Hammam or hamam
Hammam, or hamam, is an Arabic ritual, a path of purification and relaxation for body and spirit. It is a cross between a Turkish bath and a sauna, the properties of steam and the passage between heat and cold are exploited to give the body a sense of well-being as when we undergo relaxing massages.
The real turkish hammam is a very special treatment that took place in separate rooms for men and women. Today’s hammam is a sort of well-structured program, where body and mind follow specific steps in which the watchword is relaxation. Now the hammam path in SPAs, wellness centres and thermal centres is a purely aesthetic process, and it is possible to do it in the company of your partner.
The hammam path
Many times we believe that the treatment is a global infusion of steam and heat and that you subsequently take a dip in ice water. Instead the hammam is a gradual path of contact with heat and steam. We start from a room with a temperature ranging from 30 to 35 degrees, here we begin to get the body used to the change in temperature. We then move into the calidarium, a room with benches where the temperature fluctuates between 35 and 60 degrees with a humidity of up to 95%.
The calidarium is the centerpiece of the treatment, the room where emollient and perfumed balms can be spread on the body. Plant-based and totally natural products.
After staying in the calidarium you can go to the massage rooms or relax rooms to drink herbal teas, or take a shower and then relax in the rooms with comfortable deck chairs.
Benefits of the hammam
The time for a hamam treatment can be completely customized. The method of contact with heat will help the skin to purify itself, the pores will dilate and toxins will escape. The power of heat is crucial for a global purification of the skin, the exfoliating effect will be more intense and prolonged, a full-body scrub. The heat will also bring relief to people with rheumatic and muscle pain, as well as free the respiratory tract and stimulate circulation, thus reducing water retention.
Turkish Hammam, tradition
To follow a traditional hamam it is necessary to go to the places where it was born. Attention if we go on vacation, always check the structure to understand if it is in compliance with all hygiene and safety standards. The Arab countries have many neighborhood centers and care should be taken. It could certainly be very interesting to find yourself inside structures with ancient architecture, but it could prove particularly dangerous.