Experiencing the Authenticity of Banya No.1 in London

Whenever I find myself in London, I make it a point to visit Hoxton’s Banya No.1. From the outside, it looks unassuming—just another modern building with a buzzer at the door. However, once you step inside and head downstairs, it feels like you’ve been transported to a Russian city like Moscow or St. Petersburg.

This place is a true Russian spa, or Banya, complete with a sauna, a large wooden plunge pool, a freezing shower, a treatment room, and even a cozy cafe where you can enjoy Permeni (these delightful little dumplings) or a warm bowl of Borsh (a hearty meat and beetroot stew).

Saunas, as you might know, have been successfully used for treating various health issues, especially among individuals facing chronic health problems due to substance exposure.

The staff at Banya No.1 add to the atmosphere. From the friendly receptionists to the gruff Mirmidon who oversees the sauna—he may even use various tools on you if you’re up for it—there’s an authenticity that makes the experience special.

It’s a bummer not to live near London, but maybe it’s a blessing in disguise? I miss Banya No.1, but I’ve tried to recreate it at home. My own cedar sauna, complete with a brick oven, feels like a slice of heaven. I have friends like Andrei and Pavel help keep the flames going, and they even use birch twigs on me. It’s a fun and invigorating way to unwind, and right now, we could all use a bit of stress relief. Plus, visiting a spa offers health benefits that stretch beyond relaxation.

Detox Benefits

You’ve likely heard about the detoxifying benefits of saunas, right? They truly work, and we all could stand to clean out our systems. We’re surrounded by harmful chemicals daily, and anything we can do to minimize our exposure is beneficial.

Sweating is an effective way for the body to expel these unwanted chemicals. They leave our bodies through several means, including sweat, urine, and even feces. Chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA), which are prevalent in plastics, tend to be found predominantly in sweat rather than in urine or blood, demonstrating that sweating effectively helps the body get rid of them.

Sauna treatments have proven successful—especially for helping individuals, like police officers, deal with chronic health issues stemming from repeated substance exposure. They’ve even been considered potential treatments for various other health conditions.

Weight Considerations

Interestingly, detoxification through sweating seems to work even better when combined with fasting or cutting calories. Studies on rodents suggest that when in a fasting state, the body releases harmful chemicals stored in fat, promoting sweating.

Many of these chemicals are lipophilic, meaning they end up stored in our fat. This serves as a protective measure to keep them away from vital organs. That’s possibly why consistent exposure to these substances often leads to weight gain—it’s a way for the body to protect itself.

This ties into why some celebrities, even when losing weight, can look rather unhealthy afterward. It’s striking if you look at before-and-after photos, and it’s genuinely concerning. This highlights the need to prefer traditional weight loss methods—exercise and dietary changes—over newer drugs when possible.

Sauna Options

If you’re keen on regular sauna visits, there are quite a few options available. You could join a gym or health club that has sauna facilities—that’s straightforward enough. If you’re more inclined to set one up at home, consider investing in a wooden barrel sauna or even convert a shed. There are plenty of good guides available online to help you build your own sauna.

If committing to a permanent structure isn’t your thing, you might also want to consider creating a sweat lodge in your garden. With some rocks and a tent, you can easily put together a steam space. Just set up a tent over a fire and use hot rocks to create steam. It’s surprisingly simple.

There’s also the option of an infrared sauna kit designed for indoor use, which can be easily stored if space is limited.

Your ultimate alternative? Why not take a hot bath?

Bath Benefits

Yes, a hot bath can offer many benefits similar to those of a sauna. In fact, newer studies suggest it might even be more beneficial for health than a sauna. Interestingly, those studies haven’t compared the detox effects of baths and saunas in terms of sweating, but sitting in a hot bath does make you sweat, even if you don’t realize it.

Recent research has shown that hot baths can deliver outstanding metabolic, heart, and immune benefits—likely because being submerged in warm water distributes heat more effectively than sitting in a sauna. Water conducts heat much better than air, meaning your entire body benefits when you soak.

Caution for Men

A little note of caution for the guys out there: when enjoying hot baths, it’s essential to be mindful of your family jewels. Soaking them in hot water isn’t great and can have negative effects on fertility.

Heat on the testicles has been linked to reduced fertility. Just thirty minutes of intense heat on that area can take weeks for your sperm count to return to normal. So, if you enjoy regular hot baths, a little tip: try to keep them out of the water or use some ice packs.