Photo from the website clubsaun.ru The Turkish hammam steam room is one of the most useful and popular options for sauna relaxation in the whole world. This is where you can restore strength to those who are tired of constant stress and everyday hustle and bustle, get a powerful boost of energy, relax a little, get distracted and relieve physical fatigue. After all, this is not just a bathhouse, but a certain ritual and a whole philosophy, which is based not only on complete physical, but also spiritual cleansing.
Let's figure out what a Turkish bath is, how often you can visit it, and what is better: a hammam or a sauna.
What is hamam
Hamam is a Turkish bath designed in a traditional oriental style. The ancestors of the buildings were Roman baths, which the Arabs altered to suit their requirements. The term "ham" translated means "distributing steam."
The steam in the bathhouse is supplied not from a hot stove, but from special vats of boiling water. Moisture in the form of a dense enveloping fog is equally distributed throughout the room. Due to high humidity, all surfaces are covered exclusively with waterproof materials. The wood familiar to Finnish and Russian steam rooms rots in such an aggressive environment.
Traditional vacation spot Source mrrestavrator.ru
Thanks to the gentle conditions, Turkish baths and hammams are a space for communication and relaxation. Heated oxygen enters the room through holes made in the walls at a height of 1.5 m. The steam room has 100% humidity and moderate temperature (up to +60 C), which allows you to spend time comfortably and without overload.
Another distinctive feature is that all surfaces except the ceiling are heated. Stone loungers, chairs and the floor give off heat pleasantly, relaxing muscles and normalizing thermoregulation. To prevent condensation from dripping, the ceiling is shaped like a high dome. Water flows down the walls without disturbing the rest of visitors.
Stone, tiles and mosaics Source turkishbath.com.ua
The central place of the hamami is the steam room, around which 5 rooms are located, like fingers. In the first room the temperature was slightly higher than +35 C. Inside the Turkish bath there was a pool or waterfalls with different temperatures. After going through the entire structure, the person was physically and mentally cleansed and rested.
Which name is correct
In various sources you will definitely come across two spellings of the word “hammam” - with one and with two “m” (hammam). It originally comes from the Arabic "ham" (heat) and when you visit Turkey you will find the word "hamam" spelled hamam.
It was no coincidence that the variant with a double “m” appeared in our country. After all, for our compatriots, “hamam” is the word “boor” in the dative case.
Therefore, to avoid discrepancies, many sources write the name of the Turkish bath as “hammam”, and both options are acceptable.
Distinctive features
In the cultures of many nations there is a custom of taking a steam bath, but hammam is strikingly different from other national options. The interior of a traditional and modern Turkish bath can be easily recognized by its cladding made of tiles, natural stone or mosaics. The design harmoniously combines colorful patterns and natural stone. No wood is used during construction and finishing.
Beautiful interior Source turkishbath.com.ua
The hammam maintains a special temperature regime. In a Russian steam room, the temperature rises to 100-110 C, in a sauna - up to 120 C. In a Turkish soap bath, the readings range from +35 to 55 C. The pleasant warm atmosphere does not burden the heart, blood vessels and veins, therefore it is liked by people who do not like heat.
Modern version Source onedeal.com.ua
The Turkish steam room maintains high humidity - 100%. In the sauna, the dampness does not exceed 15%, so the interior is dry, heavy and stuffy. The hot, wet air of the hammam opens the pores and relaxes the muscles. Visitors relax and socialize in comfortable conditions.
To get abundant steam in Russian and Finnish baths, you need to pour water onto hot stones or a stove. In Turkey, the humidity is maintained by huge cauldrons of boiling liquid. Waves of hot air evenly envelop the room, warming the beds, floor and walls.
The hammam is easily recognizable by its huge hemispherical ceiling, lined with stone or mosaic. The minimum height of the structure in a Turkish bath is 3 m, the optimal is 5 m. The moisture rises to the dome, cools and flows down the walls in the form of thin streams into the drainage system. Deviation from the traditional form will disrupt the proper functioning of the steam room, and condensation will begin to drip onto people.
Turkish bath Source lmosaic.ru
Hammam is not only a room for washing, but also a collection of various cosmetic procedures. Before visiting the soap shop, consuming fatty foods and alcohol is prohibited. It is not customary to walk naked in the steam room, so the body is covered with a sheet or sarong.
How does a classic hammam work?
A public Turkish bath is a huge building, all rooms of which are heated by one boiler. Hot air is supplied through pipes hidden under the floor, so visitors wore wooden slippers in the hammam. Steam escapes through holes in the walls.
Arrangement in Turkish style Source statusmen.ru
The traditional bathhouse in Turkey was built in the shape of an open palm. The steam room consisted of 5 rooms, which were built in the form of rays around the main room:
- Jamekian. A locker room was set up in the dressing room.
- Peshtemal. The room was used for showering.
- Chebek. Room with hot beds. The structures were made of natural marble.
- Hararet. Thanks to the massage surfaces, the steam room combined functions with a treatment room.
- Keif. A room with tables and chairs for drinking tea and relaxing.
Entering the hammam, the visitor immediately found himself in a jamekian. Then he moved along the corridor into a huge round hararet. After the procedures, the person went into other rooms in which their temperature was maintained. The visitor could choose a comfortable temperature regime. Moist steam emanated from the surfaces, scented with fragrant oils.
Dome in the hammam Source sauna-parilka.ru
Communications were moved outside the rooms. Passing through the pipes, hot air transfers heat and humidity to the walls and floor. They steam in the hammam lying down, so a wide bed or platform with narrow models was placed in the center. The structure was made of marble or covered with tiles (mosaics). The height of the “furniture” is at least 80 cm.
Contraindications
Finally, I would like to remind you that every procedure, even the most pleasant and extremely beneficial for health, has limitations due to health reasons.
Unfortunately, hammam is contraindicated for those who suffer from asthma, varicose veins, epilepsy and thyroid dysfunction.
And even if you are absolutely healthy, be careful: if you experience dizziness, darkness in your eyes and other alarming symptoms, leave the steam room and seek help from the establishment’s staff.
Enjoy Your Bath!
Indications for use
A stay in a Turkish bath takes 1.5-2 hours, during which visitors relax, recuperate and socialize. The enveloping moist air helps you relax. To prevent the hamam from harming you, you need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the steam room.
The benefits of a bath
Visiting a Turkish bath strengthens the immunity of healthy people. The hammam alternates between different temperatures, hardening the body. Traditional foam massage with rough washcloths improves blood circulation. Aromatic oils have a positive effect on the nervous system.
Turkish bath in green Source stonewm.ru
Periodic visits to the hammam will help cope with problem skin. The enveloping warm moist air opens the pores. Gentle peeling removes dead particles, blackheads, and restores the proper functioning of the glands.
It is recommended to visit a Turkish bath if you have a cold, but without a high temperature. The specific atmosphere relieves discomfort and eases symptoms. Hammam reduces pain in joints and muscles. Due to humid air, mucus is better removed from a runny nose and cough. Inflammation in the body slows down and natural regeneration begins.
If bronchitis has entered the recovery stage, then a steam room will help you get rid of the disease faster. During the procedure, it is recommended to drink warm herbal teas, which help the body to warm up from the inside. To clear the lungs of phlegm, they breathe deeply and frequently in the steam room. It is forbidden to dive into a neutral and cool pool, otherwise the disease will return.
Treatment room Source odessa.moremotions.com.ua
A Turkish bath is useful for sinusitis. Steam reduces the secretion of mucus, removes swelling of the membranes in the nose, which helps recovery. The hammam is visited a couple of times a week during the recovery period, when fever and intoxication are behind us. To prevent the procedures from causing harm, you should not stay inside for more than 30-45 minutes.
During intense physical activity, a Turkish bath will help relieve muscle discomfort. Treatments in the hammam remove discomfort after active sports activities. In the steam room:
- inflammation disappears:
- lactic acid is neutralized;
- the circulatory system is normalized.
A Turkish bath will help you safely lose weight. If you combine a steam room with a massage and herbal teas, you can lose 2-3 kg per session. It is recommended to supplement a visit to the hammam with dietary nutrition. In a humid, warm atmosphere, metabolism accelerates, which breaks down fat. At a temperature of +55 C, the pores open, so sweating increases and excess water leaves the body.
Why visit spas?
Spa today is not so much a cosmetic procedure as a whole ritual aimed at getting rid of toxins, rejuvenating and improving the condition of the skin, and activating metabolic processes in the body as a whole.
There is a wide variety of spa treatments. This includes hair, body, face care, massage, and wraps. Many salons offer comprehensive programs, after which you can leave as a completely new person.
Photo: istockphoto.com
How to make a hammam
The modern oriental bathhouse is a lightweight version that is no longer built according to the palm principle. The design retains the Turkish flavor, but changes the number of rooms or reduces the parameters of the room. The hammam can be placed on a country plot or in an apartment.
Primary requirements
Turkish baths are installed in a space with a high ceiling (from 3 m). The larger the steam room, the easier it is to create a comfortable relaxation area. A room or building connected to water supply, sewerage and electricity will do. The supplied hood will facilitate operation in high humidity conditions.
If the bathroom is rebuilt into a hammam, then all changes are approved by the authorities. Turkish bath equipment (steam generator, lighting, ventilation) consumes a lot of energy. Networks in new buildings can handle the increased load; transformations are prohibited for old buildings.
Surface preparation
Insulation is an important stage in the construction of an eastern steam room. A thorough primer will protect floors and walls from mold and mildew. Electrical wires for lighting are brought into the room. A frame made of a metal profile will allow you to quickly create a structure of any complexity (arches, protrusions).
Insulation of the room Source anticafe-sandbox.ru
The domed ceiling is made of moisture-resistant plasterboard. The finished structure in the form of a cone made of tension fabrics looks beautiful. To allow condensation to drain, a slight slope towards the drain is provided on the surface.
