http://ukrainianguide.com/the-russian-banya-an-essential-guide/ Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:17:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://ukrainianguide.com/the-russian-banya-an-essential-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-39830 olivier Sun, 02 Oct 2011 02:49:01 +0000 http://ukrainianguide.com/the-russian-banya-an-essential-guide/#comment-39830 I went to a banya about 20 minutes from the center of Kyev and it was simply amazing...a familiar log cabin situated in a residential neighborhood operated by a mom and pop family business...Nicolai waited for me, I had the house to myself and it was amazing, like nothing i've ever experienced before...between the tea / rest room set up with cookies, tea with delicious honey 'a volontee'...I felt like I owned the place...first in place, Birch cleansing treatment with Nicolai's gentle beating and man he needed to be gentle cos the heat was so harsh, he knew how to increase or slow down the pace. once porperty heated up, pores open, let's shower under the ice cold bucket that Nicolai pulls the string on and OUFFFFFFFFFFFF...it's cold yes it is! but nice! rest outside a bit and then go into the cooler all wooden room where Nicolai does a bit of a lemon, salt and honey scrub on the body leaving you to gently heat up and treast teh skin with that lovely mix of the three elements...combined with the heat, i've never had a skin return to baby status even with my lightly hairy body! No Kiehl's lotion or La Prairie would soften the skin like this mix did...I failed to mention that from the start of the journey with Nicolai, you are indeed stark naked through out so don't worry about anything, no body else was present and it's the way of banya life...if you're not comfortable with being naked, use the sheet they give you...but it gets in the way so best to hang loose...last bit of treatment is the birchy soap bath by Nicolai who beats the body once more but this time, no heat, only water and soap...or should I say 'only foam'...one on side, flip over and in the ice cold bucket of water comes again...feels great...now time for a nap so off you go into this birch decorated room with 4 single beds to chill and revive the body...failed to mention that you are still refueling on tea, cookies, honey, lemon water - oh ya, that was yummy, lightly bubbled natural spring water with tons of lemon and honey or from the Russian tea pot that would suffice for about the whole house...you can also have this with loads of sugar...either way, YUMMY! since you are sweating so much, best to keep hydrated...I had arrived at 9.30pm and now it was about 11.45pm, Nicolai said 'spasiba' and good night, so I made my way home...well to my hotel, sadly enough! This was by far my favorite wellness experience...having just come from Moscow with 500 other men in the world famous Sanduny Bani...this Kyev experience left me dumbfounded...oh and don't ask me the name of the place, it was a family home 20 minutes from central Kyev....that's all! Price, no object...no questions asked, just pay! It's well worth it! I went to a banya about 20 minutes from the center of Kyev and it was simply amazing…a familiar log cabin situated in a residential neighborhood operated by a mom and pop family business…Nicolai waited for me, I had the house to myself and it was amazing, like nothing i’ve ever experienced before…between the tea / rest room set up with cookies, tea with delicious honey ‘a volontee’…I felt like I owned the place…first in place, Birch cleansing treatment with Nicolai’s gentle beating and man he needed to be gentle cos the heat was so harsh, he knew how to increase or slow down the pace. once porperty heated up, pores open, let’s shower under the ice cold bucket that Nicolai pulls the string on and OUFFFFFFFFFFFF…it’s cold yes it is! but nice! rest outside a bit and then go into the cooler all wooden room where Nicolai does a bit of a lemon, salt and honey scrub on the body leaving you to gently heat up and treast teh skin with that lovely mix of the three elements…combined with the heat, i’ve never had a skin return to baby status even with my lightly hairy body! No Kiehl’s lotion or La Prairie would soften the skin like this mix did…I failed to mention that from the start of the journey with Nicolai, you are indeed stark naked through out so don’t worry about anything, no body else was present and it’s the way of banya life…if you’re not comfortable with being naked, use the sheet they give you…but it gets in the way so best to hang loose…last bit of treatment is the birchy soap bath by Nicolai who beats the body once more but this time, no heat, only water and soap…or should I say ‘only foam’…one on side, flip over and in the ice cold bucket of water comes again…feels great…now time for a nap so off you go into this birch decorated room with 4 single beds to chill and revive the body…failed to mention that you are still refueling on tea, cookies, honey, lemon water – oh ya, that was yummy, lightly bubbled natural spring water with tons of lemon and honey or from the Russian tea pot that would suffice for about the whole house…you can also have this with loads of sugar…either way, YUMMY! since you are sweating so much, best to keep hydrated…I had arrived at 9.30pm and now it was about 11.45pm, Nicolai said ‘spasiba’ and good night, so I made my way home…well to my hotel, sadly enough! This was by far my favorite wellness experience…having just come from Moscow with 500 other men in the world famous Sanduny Bani…this Kyev experience left me dumbfounded…oh and don’t ask me the name of the place, it was a family home 20 minutes from central Kyev….that’s all! Price, no object…no questions asked, just pay! It’s well worth it!

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