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A few miles away from the ski slopes of Krasnaya Polyana, where athletes are competing for Olympic medals, an outdoor bathhouse called British Banya is attracting visitors. Russians feel so strongly about the banya, a ritual of sweating it all out in a steam room and whipping each other with bunches of leafy branches, that even a crucial game between the old rivals can’t stand in the way of this weekend tradition. Bathhouse master Ivan Tkach starts his preparations late in the afternoon, at least three hours before the bathing party arrives. He chops the wood, heats up the stove in one room, builds a fire for the sweat lodge, and ignites the blaze beneath a Japanese hot tub, which swings on chains from wooden poles.

“The most important thing about the banya is to have a good spirit in the body,” Tkach explains. “When people come to the bathhouse, it is not only about warming up the body, but more importantly about relaxing, getting the toxins out of the body, and, psychologically, leaving the worries behind”. The banya is an institution in Russia. It’s a place where businessmen deals have been struck and romantic comedies have been set. Russians even have a special greeting for each other as they emerge: “Happy light steam!”


Bathhouse master Ivan Tkach, right, walks through the outdoor sauna area at the British Banya bathhouse in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. “The most important thing about the banya is to have a good spirit in the body”, Tkach says. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)

Bathhouse master Ivan Tkach, right, walks through the outdoor sauna area at the British Banya bathhouse in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. “The most important thing about the banya is to have a good spirit in the body”, Tkach says. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)




Bathhouse master Ivan Tkach starts a fire to heat up the stones for a sweat lodge at the bathhouse. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)

Bathhouse master Ivan Tkach starts a fire to heat up the stones for a sweat lodge at the bathhouse. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)




Dried herbs sit in the sun outside a steam sauna. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)

Dried herbs sit in the sun outside a steam sauna. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)



Bathhouse worker Roman Korotkov dips herbs in a large pot of hot bathwater. The banya is an institution in Russia, where bathhouse traditions date back for centuries. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)

Bathhouse worker Roman Korotkov dips herbs in a large pot of hot bathwater. The banya is an institution in Russia, where bathhouse traditions date back for centuries. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)




Bathhouse worker Alexander Bogatov prepares a hot pot at the bathhouse. Preparations begin late in the afternoon, at least three hours before the bathing party arrives. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)

Bathhouse worker Alexander Bogatov prepares a hot pot at the bathhouse. Preparations begin late in the afternoon, at least three hours before the bathing party arrives. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)




Receptionist Anastasia Kandyba rests on a swing set in the outdoor sauna area. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)

Receptionist Anastasia Kandyba rests on a swing set in the outdoor sauna area. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)




Bathhouse workers Roman Korotkov and Alexander Bogatov chat in the outdoor sauna area. The eclectic outdoor bathhouse is just a few miles away from the ski slopes where athletes are competing for Olympics medals. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)

Bathhouse workers Roman Korotkov and Alexander Bogatov chat in the outdoor sauna area. The eclectic outdoor bathhouse is just a few miles away from the ski slopes where athletes are competing for Olympics medals. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)




Olga Gharkova bathes in a hot pot. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)

Olga Gharkova bathes in a hot pot. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)



Olga Gharkova enters a aromatherapy room at the British Banya bathhouse, Saturday, February 15, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia, just a few miles away from the ski slopes where athletes are competing for Olympic medals. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)

Olga Gharkova enters a aromatherapy room at the British Banya bathhouse, Saturday, February 15, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia, just a few miles away from the ski slopes where athletes are competing for Olympic medals. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)




Olga Gharkova and Svetlana Fedorenko sit in a tea room at the bathhouse. Russians have a specific greeting for each other as they emerge from the steam room: “Happy light steam!”. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)

Olga Gharkova and Svetlana Fedorenko sit in a tea room at the bathhouse. Russians have a specific greeting for each other as they emerge from the steam room: “Happy light steam!”. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)




A guest sits on a bench in the outdoor sauna area. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)

A guest sits on a bench in the outdoor sauna area. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)
17 Feb 2014 12:51:00