By Greg Spooner
Customary to any opening weekend at Seattle Boat Show, vendors crowd into the local pubs to toast the opening of boating season (now just a few months away), and celebrate the 10-day booth jockeying that has recently commenced. Since this was to be the only time all four of us would be together over the next couple months, we had a better way to spend our hard earned dollars… why punish your body, when you can revitalize it?
There’s this great Russian-style bath called Banya 5, located in South Lake Union in downtown Seattle. Jordan’s been there a couple times with his girlfriend, and he can’t stop talking about it. The premise is that you can revitalize the body and flush toxins (the skin is, after all, our largest organ AND capable of moisture and mineral transfer) by using the 3-step system: a 220°F sweat room (Parilka), followed by the 55°F cold plunge that exercises the blood vessels, and the 84°F tepid salt pool to stabilize. To recap, Heat, Freeze, Cool, Rinse, Repeat!
From the moment we set foot in the great room, we were at peace. What’s better is that we were surrounded by a wonderful group of regulars. For 3-hours we moved from pool to pool exchanging stories, laughing, listening, relaxing, bonding, and making good friends. We met Greg & Jodi, triathlete extraordinaire & expert nutritionist. We met Ted, of “Barefoot Ted” & Born to Run fame, who regaled us with stories of competing in a 40-mile ultra-marathon a few days ago, and how he trains using Banya. And we met Leah, a massage therapist who adores this place and knew every single person there. The very next day, Greg, Jodi & her son actually decided to pay us a visit at our booth! We couldn’t have had a better time with better people.
I think we may end up calling Banya 5 our new unofficial office and meeting place next time we’re all in town.