Seleznyovskiye Bani, one Moscow’s traditional bathhouses, is reminiscent of a social club where the people are relaxed enough to sit back, drink beer and be... 25.06.2010, Sputnik International
Seleznyovskiye Bani, one Moscow’s traditional bathhouses, is reminiscent of a social club where the people are relaxed enough to sit back, drink beer and be away from reality, even if only for a few hours.
Seleznyovskiye Bani, one Moscow’s traditional bathhouses, is reminiscent of a social club where the people are relaxed enough to sit back, drink beer and be away from reality, even if only for a few hours.
A gas-fired furnace occupies a corner of the steam room. An excessive amount of moisture is created by continuously pouring water over the fiery red stones.
A small window in the center of the steam room allows a brisk to flow in, but with temperatures often exceeding 200 degrees Fahrenheit (110 degrees Celsius), the parilka quickly becomes unbearable.
A woman enjoys her first round of steam in the banya. The temperature rises the higher you are seated in the room. After a few minutes, the heat becomes too overpowering to stand.
Public banyas are gender segregated. This decree started during the reign of Catherine the Great, who banned co-ed public bathing in 1743. This is the view from the male changing room.
Beyond simply cleansing, the banya is known for purging the body of unwanted toxins, and calming the nervous system. These two women attend the banya every Wednesday.It is something they say they can't live without.
At the end of the day, after spending a typical two hours in the banya, a woman prepares for Moscow's bustling streets.
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