Would you have ever thought that sweating was not only a common biological phenomenon
but that could also make you more beautiful and less stressed? This is the principle
behind the Turkish bath, a practice with very ancient origins.
Would you like to know more? Keep reading!
TURKISH BATH’S ORIGINS: A VERY ANCIENT PRACTICE
Already in ancient times, Egyptians, Romans and Greeks understood the incredible benefits
of steam baths. Thus, at the fall of the Roman Empire, the Arabs took up the technique and
reworked it in their own way, reducing the spaces and making the experience more intimate:
the Turkish bath – or hammam (in Arabic, ‘to warm’) was born.
WHAT HAPPENS IN A TURKISH BATH? GET READY TO SWEAT!
If you are wondering what happens in a Turkish bath, here is your answer: once you have
taken off your clothes and put on a Turkish towel – also called ‘hammam towel’ – (but this
practice can also be done naked, you are warned!), you enter a space entirely covered
with stone or marble – from the walls to the benches – on which you can sit or lie down
comfortably.
And now, get ready to sweat a lot: the vents inside the room, in fact, give off steam that lead
the environment to humidity peaks of 90-100%!
Nevertheless, we want to console you: at least the temperatures remain ‘low’, settling
around 20-25°C at the level of the feet, to reach a maximum of 40-45°C at the level of the
head.
Once you are seated, have a chat with those present or fall into a meditative state, enjoying
all the benefits that the Turkish hammam can offer you!
TURKISH BATH BENEFITS: YOUR FRIENDS WILL GIVE YOU 10 YEARS
LESS
Turkish bath benefits are prodigious both physically and mentally, allowing you to be
more beautiful and healthy, but also more relaxed.
Here are the main effects:
- improves blood circulation, relieving muscle tension and dissolving contractures,
thanks to vasodilation. For this, this steam bath is also perfect for athletes - opens the respiratory tract. Sometimes balsamic essences or other perfumes are
also added to the steam, which amplify the olfactory experience and make it even
more pleasant - purifies the body thanks to the dilation of the pores, which allows the elimination of
toxins and waste (i.e. lactic and uric acid, amino acids, smog, drugs) - rejuvenates the skin thanks to sweat, which promotes cell renewal, making the
epidermis smoother and more elastic - reduces stress and instills a deep state of relaxation.
- Although the benefits are many, there are also contraindications that make the Turkish
- bath a practice to be avoided in certain circumstances.
It is not suitable for example during the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy, as well as if
you suffer from certain diseases (i.e. kidney and cardiovascular ones) or if you do not
tolerate high humidity and temperatures: the pressure might drop and you might have
terrible dizziness!
In any case, perspiration leads to dehydration, which is why it is always important to
reintroduce the liquids lost after the Turkish sauna.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A SAUNA AND A TURKISH BATH: THEY ARE
NOT THE SAME
Even if the benefits are similar, there are differences between a sauna and a Turkish
bath: first of all in their origins, since the sauna is of Finnish origin; secondly, in their
structure and technique.
The sauna environment is dry and the structure is entirely covered with wood. The humidity
reaches a maximum of 15%, but the temperatures are on fire: an electric stove lined with
lava stone can in fact bring temperatures to almost 90°C…be careful not to burn yourself!
CONCLUSION: READY TO TRY THIS DREAMY EXPERIENCE?
After reading all the benefits of the Turkish bath, I am sure you have closed your eyes and
imagined yourself enveloped in a warm – maybe scented – cloud. So, why don’t you turn this
dream into reality? Join our Turkey in Style’22 tour to discover the unexpected wonders of
Turkey and try this mystical experience with a Middle Eastern touch!
