<div>Thirty-six-year-old Vivek Malhotra, a senior executive in a leading MNC, enjoys a steam bath and shower at the end of a long and tiring day. The steam helps relieve muscle stiffness and hydrates and tones his skin. On most days he follows it up with a hot shower, while on others he indulges himself by soaking in the Jacuzzi where multiple water jets help massage his body and relax the muscles. Malhotra doesn’t stop over at the nearest spa on his way home to pamper himself; instead, he heads straight to the bathroom — his very own private paradise.<br /> </div><div>Malhotra isn’t the only one replicating spa-like facilities at home. Akhil Sharma, an IT consultant in Gurgaon, recently got a Jacuzzi fitted in his bathroom. “When we were doing up our house, I decided to install a Jacuzzi. It is one of the best ways to unwind after a tiring day,” says 29-year-old Sharma. <br /> </div><div>“A Jacuzzi helps improve the blood circulation, relaxes the muscles and leads to detoxification,” says Kannan Nettath, the gym and spa manager and consultant at Taj Land’s End in Mumbai. He recommends using a Jacuzzi daily for 8-15 minutes as it reduces stress and helps you sleep better.<br /><br />On the other hand, if you suffer from respiratory problems such as bronchitis, sinutisis or a common cold, spending 8-10 minutes in a steam cubicle may help you breathe more peacefully.<br /><br />Staying in the warm, humid mist opens up nasal passages — much like a vaporiser. What’s more, it’s great for your skin — a relaxing way to get rid of acne and blemishes. The high temperature of almost 45 degrees Celsius results in a lot of sweating that opens the pores of your skin and gets rid of grime, chemicals and dead follicles.<br /> </div><table width="600" border="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td><img width="600" height="266" align="middle" alt="" src="/image/image_gallery?uuid=f862a3d7-9174-4eb3-8e6b-c847d895e6db&groupId=222922&t=1355124410900" /></td></tr><tr><td>MAKING A SPLASH: A chromo shower (right) can be calming; (below) a sauna can fit into your bathroom (Courtesy: Duravit and Tribhuwan Sharma)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br />A sauna too has similar benefits. “A sauna works on the principle of generating abundant sweat to detoxify the body and relax the mind. It improves circulation and actually leads to more positive thoughts,” says Nettath. In cold weather, especially during winters in Delhi, spending 5-10 minutes in a sauna can result in increased blood flow and glowing skin.<br /> </div><div>Regular sauna sessions are also supposed to improve your body’s immunity. Since the temperature in a sauna is maintained at 75-80 degrees Celsius, it leads to high body temperature creating an artificial fever state. This stimulates the body’s natural healing process, producing more white blood cells and antibodies. “A sauna increases the heart rate, improves blood circulation and is effective in relieving stress. It is extremely beneficial for post-workout recovery,” says a spokesperson for the Jiva spas at the Taj Group of hotels. <br /> </div><div>Little wonder that more people are now looking at having a sauna, steam bath and Jacuzzi in their bathrooms. Going to a spa daily may not be easy, but having a soak at home after a long day at work sounds perfect. “Consumers are looking at private wellness in a big way. Nearly 75 per cent of sales in this category come from individuals and not institutions,” says V. Krishnamurthy, vice-president of HSIL, a leading name in bathroom products.<br /> </div><div>Under its sub-brand Queo, HSIL has the chromo shower for around Rs 3 lakh. Standing under the shower, which dispenses almost 40 litres of water per minute, is like getting drenched in the rain. “It’s a combination of air and water so that when the water hits the body it falls softly like rain,” explains Krishnamurthy. Plus, the lights attached to the shower head change colour from green to blue to red to yellow to orange. As per Ayurveda, these colours are related to the seven chakras of the body — orange is supposed to be calming and relaxing while green affects emotions such as love and compassion.<br /> </div><div>If it’s the sauna that has taken your fancy, check out the ‘Inipi’ range of saunas from German company Duravit. These are free-standing units that can be accommodated in your bathroom. These are available for a single person as well as for a couple. The single one has a footprint of 120x120 cm and is meant for smaller city bathrooms. These are easy to assemble and disassemble and do not need a separate water line. The larger one is 240x120 cm and can accommodate two people wanting to enjoy a sauna lying down. The ‘Inipi’ range starts at Rs 15 lakh.<br /> </div><div>For Jacuzzis and massage tubs, check out the range from Oyster Bath. It’s Discovery range of whirlpools come not only with massage jets, whirlpool jets, bubble jets and online heater but also surround sound speakers with relaxing music which not only help you relax but also mask the external sounds. Price: over Rs 2.7 lakh.<br /> </div><div>If you are willing to splurge, your bathroom can turn into your very own wellness and indulgence zone. Go soak.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 17-12-2012)</span></div>