I haven’t been to many spas but after just one visit to Banya 5 I knew I was hooked.

There’s almost no way to describe the feeling you get after brushing and fanning yourself with the venik (or hopefully having someone assist with such) in the russian sauna then hopping into the cold pool. My skin felt like it was stretching, coming away from the rest of my body, then reattaching more firmly. I tingled and pulsed for quite some time after.

Once I can afford a membership, I’ll be getting myself here once a week at least.