Birch Leaves in the Banya

Immersing my self in Russian culture: the banya and getting whipped with birch leaves.....

07 June 2013

Interview with

Dr Andrew Irving, Dundee University, Dr Mark Cunnigham, Newcastle University, Dr Jamie Ainge, St Andrews University

Part of the show The Wanderings of a Naked Brain

Banya.jpg

Credit:

Smarticvs

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I took a little interval to immerse myself in Russian culture. Andy Irving took me to the banya. And what, exactly, is one of those? A sauna, including getting whipped by birch leaves. All in the name of getting in touch with the local traditional and demonstrating how our body and brains regulate temperature, or so I was told....