homes - Turning up the heat: make your home a spa

Turning up the heat:
make your home a spa

APRIL 2007 — VOLUME 5 ISSUE 4

Steam baths and steam rooms have always been seductive.

Sought after for their bliss factor and rejuvenation benefits, they were hailed by the Romans, embraced for decades by Scandinavians and today have become a “must-have” for many North Americans.

In an era where wellness is a priority and busy lives are the norm, hot tubs are increasingly becoming a prerequisite for the deck, and saunas an integral part of a bathroom or recreation room. Installing big-box spa products in the home, or on the deck not only represents a lifestyle choice—particularly for lovers of a day in the great outdoors looking to relax afterward and those who want to make the most of summers on the deck, but they also offer a respite from the everyday hustle and bustle of life.

“For relaxation in today’s busy and stressful world a hot tub can be the perfect answer,” notes Tammy Nelson of Kamloops-based Advantage Spas and Home Leisure. “For detoxifying, relieving aches and pains, and even for weight loss a sauna can be the best investment we make for our health.”

While hot tubs still lead the market when it comes to purchasing home leisure luxuries, steam saunas and the more portable Far-Infrared sauna are also gaining in popularity, says Nelson, explaining Far-Infrared units are very adaptable. They fit into smaller spaces and can be plugged into standard electrical outlets.

“For people who don’t have the room for a hot tub and want relaxation therapy, a sauna is the perfect idea,” she advises.

Apart from the relaxation afforded by spending some quiet time in a sauna, there are also some positives to sweating profusely, says Nelson.

“Under high heat the body releases endorphins, a naturally-produced pain-relieving chemical. This can help with pain from sore muscles due to a physical workout, or from chronic pain,” Nelson explains.

Hot tubs are still the spa of choice and never more so than for vacation properties. They’re becoming a standard requirement for vacationers, particularly in a ski resort setting, says Ryan Sparks, owner of Sun Peaks Accommodations.

“It’s what the North American skier has become conditioned to expect with their ski holiday experience,” claims Sparks.

But demand for a hot tub isn’t necessarily restricted to après-ski—the availability of a hot tub is becoming a deciding factor year-round for guests when choosing vacation rentals.

“More often than not guests prefer a hot tub,” points out Sparks. “Sun Peaks Accommodations homes with hot tubs rent first and the properties without hot tubs usually rent later.”

Installing indoor or outdoor spa features, whether in a city dwelling or a vacation hideaway, is a popular choice—a healthy option affording home owners and their visitors a touch of luxury and instant relaxation.

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