GO BEYOND SPA-ING AT SAN FRANCISCO’S NEW ARCHIMEDES BANYA

The Art of a Great Steam

GO BEYOND SPA-ING AT SAN FRANCISCO’S NEW ARCHIMEDES BANYA

A Multi-Cultural Twist on the 5,000 Year Old Tradition of Social Bathing

San Francisco, CA – Now there’s a new way to for Bay Area residents and visitors to experience an ancient wellness tradition.  Archimedes Banya, opened in India Basin on December 31, brings the best of bathing traditions from around the world to the City by the Bay.  Beyond typical spa-ing, the Innes Avenue facility is a modern take on Roman thermae baths, Turkish hamman steaming, Finnish sauna, Japanese sento, Indian temescal and Greek Iaconica with a heavy focus on Russian banya style bathing, including the invigorating venik platza body treatment done in a steam room using fragrant, softened leaves.  

To enhance the sensory experience at Archimedes, the entire four-floor interior – including stairwells and spa treatment rooms – is accented with artistic tile works of ancient bathing traditions and delightful, original murals and inlaid tiles specially developed for Archimedes by internationally known artist, Vadim Puyandaev. 

While the lower floor of the waterfront building offers sophisticated versions of typical spa treatments – ranging from body wraps and scrubs to facials and massages – the second floor is dedicated to the true banya experience.  The centerpiece is a three-level Russian sauna lined with cedar and anchored by a huge, specially designed, stove covered in ceramic tiles from Russia and heated with authentic, negative ion emitting rocks from Finland.  All these elements work together to ensure the best grade of soft steam, which -- according to owner/designer and banya aficionado, Mikhail Brodsky, who spent 12 years creating Archimedes -- is essential to a true banya experience.  This is a man who takes his steam very seriously. 

The bathing or banya area – which is divided into clothing optional and bathing suit sides – also features:

·        A Turkish hammam with heated tile seats and scented steam

·        A  Finish dry sauna to achieve a cleansing sweat.

·        Warm soaking pools

·        Cold-water plunges (the coldest of the two is on the clothing optional side)

·        Venik Platza treatments using bunches of tree leaves imported from Latvia (extra charge)

There is also a full service café and bar on the top floor, a relaxation lounge with plush leather recliners and a flat screen TV, a Board Room for special gatherings and an outdoor deck with sweeping Bay and city views for sunbathing and relaxing.

Surprisingly, the cost for use of the bathing area and lounges for up to 3 hours is only $35.00 – with a $5.00 credit good for banya or spa services, food & beverage or retail products. First time visitors pay only $20.00.  Spa treatments are charged in 30-minute increments, up to 2 ½ hours, starting at $60.00.   A traditional felt banya hat – to protect hair and help moderate body temperature in the steam rooms – are available for purchase and guests receive towels, robe, slippers & a locker at check in. 

Over the years, Brodsky – president and rector of Oakland's Lincoln University – has experienced different versions of bathhouses around the world; from Siberia to Ethiopia, from Japan to Germany and all over North America.  He decided to use his knowledge of these international wellness traditions to create a place where residents of his adopted city could revitalize the mind, relax the body and connect with old and new friends.  He purchased the waterfront property in 1999 and worked with an architect and engineers to create the elements that support what he calls an authentic, therapeutic and revitalizing banya.  A mathematician by training (with 2 PhDs) Brodsky named his international bathhouse after Archimedes of Syracuse (287 BCE – 211 BCE) known as the father of mathematical physics who is said to have made one of his greatest discoveries – the principal of hydrostatics -- while sitting in a hot bath. 

“The high tech, high speed world of today doesn’t often give people a chance for the essential task of simply, clear-headed thinking,” explains Brodsky.  “We assert that the best ideas come when you are relaxed in a way that can be best achieved by steaming and bathing.” 

Wherever your path to wellness and inspiration leads, Archimedes Banya offers enhancements on your journey.  

Relaxation & Rejuvenation: Studies show that if the procedures are performed correctly, the thermal exposure of banya relieves the strain in muscles and joint stiffness, opens the skin pores and stimulates cardiovascular and respiratory systems, thus enriching your body with oxygen. As a result, you feel relaxed, yet toned and full of energy. In addition, banya goers often report that it facilitates sleep at bedtime.

Detoxing: The skin is the largest organ in a human body and is sometimes called the "third kidney", since it clears off around 30% of the body's waste and toxins. A banya session triggers sweating and thus eliminates the impurities and toxins that cannot be removed by a regular shower or a bath. In addition, heat exposure creates an artificial “fever” that signals the body to increase the production of disease-fighting white blood cells.  As a result, banya sessions enhance the detoxifying capacity of skin and boost the immune system.

Beauty: Banya sessions increase blood flow to the skin that brings nutrients to its surface thus rehydrating it and making it look fresh and radiant. In addition, the metabolic effect of Banya can be compared to that of a physical exercise; it reduces fatty tissue and helps fight cellulite.

Spa Menu:  The spa treatment menu at Archimedes takes wellness a step further with a wide array of body & beauty treatments.  For a richly detailed explanation of services and specific benefits derived from each, please visit:  www.banyasf.com/services

Café:  While it is important not to enter the steaming ritual on a full stomach, Archimedes encourages visitors to nourish the body during and after the enlivening process of Russian bathing so be sure and allow time to sample the healthy fare in Zteamers Restaurant where the chef prepares a daily menu of seasonal, organic and heart healthy cuisine with an international flair, from house made sausage and soups to beer and wine.  Vegetarian options are also available.

ABOUT ARCHIMEDES

Clothing Optional Areas: Women only on Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

Men only on Thursdays and Mondays, 10:00 am – 8:00 pm. Co-ed every day after 8:00 pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays. Swimsuit Area is always co-ed. Free WiFi is available on the top two floors. 

Archimedes Banya is located at 748 Innes Ave. San Francisco, CA 94124.  For more information or to book spa appointments, call 415-206-9000, visit www.banyasf.com or Email: info@banyasf.com  Open Wednesday through Monday, 10:00 am – 12:00 midnight, the facility is closed Tuesdays.