used to them before pregnancy!

You are more likely to be banned from the steam room if you have short term(first trimester), there are any concerns and risks for the health of the mother and fetus, you have oligohydramnios, hypotension, infections of the reproductive system and more.

If you are healthy, there are no risks, the fetus is developing normally, you are in the 2nd or 3rd trimester and you regularly visited the sauna before pregnancy (that is, you have a normal experience - six months or more), then the risks of harm from the sauna are minimal.

Keep an eye out: if you don't feel as good as you used to in the sauna, don't continue! This may be a signal that Sauna is not good for you right now.

If you are used to going to the sauna not only to visit the steam room, this is for you. the best place rest and relaxation, you come there to chat with friends, do massages and various body and hair masks, etc., and the steam room is just an additional ritual from the SPA treatment complex, you can safely visit the sauna while pregnant, but without entering in the steam room, especially if the doctor forbade you to do so.

The good health and mood that you get from relaxing in pleasant company will have a great effect on your overall health. Happy and calm mother- a guarantee of health, happiness and tranquility of the unborn child!

6. Can children use the sauna?

In the old days, saunas and baths were used for childbirth: thanks to the high temperatures, this was the most sterile place. And although people in those days did not know what microbes were, intuitively felt that the sauna is a great place for the emergence of a new life.

In Finland, children are starting to be taken to saunas on an equal basis with adults since the age of 4. Current research shows that children who regularly visit saunas and baths with their parents get sick a lot less, and also receive such qualities of character as determination and discipline. Such children are also more obedient and less irritable, probably because the sauna helps to relax normally and relieve overexcitation.

It is believed that starting from the age of 3, a child can gradually accustom to the sauna if you visit it regularly. This, first of all, concerns home saunas, where you are sure of hygiene and cleanliness. public saunas- quite a dangerous place in terms of infections. Adults have more strong immunity to infections in public places than in children, so if you are afraid for the health of the child, do not go with him to public saunas.

If you have any doubts about your child's use of the sauna, check with the pediatrician whether it is possible for the child to take a steam bath and how much time he can spend in the steam room without harm. Each individual child may have some contraindications that your doctor knows and can warn you.

If visitation is allowed, remember that the child's body heats up faster, so he needs to quite a bit of time spend in the steam room, warns the author of the site. In addition, children should not bathe on the upper shelves, the best is on the lower shelf or on the floor, where the air temperature is about 40-50 ºС.

7. How often and how to go to the sauna?

A visit to the sauna has certain stages, which everyone who wants to get the most out of it and who walks on an ongoing basis needs to know.

For beginners: it's better to start from 1 time per week staying in the steam room for no more than 5 minutes in one session. You can do several such sessions within an hour - 2-5 (less for beginners). In normal mode, you can stay in the sauna about 15 minutes in one session (but it all depends on the condition, experience and health of the person). More than 30 minutes at a time to be in the steam room is contraindicated, because the benefit turns into harm!

In mild forms of diseases in which sauna visits are not recommended, you can begin to accustom the body to the sauna by visiting it. once every 2 weeks. But here it is better to consult a doctor.

Those who already have enough experience and who have a strong healthy body can take a steam bath up to 4 times a week, but the time of visiting the steam room should be no more than 7-10 minutes at a time.

On average, good effects will be noticeable already when visiting the sauna. 1-2 times a week within a few months.

To maximize the benefits of visiting the sauna, you should adhere to certain rules, which have been formed over the course of many centuries of human use of the possibilities of the sauna. Memorize them and follow each of the points step by step.

1) Warm showers and pool access.

If you plan to not only take a steam bath in the steam room in the sauna, but also swim properly in the pool, it is better to do this before taking hot procedures, since it is not recommended to swim in cool water for a long time after the steam room - the risk of colds increases. This, of course, applies to warmer pools intended for swimming. If your sauna does not have such a pool, but only a cold pool, then you will skip this step.

2) After water sports, it is worth taking a hot shower.

This stage is preparatory. It is needed in order to prepare the body for a higher temperature in the steam room. You can check that the body is ready by looking at pinkish or red skin during a hot shower. After a shower, you need to dry yourself well with a towel so that the skin is dry: only then sweating will be better.

3) The first entry into the sauna for 5-8 minutes. It is worth lying on the lower shelf horizontally or with legs slightly raised for about 3-4 minutes.

This allows the body to warm up evenly, because the temperature in the sauna rises from the floor to the ceiling. If you sit, your head will warm up more than your legs, and this will give an additional load on the heart. If the legs are slightly raised, and you are lying on a shelf, this significantly reduces the load. In addition, in the supine position, the muscles relax well.

The next step is to raise the temperature: you can lie on the shelf above. Don't lie on the top floor longer than 2-3 minutes!

4) Cold treatments.

After the first entry into the sauna, you need to stand for a short while under a cool shower or plunge into a cool pool for a few minutes. The temperature in the pool should be 16-20 ºС, this is the most comfortable for the body and will give a good effect.

After the steam room it is necessary always wash off the sweat, since when the body cools to normal temperature, all the released substances, together with sweat, begin to be absorbed back!

ATTENTION! Whoever has heart problems should not take a cold shower or plunge into a cold pool!

5) After cold procedures, it is worth taking a warm or hot shower again., wipe off and rest in the relaxation room for 10 to 20 minutes before the next entry. It is good to drink a glass of water or other permitted drinks to restore water balance.

The number of visits to the steam room depends on individual preferences and body capabilities. For beginners and patients - better no more than 2 times at a moderate temperature (lying on the lower shelves), for healthy people - more. But usually 3-5 times for 10-15 minutes is enough to feel the effect.

It is optimal to rent a sauna for 2 hours: this time is enough for relaxation, rest and all procedures. If you also invite a massage therapist to the sauna, then more time may be needed.

It is worth paying attention to precautions and certain rules that should not be violated, not to hurt yourself and those around. The following things are not allowed or recommended in saunas:

Drinking alcohol;
Overeat;
Sit on the bottom shelf or on the floor in the steam room, increasing the time spent in it;
Keep your feet down and your head up (especially if you are sitting on the top bunk);
Take a hot shower immediately after the steam room;
Sit in the steam room with your head uncovered;
Sitting in the steam room with legs crossed;
Sit in the steam room in clothes;
Immediately after the steam room, jump into the pool sweaty (you should first wash off the sweat with a cool or cold water in the shower);
Swim in the pool immediately after visiting the steam room or after all steam treatments (you can swim before).

9. Sauna for treatment

Dry sauna - Finnish sauna differs from the steam bath in terms of effects. Despite higher temperatures, dry hot air is easier to carry sick, elderly and unseasoned people as well as women and children.

The sauna helps prevent diseases, that is, it acts as a prophylactic, increases resistance to disease. But it can cure some diseases. If you have any of the diseases listed below, check with your doctor about how much you are allowed to use the sauna, how often and in what form. In each case, the frequency temperature regime and stay in the steam rooms can be different!

Rheumatism. In mild forms of this disease, warming up the body will help relax and warm the joints and muscles. After that, you can not plunge into a cold pool or douse yourself with cold water.

Radiculitis. Massages and wraps, along with a visit to the steam room, help fight this problem.

Hypertension and hypotension. It helps to normalize blood pressure in mild forms of these diseases.

Phlebeurysm. Sauna helps to strengthen the walls of blood vessels.

Skin diseases - psoriasis and neurodermatitis. Sauna helps to moisturize the skin, remove the upper layers, cleanse the pores, reduce the symptoms of diseases, etc.

Bruises, sprains and sprains, muscle pain after exercise. Problems quickly disappear due to increased blood circulation.

Haemorrhoids. Helps to normalize the outflow of venous blood.

Colds at the initial stage. Sauna helps with mild colds, wet and dry coughs. With chest cough, wheezing and obstruction, you should exclude the sauna and consult a doctor.

Some diseases and symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract.

10. Sauna for weight loss

It is known that visiting the sauna, coupled with other procedures, helps to reduce weight. If you are serious about getting rid of extra pounds, that is, stick to proper nutrition, you are active enough, sleep well and do not have stress, you can start going to the sauna as an addition.

Remember that if your eating and activity problems are not resolved, the sauna itself will not help you become leaner!

One of the effects of the sauna is that it helps to expel with perspiration. toxins and slags, including salts that retain fluid. In addition, if you have steamed and sweated properly, you may notice that in just 2 hours you seem to have decreased in size. This is especially noticed by women who do not have much excess weight.

The effect can be explained simply: a large moisture loss makes you a little lighter, puffiness is reduced. To make the effect last longer, reduce consumption of salty and any junk food to a minimum and visit the sauna at least once a week.

A very important thing in losing weight - calm mental state. When stressed, the body is very tense and wants to gain as many resources as possible to cope with stress. If it’s bad now, then you don’t know what will happen tomorrow, I’ll pick up more, just in case. This is what explains the “stress congestion”, when the body of an unhappy and stressed person needs more food.

Sauna in this case will help reduce stress, give inner peace and tranquility, improve sleep, and the body will not have to “think” about how to gain more for a rainy day.

To speed up the process of losing weight, you should pay attention to the following order of visiting the sauna:

1) Warm or hot shower to warm up and prepare for the steam room.

2) 3-4 visits to the steam room at a temperature on the top shelf - 90-100 ºС and with a break - 10 minutes. After the steam room, you can plunge into the cold pool or take a cool shower.

3) After the second call, you should drink a hot diaphoretic broth.

4) Between the second and third entry into the sauna, scrub with cornmeal, coffee or other means. You can also make wraps based on clay or seaweed in problem areas. You can massage problem areas or the whole body.

TIP: Do not take with you flour and sweets, as well as any products with carbohydrates, especially in the morning. Do not drink sweet drinks and juices in the sauna, even if they are freshly squeezed, drink only herbal teas or plain water. Skip sugary fruits – take sour fruits or vegetables, and you can also snack on a handful of nuts.

11. What can you eat and drink in the sauna?

Visiting saunas is often associated with holidays, there is even a tradition to celebrate some events in saunas. Nice environment and good company relax and improve mood, and holidays are often expected laid rich tables with junk food and alcohol.

But, unfortunately, no matter how the tradition is rooted in our culture, you should drink and eat between trips to the steam room with great care. Why?

Sauna is not a place for feasts: at this moment the body is under stress from temperature changes and receives a certain dose of positive effects from this, but still it is stress. If you load it heavy food and even more so alcohol, the body can hardly cope with the loads, and the effect of the procedures is reduced significantly.

The bath room can be used to solve various problems that arise daily for the owner of a private house.

1. For its intended purpose: recreation, health improvement, communication with friends and relatives.

2. In summer time in the washing department you can bathe after working in the garden or garden and not bring dirt into the house.

3. It is convenient to store work clothes in the bathhouse and change clothes for seasonal work.

4. In the intervals between bath procedures (the bath is usually heated once a week), things, tools and garden equipment can be stored in the room.

5. On the terrace or in the sauna itself, you can relax during the day.

Designing a family bath

Convenient layout family bath

The bath is designed for 5 - 7 people. The size of the bath without a veranda is 3 x 6 meters, the steam room is 1.5 x 3 meters, washing department 2 x 3 meters, rest room 2.5 x 3 meters. On the image, the numbers indicate: 1 - sunbeds in the steam room on two levels, 2 - an oven for heating the steam room, 3 - a place for a shower, 4 - an electric or wood-fired water heater, 5 - a table in the relaxation room, 6 - benches, 7 - benches on the open veranda.

In the steam room, you need to place 2 sun loungers 40 - 50 centimeters wide. There should be free space around the stove, so it is safer for people and less likely to ignite wood. There is a minimum of free space, in the steam room most of the time people spend on sunbeds.

The size of the steam room depends on the way to bathe, if with brooms, then the steam room can be made larger.

The washing department is usually used by one person, so a width of 1.50 - 2 meters is enough. For washing, you can install a standard shower or make a simple shower with a sewer drain in the floor. We are planning shelves for shower accessories, bath brooms and at least one basin for steaming brooms.

We leave the maximum space for the rest room, in which we install wooden deck chairs along all free walls and a portable table. This layout allows you to relax after the steam room and use this room in between baths.

We build the foundation

Foundation for a small family bath for 5 - 7 people

The image indicates: A - the device of a separate support, B - the location of the supports relative to the walls, 1 - sand, 2 - concrete block, 3 - the approximate level of the ground, the height above the ground is about 40 centimeters.

A wooden bathhouse measuring 6 x 3 meters from a bar can be attributed to light buildings that do not require a capital strip or slab foundation. We will make the foundation for the bath from 6 supports, each of which consists of 2 concrete slabs approximately 300x300x600 mm in size. The sequence of building a foundation for a bath.

1. We mark the location of the walls of the bath on the ground, mark the corners and the middle of the long walls - this is the location of the supports.

2. In places where concrete blocks are located, we remove the top fertile soil layer, approximately 20-40 centimeters deep.

3. We make a sand cushion of 10 centimeters, it is better to use coarse river sand. Small gravel can be an alternative to sand.

Bath is a wonderful place where many people go with great pleasure - families or friendly companies, just on a day off or to celebrate a solemn event. Why is a bath so useful that this procedure has been popular since ancient times to this day? In fact, the merits of a real Russian bath can hardly be overestimated. Taking a bath or shower will never give the same feeling of lightness, cleanliness and renewal as visiting a steam room. The bath is certainly useful for both physical and moral health, it is a great place to pay attention to yourself and your body, improve your health and improve your mood.

In order for the effect of the procedures to be maximum, it is worth visiting the bath about once a week. For hygiene purposes, you should take rubber slippers or slates, a bath mat on a bench and a personal basin with you. In order not to spoil the hair and not overheat the head, it will not be superfluous to purchase a special cap.

Note! Before entering the steam room, you should stand under warm shower or sit in the dressing room to warm up the body.

All about beneficial properties

Useful properties of the bath are in its effect on almost all organs and systems of the human body. It wonderfully restores and hardens the body, helps in improving immunity and thermoregulation.

First of all, you should visit the bathhouse at the first sign of a cold. The main thing is to sweat well in the steam room - in a well-steamed, hot bath, most of the pathogenic bacteria die, not only on the skin, but also in the internal organs. And if you splash eucalyptus, fir or birch infusion on hot stones, the rising steam will help clear your throat and nose.

Note! Bath procedures, due to the warming effect, are generally very useful for respiratory system what smokers should pay attention to.

With proper use of the bath, chronic respiratory diseases are alleviated, and in some cases even cured. In the steam room, be sure to use a broom - it pumps even more hot air, medicinal substances, evaporating from the leaves, destroy pathogenic microorganisms, and essential oils improve metabolism.

In addition, the bath is great for rheumatism, sciatica and other joint or muscle pain. Bath procedures are very useful for those who go in for sports, hard work, and experience high physical exertion. Bath as a whole improves the protective and adaptive capabilities of the body. It is useful to take a steam bath with sprains and dislocations, the bath helps the body in the regeneration of muscle tissues, dissolves salts deposited in the joints and warms up diseased bones.

The bath has a wonderful effect on the heart and blood vessels, improves physical performance. When alternating high and low temperatures, the heart muscle is strengthened, which reduces the risk of a heart attack.

Note! Heart patients should always consult a doctor before going to the bath.

Bath steam improves blood circulation, because capillaries and blood vessels begin to work better, saturating the body with oxygen and nutrients: blood stasis is eliminated and excess cholesterol is removed, settling on the walls of blood vessels.

Due to increased sweating, various toxins and slags are removed from the body in the bath, edema is reduced due to the unloading of the kidneys, and the effect lasts up to six hours after visiting the steam room. However, you should be careful - in order to avoid salt imbalance, you should not bathe after intense exercise associated with increased sweating.

Contrasting douches in the bath have a positive effect on the digestive system and intestines, and also contribute to weight loss.

A good bath is also good for the health of the psyche. Many, leaving the steam room, feel refreshed and rested, as if born again. This is due to the fact that while in a heated bath, blood flow to the brain weakens, which leads to a decrease in emotional activity and mental relaxation of the body. Headache and excessive nervousness disappear, unpleasant thoughts disappear, mood improves. That is why it is good to visit the bathhouse on the weekends - it perfectly eliminates the stress that has accumulated during the working week. It is very useful during the steam room to give an infusion of valerian, mint or motherwort on hot stones - they perfectly relieve nervous tension and promote restful sleep. However, if the procedure is carried out incorrectly, for example, if you stay in an overheated bath for too long, your health, on the contrary, may worsen - there will be a feeling of anxiety, fear, general weakness, sleep will deteriorate and appetite will decrease.

In the fight for beauty

And, of course, the bath is very useful for the skin. Cosmetics and polluted air have a very bad effect on her condition. At home, the skin is cleaned only superficially. However, in the bath, the pores open up, helping the skin to cleanse itself of toxins, old dirt and harmful substances. The rush of blood to the surface of the skin helps it recover, in addition, the work of the hair follicles improves, better. Bath heat kills pathogenic bacteria on the body. In addition, it is very good to walk on steamed skin with a broom, such as birch or oak. This will help improve the condition of inflamed skin, and with regular use, even relieve sweating. In addition, when using a broom, the entire skin is massaged, and the essential oils that are released from the leaves at this time improve metabolism and saturate the skin. beneficial substances, regenerate and disinfect it. With the help of a broom and hot steam, the dead layer of the skin is removed, it begins to breathe and rejuvenates from the inside, it becomes firm and elastic, regardless of skin type. For example, oily skin dries out a little, while dry skin, on the contrary, receives the nutrition and hydration it needs.

Thanks to a kind of "training" of the skin, the bath perfectly helps to fight the appearance of wrinkles and regulates the work. sebaceous glands. To strengthen the vessels after the steam room, it is good to douse with cool water. It will also have a positive effect on the scalp. Most importantly, be sure to wash yourself after visiting the steam room, otherwise everything harmful substances penetrate back into the skin. In general, while the skin is steamed, it is perfectly ready for various cosmetic procedures, which is very important for a woman. You can purchase special bath mittens, massage brushes and heel graters, apply a variety of scrubs and masks, both purchased and home cooking. By the way, anti-cellulite wraps and creams work great in the steam room. Hair, and the body, can be rinsed with water left over from steaming a broom for a better effect.

Note! Due to the improvement of metabolism, the removal of excess fluid from the body and a positive effect on gastrointestinal tract, bath procedures help to lose weight and correct the figure.

In general, visiting a steam room is useful for the female genitourinary system - a bath improves health after miscarriages and abortions, with violations of the uterus and ovaries, and other gynecological diseases. However, there are contraindications - for example, after recent operations, childbirth or in acute inflammatory processes. Before visiting the bath, be sure to consult a doctor. The bath very well alleviates the condition with menopause, removing the physical and moral disorders associated with it.

Also, the bath is useful for young girls, because with regular visits to the bath, the ligaments become more elastic, which will help during childbirth, and those who have already given birth improve lactation and relieve nervous tension. For pregnant women, a bath is useful in that it reduces swelling and improves blood circulation.

Of course, the bath is also useful for men. In addition to relieving tension and relieving pain in muscles and joints after heavy physical exertion, bath procedures perfectly help to harden and strengthen male body. Also, the bath has a positive effect on male potency, treats diseases of the genitourinary system and fights premature ejaculation. Most importantly, do not overdo it, because high temperatures adversely affect male reproductive ability.

Do you like to visit the sauna: sit in the steam room and then plunge into the cool pool? Have you ever wondered if it is not harmful to health, how to go to the sauna correctly and how often, what procedures are most useful in it?

What is a sauna

Sauna and bath are the Finnish and Russian names for the same room and procedure, respectively. This is a steam room with dry (sauna) and wet (bath) steam, obtained from the fact that water or herbal infusions are poured onto hot stones.

Basically, the sauna modern form personifies the fusion of several elements of nature - fire, air and water, they, in a reasonable combination, cleanse the body from filth, and the soul - from evil thoughts. Ancestors knew this, today it is no less relevant.

In our time, the sauna has gained popularity among men and women who care about their health, who want to lose weight and cleanse the body . Saunas today have any self-respecting sports club, beauty salon and health center.

How sauna affects the body

The sauna is useful for almost everyone - from babies to the elderly, the main thing is to use it correctly. Exercising while visiting the sauna the cardiovascular system, blood flow is activated, the pulse increases, and the pressure remains the same. Due to the activation of metabolism, excess fats are burned and “bad” cholesterol is excreted.

The bath is useful for people with both high and low blood pressure: under the influence of steam from water and herbal infusions pressure returns to normal. As a result, the blood more actively absorbs oxygen and delivers it to the tissues.

It is important that the steam of the sauna has a stimulating effect on the muscles and skin, enhancing their metabolic processes and removing toxins. It is especially good after physical activity, trainings and competitions.

The sauna perfectly calms and heals the nerves, due to the pleasant heat, tension is removed from the body, it relaxes, and together with the body it relaxes and nervous system . A change in temperature improves mood, raises emotional tone, relieves stress and eliminates signs of depression. Bath can rejuvenate, especially if you make it a tradition, it strengthens bones and joints, they retain their mobility longer.

However, in order for the sauna to have its maximum useful properties, without harming the body, you need to visit it according to special rules, you should properly prepare for the trip and take everything you need with you.

What to take to the sauna

Why go to the sauna?

In order for your visit to the sauna to be useful and enjoyable, you must follow some rules. You need to prepare some necessary things with you - these should be a clean cotton sheet, a bath towel, washable sandals or slippers, a special hat. All these items can be purchased in special departments for saunas and baths.

If you want to combine visiting the sauna with beauty treatments, prepare in advance masks and scrubs, body cream that you will use.

In the sauna, the body loses a lot of fluid, so bring tea, clean water or herbal infusions to drink with you. You can use decoctions of berries, compotes, diluted warm juices. It is worth refraining from the use of alcoholic beverages and soda, sweet juices in the sauna.

Before visiting the sauna, it is not recommended to eat tightly - have a light snack vegetable soup or cottage cheese with fruit. You should not arrange feasts with dense and fatty foods and alcohol in the sauna, as many vacationers do, then the sauna will bring harm instead of benefit: the combination of dense food, alcohol and heat is a blow to the body. Before going to the sauna itself, you can’t train a lot at an accelerated pace.

Do not wear lenses or jewelry in the sauna as they can get very hot, melt and cause burns. Visit the sauna in the nude, swimwear and swimming trunks are unhygienic.

Before entering the steam room

Before entering the steam room, you need to wash your body in the shower, but you should not wet your hair. No need to wash the skin with soap, so as not to wash off the protective film, it will protect the skin from overdrying at high temperatures. After a shower, thoroughly dry the body from the water, then in the steam room it will heat up evenly.

You can not smear the body with cream, this will disrupt skin breathing and clog pores. When entering the steam room, put on a hat.

How long to bathe and rest?

When visiting the sauna, there is no need to rush - the ideal time for the procedure is a three-hour session, it is especially useful in the afternoon, after 15-17 hours, or in the evening. Remember that the body after the sauna requires rest.

The most optimal is three visits to the steam room with periods of rest, this is the most useful rhythm of the procedure, the change of high and low temperatures is most effective.

Initially, sit on the lower shelves - there the temperature is usually up to seventy degrees, and on the upper shelves the temperature can reach hundreds of degrees. It is important to be in the same thermal zone with your whole body - lie on a shelf, spreading a towel or sheet under you. In the sauna you need to breathe through your nose and not talk.

You need to stay in the steam room for as long as you feel comfortable there, but if you first came to the sauna, limit yourself to five to ten minutes and go out. Cool down with a cool shower or dip in the pool, enjoy a cup of tea or a healthy drink.

Then rest - the body should completely cool down, usually the rest after the steam room should be equal to or longer in time than visiting the steam room. The pool is very nice and effective method stretch the muscles and cool the body after the steam room: due to the change in temperature and activity, metabolic products are removed from the muscles and their tone improves.

Sauna Contraindications

It is definitely not worth visiting the sauna for expectant mothers at any stage of pregnancy - heat can cause miscarriage or placental abruption. With caution, it is necessary to visit the sauna in case of skin diseases - in the acute stage, you can temporarily refuse to visit, and if the skin is dry, reduce the time spent in the steam room.

Sauna is not contraindicated for hearts, but the temperature in the steam room should be lower than usual.