Of course, for those of us who feel uncomfortable being waited on or would just rather take a steam bath in private, there are steam showers (http://www.mybath.biz/typesofsteamshowers.html) available for in-home use; your own steam room all to yourself.



There are more benefits to steaming other than just the mere fact that it feels great. Taking a steam bath can actually help improve blood flow. Those with poor circulation often suffer from stiff joints and aching muscles, and will usually feel quite an improvement after relaxing in a sauna.

If you're feeling sick and congested, a steam shower (http://www.mybath.biz/typesofsteamshowerenclosures.html) can really help. The best steam shower for this kind of thing is one with the added benefits of aroma therapy. For congestion, eucalyptus oil will clear your nasal passages like never before. If you're feeling kind of nauseous, or just plain don't feel well, tea tree oil works wonders on the whole body.

Steam baths aren't right for everybody. Some people can start to feel light headed and dizzy, because they aren't used to the thickness of the air. If somebody like this still wants to try the bath, the amount of steam in the room can be reduced to a more comfortable level. However, there are other, less extreme methods of total muscle relaxation.

It is very common to find small Jacuzzi hot tubs at community pools, but for real luxury hot tubs (http://www.mybath.biz/servlet/the-Hot-Tubs/Categories) there are places that specialize in hot tubs and spas that will have a great selection to choose from. Hot tubs are a good alternative to steam baths, and most of them will even have massage jets.

If you're not so much looking for relaxation as detoxification and maybe just to sweat out excess water, you might try a body wrap. In this, the esthetician will wrap your entire body in a cloth like material, and then put you in special clothing that is made from a thick plastic. You will often receive some kind of mineral treatment as well, made from seaweed or mud, or something to that effect.

You will stay slathered in the treatment and wrapped up in the cloth and plastic for about twenty minutes, sweating out extra water and shedding inches that will be noticeable immediately after the treatment. Something like this is great to do just before a date or a wedding, where you have the perfect dress that is just the tiniest bit too small.

This is quite possible to do by yourself at home, although it may be difficult the first time you do it. You can get a friend to help you lather the tough to reach spots if you decide to use mineral treatment as well, but it is not required.