Biohacking today seems to be the latest trend in health and fitness. The phrase itself covers a large number of different approaches and techniques used to potentially improve our health and wellbeing.
But what is biohacking? What is biohacking with banya? And are there any actual health benefits from these various treatments and ‘hacks’ that are worth making the effort to pay a visit to your local banya locale?
What is Biohacking?
Simply put, biohacking is a broad term used to describe any number of small, incremental changes to your routine, your exercise, and your life experience, with the aim of improving your overall health and wellbeing.
They are methods of changing aspects of your biology, often regarded as shortcuts, or ‘hacks’, that stimulate your body to produce a desired effect to enhance physical or mental performance. It is sometimes referred to as DIY biology, but in reality, it is more about introducing new habits or practices into your daily routine that will lead to health improvements.
Some biohacks include the use of technology, such as sleep trackers or ‘Fitbits’ whilst others include using IV drips to attempt to ‘supercharge’ your body with vitamins and minerals.
Other biohacks are more about changing your habits and daily/weekly practices that will improve your overall health regardless of whether you track them or not. In other words, these are more about your health lifestyle choices than they are a shortcut ‘hack’.
Is Banya Biohacking?
It depends on your interpretation of what a biohack is. As we touched on above, it can cover a wide range of different approaches – anything from implanting technology within your body to changing your weekly health habits.
If we are to take the latter interpretation as a definition of a biohack, then yes, banya is biohacking, as by incorporating regular Banya sessions into your weekly or monthly routine, you can certainly enhance your physical and mental health in a whole variety of ways.
There are many health benefits to banya treatments, which we will expand on a little below.
Biohacking with Heat Therapy
Heat therapy is good for you!
Almost everyone enjoys an occasional visit to a sauna or steam room, but did you know that regular sessions can impart some amazing health benefits?
Sauna sessions for heart health have long been recognised, but a recent study demonstrated that 5-20 minutes spent in a sauna or steam room, 2-3 times per week, can actually result in a 27% reduction in the risk of dying from a cardiovascular event.
Cardiovascular Health
Cardiovascular health is an ever-growing area of concern, with many people suffering from poor diet or even simply excessive stress on a daily basis. Something as simple as regular sauna visits, it seems, can have a profoundly positive effect on your heart!
Better yet, if that is not enough to convince you, then consider this: people who went to a sauna or heat therapy session 5-7 times a week were even better protected, enjoying a 50% reduction in the risk of dying from poor cardiovascular health! How does that sound for a great biohack?
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Other Physical Health Benefits of Heat Therapy
Regular spa visits offer many other health benefits aside from offering improved cardiovascular health.
Heat therapy is well known for boosting your metabolism, opening up your arteries and improving blood flow around your body and to all your vital organs; increasing oxygen supply to them. Not only can this help to improve your blood pressure, but this can also have a profound effect on problems such as muscle recovery after injury and can even be a boost to weight loss!
As your body warms, your heart rate rises and you begin to sweat – this produces a range of responses in your body akin to undertaking medium to higher-rate exercise, and aside from the huge release of endorphins, can also help with weight loss as a result.
Heat therapy can also elicit a great response from those suffering from various inflammation issues, such as rheumatism – sessions in a sauna or steam room will help you to reduce inflammation in your body as well as alleviate some of the physical pain associated with these conditions.
Please note: anyone already suffering from cardiovascular health issues should, of course, consult with a medical professional before considering banya treatments of any type.
It is also vitally important during a visit to a banya to stay well-hydrated before, during and after your session. Not only is this necessary for health reasons, but it also helps you to detox the body as well. Yes – here is another health biohack for you – heat therapy is excellent for detox, as enhanced sweating plays an important role in helping your body shed the toxins you are often carrying around with you. If you stay hydrated, you are not only replacing those all-important fluids and minerals, but you are assisting the detox flush that is happening within your body, at the same time.
Biohack Your Sense of Smell
There are many amazing smell sensations involved with banya treatments.
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Parenie treatments involve branches of both birch and oak leaves. The leafy smell from birch is rich in a variety of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids and vitamins, which offer you a varied range of health benefits.
Oak leaves, on the other hand, contain a natural astringent, which helps to open up your skin pores, removes toxins and is great for exfoliating dead skin.
Essential oils found in the oak leaves transform oily skin into smooth, supple skin, as well as acting as a strong anti-inflammatory agent. Additionally, the aroma from the soft, fragrant oak leaves soothes the mind and washes away any stress.
Eucalyptus leaves – also used in banya treatments – contain several volatile oils, such as cineol and terpineol. These have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and when breathed in can help to treat respiratory infections, relieve general malaise and reduce respiratory tract swelling.
Biohack Your Sense of Taste
Another great sense to biohack, aside from your sense of smell, is your taste. We have already covered the many health benefits of drinking herbal tea in another post which you can find in this article, describing the fabulous tea selection at Banya No.1 Chiswick.
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Banya as an Immune System Booster
As well as heat therapy, another great health hack found at the banya is cold water therapy – or more accurately – the combination of the two together.
Contrast Therapy – using hot and cold treatments in succession – is also the subject of another article, but we will outline the basics here.
Heating the body in a sauna or steam room, and then following this up with a plunge bath or ice-water bucket, is an amazing immune system booster. Exposure to hot temperatures in a sauna or steam room increases your core body temperature, getting it to mimic a fever response that in turn can help the body fight off infections. Following this with a cold plunge stimulates blood circulation and activates many of the body’s defence mechanisms. Regular practice of contrast bath therapy has been shown to effectively boost white blood cell counts, thus contributing to giving you a much more robust immune response.
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Banya and Mental Health
Banya treatments are well recognised as a biohacking tool for those suffering from a variety of mental health issues. Many of us today are suffering from anxiety or panic attacks, depression or some other condition.
A session in a Banya will have a great de-stressing effect on your body and mind, reducing anxiety, taking away stress and as a result promoting health and longevity.
The invigorating nature of the Banya’s hot/ cold strategy will impact your mental health in a very positive way. Exposure to heat relaxes the muscles and releases endorphins, and stimulating the release of these hormones can help alleviate any feelings of anxiety and depression, and boost your mental state.
By then following the hot body treatment with a cold water plunge provides a refreshing jolt that awakens the senses and enhances your mood. This perfect combination of sauna and cold plunge is a great mental therapy, encourages mindfulness and promotes overall emotional well-being.
Improved mental health can have a profound effect on male longevity, as many men will pass through life without even realising that they are suffering the effects of mental stress. regular Banya sessions can ease the mind, relax the body and promote a better night’s sleep and act as a brilliant biohack for male longevity – all whilst partaking of an activity that you actually enjoy!
For a more detailed breakdown of the mental health benefits of the Banya, you can also refer to Banya and Your Mental Health.
Biohacking with Banya
To conclude then, there are many, many benefits to biohacking with banya, and yet the experience is immensely pleasurable.
A three-hour session to relax, unwind, recharge your batteries and even enjoy some food and drink with family or friends may not sound like a biohack – but if you can enjoy your time in the sauna and reap all the amazing health benefits as we have described above, then why wouldn’t you?
Coming along with friends or family is not essential to the visit – but it will make it more enjoyable as, at its heart, banya is a social experience. It is just one that comes with massive health benefits – both mental and physical – so why would you not share that experience with those who are close to you?
