Masters of Steam

December 30, 2020 Eamon Armstrong

Life is a Festival #89: Sasha Baibarin and Boris Ryabov (Steamology Institute)

Listen to the Podcast

Today’s podcast is all about the healing power of steam and was recorded early last year before the pandemic. I’ve decided to release it now during this difficult winter to help us remember the power of ceremony and communal healing and because I have myself been recently working with other traditional sweat ceremonies. My guests are none other than Sasha Baibarin and Boris Ryabov founders of the Steamology Institute and the Art of Steam camp at Burning Man.

On the show we talk about ceremony and ceremonial intention. We discuss the history of steam as a pre-semantic tradition, and the mythology of Russian banyas including the mischievous bath house spirit, the Bannik. We talk about the medical benefits of steam bathing, including for mental health and trauma. Our conversation concludes with a discussion of communal healing which will be so important when we finally emerge from this pandemic.

Both originally from Moscow, Sasha and Boris are powerful and dedicated steam masters. They are the founders of the Steamology Institute and the Art of Steam camp at Burning Man where they bring a traditional Russian banya all the way to Black Rock City.