Upgrade the home to a wellness oasis

Almost every home can be turned into a wellness oasis. In some cases, retrofitting can even be done quickly and costs less than most people assume.

At least in the cold season, people long for warmth. Sauna or infrared cabin fulfil this wish.

You have three options:

• You can build a real sauna, which costs at least 1,000 euros. In it, temperatures of 80 to 105 degrees Celsius prevail with the help of a special oven. The heat is dry, so sweat evaporates very quickly and the air feels cooler than it actually is. If you install the sauna in a closed room, it is important that the heat is dissipated very well. If you install the sauna outdoors, it is best to heat it with wood; indoors, electric sauna heaters are more practical.
• A steam cabin, often called a mini-sauna, is an alternative that costs only a few hundred euros. In the small cabins you can only sit. Hot steam brings the air inside to about 50 degrees Celsius. Due to the humidity of the air, perspiration evaporates badly and you feel the air to be warmer.
• In an infrared cabin, which is also available from 1,000 euros, the air hardly heats up at all. The heat waves primarily warm solid objects such as the walls or a couch in the room. The human body is also heated by the radiation. Depending on the type of radiator, you feel only pleasant warmth or you start sweating like in a sauna.

Of the alternatives mentioned, the sauna makes the greatest demands on space, including room height, so that there is no accumulation of heat under the ceiling. With steam rooms, good ventilation is important, because the steam must of course leave the house. A well-ventilated bathroom is usually sufficient as an installation site. You can install an infrared cabin in any room. Depending on the model, a floor space of one square metre is sufficient.

You can replace an existing shower or bathtub with a steam shower or have an existing cabin retrofitted. Some models are a bathtub and whirlpool at the same time. This is a luxury version of the steam cabin, in which you can choose to stand, sit or lie down, depending on the model. Steam showers usually offer a rain shower, massage jets and a steam function. Some models have an integrated radio and coloured LED lighting. As a rule, a temperature of about 60 degrees Celsius can be reached via the steam.

The steam is extracted upwards via a fan. This means that the cabin becomes steam-free quite quickly. This has the disadvantage that moisture collects in the installation room. Therefore, you should direct the steam outdoors via ventilation pipes. Most models only need a socket, a drain and a hot and cold water connection. Inexpensive steam showers are available from 800 euros, luxury versions can cost over 5,000 euros.

For just under 50 euros, you can set up a small pool on the balcony or in the garden that is suitable for treading water or simple water gymnastics. Aqua-Power, Aqua-Fun, Aqua-Fit, Aquajogging, Aquaboxing or Aquazumba are possible from a water depth of 45 cm. Naturally, gymnastics are more effective in waist-high water. Frame pools with an appropriate depth cost about 80 euros. With dimensions of at least 170 x 260 cm, they are too large for most balconies. Despite the low price, the foldable pools are very stable and you will enjoy them for many years. A pool in which you can swim is of course much more expensive, it should have a minimum size of 4 x 2.5 m and be equipped with a counter-current system.

A whirlpool can of course also be used for aqua sports. Thanks to heating and massage jets, whirlpools are particularly suitable for relaxing. You can get inflatable versions that are suitable for indoor and outdoor use from 450 euros complete with pump, thermostat and heating. These pools are usually not frost-proof and cannot be left outside in winter. Solid whirlpools for permanent installation in the bathroom are available from 1,500 euros.

The range of devices that massage is very diverse. Mechanical massage aids are usually rollers or balls, some with nubs. They are easy to use and stimulate the blood flow to the skin. This has an amazing effect on the muscles, which relax as a result of the stimuli.

With electric massagers, you can choose between stimulation current, vibration and shiatsu with moving rollers.

• Stimulation current is very effective because electrical impulses act directly on the muscle. However, you have to attach the electrodes to the skin in exactly the right places. Since incorrect application can do more harm than good, you should be absolutely clear about the correct application.
• Vibration devices make the muscles vibrate. The effect is rather small. Many of the devices provide additional infrared radiation to warm up the muscles. This provides relief from many complaints. An electric heating pad or mud, fango or grain pads have a similar effect and are much cheaper.
• Shiatsu massagers are available in different models. From small devices that massage the neck or shoulders to luxury massage chairs costing several thousand euros. Fancy models that massage the whole body, including the arms and legs, can cost over 10,000 euros; simple massage chairs with "roller massage" start at about 1,200 euros. Less expensive are massage pads or mats that you place on an armchair or chair. You can get these for about 100 euros.

You should definitely treat yourself to a massage shower head. It can be installed instead of a hand shower and considerably enhances your shower experience. Even better are models that are also equipped with coloured LED light. The light has a positive effect on the psyche.

Mechanical massage aids are also recommended. A massage ball is ideal if you want to massage your back or neck yourself. Hand-held rollers are more suitable if you have a partner who can massage you.

If you suffer from frequent neck tension, it is worth buying electric massage cushions and neck massage devices.

Sunscreens contain chemical or mineral UV filters that protect the skin from damage. On the one hand, they offer safe protection, but on the other hand, they may have negative effects on our bodies and the environment. Sunscreens are used as sun milk, sun cream or sun oil, each with different sun protection factors. Sensitive skin areas such as the face or tattooed skin require special sun protection.