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When sweating in the sauna is
followed by a cold plunge, the heart rate
increases, blood vessels constrict, and
both adrenaline and endorphins surge.
Common theories purport that the practice
improves blood and lymphatic circulations,
helps flush out waste faster, and boosts
white blood cell count to fight unwanted
substances.
“If you leave without getting in the pool,
you haven’t really experienced the Russian
banya,” co-owner Delsey Portillo says.
Portillo, a retired commercial pilot; her
husband, JR, who runs the family trucking
business; and their daughter, Noor, a
recent UT-Austin graduate, were regulars
at the banya before they found out last
year it was for sale. They decided to take it
on as partners, with Noor as the majority
partner. The facilities had been owned by
two different Russian families since 2006,
and the local Russian community did not
immediately embrace the new ownership.JR, DELSEY, AND
NOOR Portillo with
host Maxim Kim (far
right). The Portillos
purchased Russian
Banya last year.