The best bather of the capital revealed some professional secrets

The winner of the city competition of professional skills "Minsk Master - 2026" bather Sergey Leplyanin told about the features of the pair craft, participation in profile competitions and shared ambitious plans. Details - in the material of the correspondent of the agency "Minsk-Novosti".

Originally from childhood

We met near the Merry Vasi, a famous sculpture of a smiling man who had just left the steam room. It is installed at the entrance to the bath No. 7 on the street. Moscow. This is where Sergey works. Ironically, his current career echoes the highlights of childhood. The man does not rule out that he always subconsciously wanted to be in this area.

In his native village of Ganevichi in Logoyshchyna, the Leplyanin family was the first to have a bath, and in black: the smoke from the stove was not excreted, but warmed up everything inside and left through an open window. All the locals came to the wash. Even in preschool age, Sergei helped his father to melt the bath, prepare brooms, in short, comprehended the basics of pair craft.

After serving in the army, he came to Minsk, mastered the specialty of a carpenter-machine worker and worked for many years at the housing and communal services enterprise. Built an apartment, started a family.

- Of course, he regularly visited the city baths, made friends with some workers. They said, “Come on, let’s go!” I decided to try, got a job as a service worker in the 7th bath. That was eight years ago. Since then, I have been working, only the range of duties has become wider and more interesting, the source said.

Take off your shoes and come in

Previously, the work was quite ordinary - in the general men's department Sergey met visitors, showed what locker to take, where to take a basin. He cleaned the room, periodically aired the steam room and removed the leaves that fell from the brooms. Keeping order, following the rules.

- For example, before crossing the threshold of the general department, you need to change your shoes - put on flip-flops. You can not drink alcohol: you want to use it - there is a cafe in the bath, perhaps there after washing. Regular visitors know about this, but some “newcomers” are trying to get a bottle of beer or something stronger. But they respond calmly to the warning. Explain: the ban is not taken from the ceiling, and it is not just that you are in a public place. Even after a small amount of alcohol, a visit to the steam room can turn into sad consequences. There were cases when seemingly healthy men almost lost consciousness from overheating, even an ambulance was called, the bather shared.

In general, with lovers of a couple of regulars over the years, he has developed an almost friendly relationship based on common topics for short conversations. Even the benefits of brooms from different types of trees can be a real debate. The interviewee recalled one visitor who went to the bath with his son for decades and stopped his favorite activity only when he was 101 years old

New experiences

Additional duties appeared at S. Leplyanin after studying the profession “Banner of the 4th category” (this is the highest category) and receiving a diploma at the Republican Institute of Vocational Education, which was organized on the initiative of the enterprise “City Baths”. As a parmaster, he holds sessions for visitors. Individual soaring can be ordered by paying for a ticket to the general office. But a more lively interest is the soaring collective – such ceremonies are held for free in the bath No. 7 from September this year.

- It's a separate direction. The master uses a fan, broom, plow, various herbs for aromatization, selects musical accompaniment. And the floating itself is contactless. Sessions take place on certain days every two hours and last for 10 minutes. In the group - about 10 people from the visitors of the general office. There's always enough. Come, you will not regret it, the bather invited with a smile.

Engineering

Sergey demonstrated his skills as a parmaster during the competition of professional skills, which was held here, on the street. Moscow. First of all, the commission of the Minsk City Executive Committee examined the place of work – the general department, including the washing room and the steam room. In it, by the way, S. Leplyanin himself laid stones in furnaces - this work was not entrusted to anyone, since the quality of steam depends on the correct laying of stones.

The theoretical block included an exam on knowledge of safety, labor protection rules, first aid. There were also questions related to the preparation of the steam, temperature regime and even the procedure for soaking the broom.

Photo by Depositphotos

The practical part required the participants-finalists already physical actions in the real steam room. Amateurs were invited to help them - men and women. As models, they were alternately located on shelves. The Commission evaluated the technique of soaring in all nuances, also took into account the opinion of models.

- I prefer a softer technique with broom massage elements. I use birch - it is better suited for these purposes, unlike the same oak. I assume that individual soaring is a private, trusting process. The correct attitude of both the bather and the client is important, there must be some invisible contact. Plus, communication. I always say that we are not telepaths after all. Approaches to men and women, of course, are slightly different. Experience comes with constant practice, I have already reached a certain level, but there is still something to learn, Sergey said.

On the positive

Perhaps the next serious test for the hero of the material will be participation in the fourth open championship in collective and individual soaring in 2027, which is held annually in Minsk and gathers the best parmasters of the republic. At least Sergey intends to apply for participation.

Well, while the best bather of the capital is impressed by the congratulations on the victory in the competition, sounded from the wife of Svetlana and daughter Ekaterina, colleagues, the management of the enterprise "City baths" and the city authorities.

When asked how to maintain a positive attitude, he replied:

- I've always been for a healthy lifestyle. In his youth he was fond of wrestling. Now - jogging, bars and bars in the yard. I am also excited about traveling to a small home. The old bath in black has long been rebuilt and with pleasure continue to soar in it.

Photo by Irina Malinovskaya