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1mord06D3_DSC8445.jpg[break]For most people, Krasnaya Polyana is famous as a world-class ski resort, but it also attracts other sorts of tourists...[break]Michael Mordasov / Focus Pictures [break_string]2mord06D3_DSC8510.jpg[break]...these are mainly well-to-do young professionals from the cities, who come here to unwind in the famous Caucasian banyas. [break]Michael Mordasov / Focus Pictures [break_string]3mord06D3_DSC8526.jpg[break]This is a holiday destination for well-heeled people, who are prepared to spend money on nothing but the finest spa treatments.[break]Michael Mordasov / Focus Pictures [break_string]4mord06D3_DSC8442.jpg[break]Here, people luxuriate in the hot water, enveloped in gentle swirls of smoke from a fire below. [break]Michael Mordasov / Focus Pictures [break_string]7mord06D3_DSC8658.jpg[break]Here, people luxuriate in the hot water, enveloped in gentle swirls of smoke from a fire below. [break]Michael Mordasov / Focus Pictures [break_string]6mord06D3_DSC8621.jpg[break]The tub, in which people are slowly “simmered” on a gentle heat, makes you start to think that not too far away there are probably little devils walking around with pitchforks, gathering wood to stoke up the blaze. [break]Michael Mordasov / Focus Pictures [break_string]8mord06D3_DSC8581.jpg[break]A traditional Russian and Indian steam bath, and a herbal steam bath known as an “Ezhikha”.   [break]Michael Mordasov / Focus Pictures [break_string]10mord06D3_DSC8558.jpg[break]Once they can take no more of the steam bath, spa-goers quickly submerge themselves in a pool of icy spring water. [break]Michael Mordasov / Focus Pictures [break_string]11mord06D3_DSC8730.jpg[break]Once they can take no more of the steam bath, spa-goers quickly submerge themselves in a pool of icy spring water. [break]Michael Mordasov / Focus Pictures [break_string]12mord06D3_DSC8562.jpg[break]A fully-cooked, crinkly-skinned client is wrapped up in a blanket, and the cocooned bather is then placed on a swing outside under a big open sky.[break]Michael Mordasov / Focus Pictures [break_string]13mord06D3_DSC8735.jpg[break]A few meditative swings later – and the client begins to feel a sense of peace and enlightenment, his consciousness leaves the body, he lets go and “drifts away into eternity”. [break]Michael Mordasov / Focus Pictures [break_string]14mord06D3_DSC8471.jpg[break]He comes back to earth with a bump when he sees the bill…[break]Michael Mordasov / Focus Pictures