Experience a Historical Russian Bathhouse | National Geographic

now Russians didn’t come up with the

now Russians didn’t come up with the idea of public baths the Romans did that

idea of public baths the Romans did that

idea of public baths the Romans did that but Russians did take the bathing ritual

but Russians did take the bathing ritual

but Russians did take the bathing ritual to a whole new level today we’re here in

to a whole new level today we’re here in

to a whole new level today we’re here in st. Petersburg at the old Cossack baths

st. Petersburg at the old Cossack baths

st. Petersburg at the old Cossack baths they were built in 1879 and since then

they were built in 1879 and since then

they were built in 1879 and since then have seen customers ranging from regular

have seen customers ranging from regular

have seen customers ranging from regular people like you and me to the infamous

people like you and me to the infamous

people like you and me to the infamous mystic rig Ori respond even Vladimir

mystic rig Ori respond even Vladimir

mystic rig Ori respond even Vladimir Lenin himself

Lenin himself

Lenin himself [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] the Cossacks were like the special

the Cossacks were like the special

the Cossacks were like the special forces protecting bazaar they live

forces protecting bazaar they live

forces protecting bazaar they live nearby and they Bay here now the bathing

nearby and they Bay here now the bathing

nearby and they Bay here now the bathing ritual itself is not for the faint of

ritual itself is not for the faint of

ritual itself is not for the faint of heart you start in a scalding hot room

heart you start in a scalding hot room

heart you start in a scalding hot room of 200 degrees then you get beaten by

of 200 degrees then you get beaten by

of 200 degrees then you get beaten by oak and birch branches and then just

oak and birch branches and then just

oak and birch branches and then just when you can’t take it anymore you

when you can’t take it anymore you

when you can’t take it anymore you plunge into ice-cold water

plunge into ice-cold water

plunge into ice-cold water why let’s ask the experts there are lazy

why let’s ask the experts there are lazy

why let’s ask the experts there are lazy be it

be it

be it Nikolas carotenoids I see I’m silver

Nikolas carotenoids I see I’m silver

Nikolas carotenoids I see I’m silver condition yes better yet parachute laser

condition yes better yet parachute laser

condition yes better yet parachute laser cutter should negotiate in Europe rest

cutter should negotiate in Europe rest

cutter should negotiate in Europe rest assured of a cheese que deberían

assured of a cheese que deberían

assured of a cheese que deberían stationer Sergei will promote a to be

stationer Sergei will promote a to be

stationer Sergei will promote a to be Buddhism among the elements trust in

Buddhism among the elements trust in

Buddhism among the elements trust in each other and I see there’s an exact

each other and I see there’s an exact

each other and I see there’s an exact science to Russian baths first you

science to Russian baths first you

science to Russian baths first you gather the steam from above and gently

gather the steam from above and gently

gather the steam from above and gently guide it to the skin to open up the

guide it to the skin to open up the

guide it to the skin to open up the pores then the branches hit harder to

pores then the branches hit harder to

pores then the branches hit harder to get the blood flow going the fragrance

get the blood flow going the fragrance

get the blood flow going the fragrance of the pillow made of fresh birch leaves

of the pillow made of fresh birch leaves

of the pillow made of fresh birch leaves the rhythm of the branches and the

the rhythm of the branches and the

the rhythm of the branches and the prickling massage with juniper needles

prickling massage with juniper needles

prickling massage with juniper needles to stimulate the senses and the

to stimulate the senses and the

to stimulate the senses and the lymphatic flow that was hot but

lymphatic flow that was hot but

lymphatic flow that was hot but incredibly pleasant actually and

incredibly pleasant actually and

incredibly pleasant actually and surprisingly relaxing you know the

surprisingly relaxing you know the

surprisingly relaxing you know the aromas of the other branches in the way

aromas of the other branches in the way

aromas of the other branches in the way he hits you when he gets into the rhythm

he hits you when he gets into the rhythm

he hits you when he gets into the rhythm it’s so it was like hypnotic and now for

it’s so it was like hypnotic and now for

it’s so it was like hypnotic and now for the cult much

the cult much

the cult much [Music]

good amazing that’s the contact bass for

good amazing that’s the contact bass for you I’m certain ard we’re National

you I’m certain ard we’re National

you I’m certain ard we’re National Geographic

Geographic

Geographic [Music]