Dear Customers,
Our network of spa salons at 10A Lyuteranska Street (Khreshchatyk Metro Station) now offers a new “Hammam” service. In light of this, we have decided to publish this article to tell you about the structure and purpose of an authentic Turkish bath!
The main features of the hammam include high humidity, a warm yet comfortable temperature, well-heated benches, floors, walls, and a Gebek (a special massage table), as well as the optimal—and highly effective—use of moisture and heat.
Since ancient times, the Turkish sauna has been a place where people relax both physically and mentally. A traditional Turkish sauna, featuring a radial layout, consists of the following rooms:
- the main hall (Sogoluk), located in the center of the bathhouse; this is where the massage table (Chebek-Tashi or Gebek) is placed
- the changing room (Jamekyan), where the temperature is 30 degrees;
- several steam rooms (Sikalikov) with different temperature ranges, so that everyone can choose the steam room that suits them best.
When discussing the principles of Turkish bath construction, the following should be noted: it is built according to the so-called “palm principle,” where the five fingers of the hand correspond to the five rooms (or “niches”) in the bath, where the temperature gradually rises from 70 to 99 degrees. For example, the temperature in the anteroom is 28–34 degrees (the body begins to warm up); in the next room, the temperature gradually rises until it reaches 100 degrees.
In the very center of the “palm” (or in the center of the steam room) is a huge, hot marble stone called the “supa” (or “stomach stone”). It is on this stone that you undergo the treatments.
A genuine Turkish sauna must have three fairly spacious pools: one with warm water, one with room-temperature water, and one with cold water.
Finally, the ceiling, which in a hammam is a work of applied art. It should be noted that the ceiling provides both aesthetic pleasure and serves specific functions: for example, steam from such a ceiling will flow evenly down the walls to the floor, rather than falling onto visitors’ heads.
Despite the vast variety of alternatives to the traditional Russian banya, many people still seek out something more exotic. That is why Turkish hammams in Ukraine have become extremely popular. Visiting a hammam is a wonderful and beneficial addition to your lifestyle!