If you are looking for a way to maximize your performance, while promoting muscle recovery, this article is the one for you!
Il Turkish bath, or hammam, an ancient wellness ritual, It turns out to be a valuable companion for athletes. He discovers the many benefits he can bring to your body and mind.
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What is the hammam?
The Turkish bath, or hammam, is a steam bath of oriental origin. It usually consists of several rooms, including a warm and humid room, followed by a cooling room, unlike the sauna which is a room with high dry heat.
The process involving the transition from hot to cold creates a revitalizing and beneficial experience for the whole body.
What are the benefits of the hammam for athletes?
Let's discover together the numerous benefits of the hammam, especially for athletes:
- Reduction of muscle tension: Hammam sessions help relax muscles, relieving tension accumulated during intensive workouts. The heat promotes blood circulation, bringing relief to tired muscles.
- Elimination of toxins: the increased sweating due to the heat of the hammam allows the elimination of toxins from the body. This contributes to recovery by eliminating metabolic waste, thus promoting better muscle functioning.
- Improved muscle flexibility: the heat of the hammam helps make muscles and joints more flexible. Athletes can benefit from a greater range of motion, thus reducing the risk of injuries and improving overall performance.
- Mental relaxation: the hammam acts not only on the body, but also on the mind. The moments of relaxation favored by this experience help reduce stress and anxiety. This can only be beneficial.
- Acceleration of recovery: By alternating between the heat of the hammam and cooling rooms, athletes promote faster recovery as blood vessels dilate and contract.
- Strengthening of the immune system: Regular hammam sessions can strengthen the immune system, offering additional protection against disease, especially important for athletes undergoing high training loads.
Difference between hammam and sauna
The steam room and sauna are both heat environments that offer wellness benefits, but they differ in the type of warmth and experience they offer.
Hammam (Turkish bath)
- Kind of heat: the Turkish bath uses humid steam to heat the environment. Humidity can vary, but in general, the steam room is more humid than the sauna.
- Temperature: The temperature of the steam room is usually kept around 40-50 degrees Celsius, but it can vary.
- Structure: The steam room consists of several rooms, including a hot and humid room and a cooling room. The typical sequence involves a period of stay in the warm room followed by a cool down.
- Benefits: Turkish bath is known to promote blood circulation, relax muscles, improve skin and contribute to mental relaxation.
Sauna
- Kind of heat: The sauna uses dry heat generated by heated rocks or heating elements. The humidity in the sauna is generally very low.
- Temperature: Saunas can reach higher temperatures than steam rooms, often around 70-100 degrees Celsius.
- Structure: A traditional sauna usually consists of a wooden room with benches, a stove with heated rocks, and a bucket of water to generate occasional steam.
- Benefits: Sauna is known to promote sweating, cleanse the skin, relieve stress and contribute to detoxification through sweating.
In short, the The main difference between a Turkish bath and a sauna is the type of heat (wet in the Turkish bath and dry in the sauna) and in the ttemperatures reached.
Both offer health benefits and choosing between the two may come down to personal preference and individual needs.
For an optimal experience, do not hesitate to hydrate yourself before and after the session, respect the recommended time in the hot room to avoid dehydration and alternate between saunas and cooling rooms to maximize benefits.
And you, did you know the benefits of the hammam for athletes? Let us know what you think in the comments and don't forget to follow us on our telegram channel
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