Retired Police Officer Starts Each Day with SteamTherapy

What does it take to soften up a former L.A. cop? A residential steam shower will do the trick.

John Rodriguez (64) of Los Angeles remembers steaming in the locker rooms during the “gym craze of the 1970s” but says his first encounter with a home steam shower from MrSteam happened roughly 15 years ago and changed his life.

How the Love Affair with Steam Showers Began

He had gone on vacation to Steamboat Ski Resort in Colorado with his sister when, after a day of activity, he stepped into what he thought was a normal shower. “I noticed a control in there,” he recalls. “For kicks, I pushed the button and, lo and behold, the shower started filling up with steam. I was amazed, as I had never seen anything like this in a home. I steamed and showered and then asked my sister about the unit. She told me it was from MrSteam. That is when MrSteam and I began our love affair... I wish I could say ‘Mrs. Steam.’”

A few years after that fateful trip, John set out to install a steam shower in his own home.

A Steam Shower to Relax and Relieve Sore Muscles

“I use my steam shower every morning when I wake up and even later in the day too,” says John, praising the health benefits of steam. “When I was still working as a police officer, the steam would just melt all my stress away when I got home.”

Aside from relaxation, steam provides him with a post-exercise ritual. “It relaxes my sore muscles after a workout and gives me an overall sense of well-being. On top of that, unlike using it at the gym, I have a greater sense of privacy with my home steam shower, which I can hop into whenever I want.” Steam has the ability to relieve muscle soreness and reduce the painful effects of arthritis.

>> See Physical Therapist Praises the Benefits of Steam

Spreading the Love of Steam

Love of steam runs in John’s family. Recently, he finished installing a steam room in a newly-renovated bathroom for his daughter, Taylor, who is a 22-year-old college senior. “When we decided to do a full gut remodel of Taylor’s bathroom, she begged me for her own MrSteam because she had absolutely loved using mine over the years,” he says.

Taylor’s new bathroom design has no tub and instead combines a shower and steam room into one 6 ½ ft. x 5 ½ ft. space with an exterior window. The AirTempo wireless steam shower control perfectly fits her modern lifestyle with its ease-of-use and remote capabilities.

>> See Feeling Good is Just a Touch Away with AirTempo Steam Shower Control

A Steam Shower to Exfoliate the Skin

While her father loves steam for its relaxation benefits, Taylor has a different priority.

“I use it mostly to open up the pores on my face and exfoliate my skin,” she says. Steam has been shown to improve blood circulation, which brings more oxygen and nutrients toward the skin’s surface. It may even reduce acne by clearing out clogged pores.

>> See How to Achieve Glowing Skin: 7 SteamTherapy Tips

Father and daughter aren’t the only ones relishing their in-home spa. “My sister always gets excited about visiting our house because she knows she’ll get to use the steam bath,” laughs John. Any guests to the Rodriguez home can look forward to this steamy treat.

Most important, according to John, is the improved personal health he has observed since investing in steam. “I’m 64 years old and think I’m the healthiest out of all my friends” he says, attributing this to a healthy lifestyle, part of which is a regular steam bath. “As you get older, health is the most important thing, and I’ve seen steam play a major role in improving my overall wellness.”

Where He Began

Although he had no idea where to begin, he says MrSteam provided ample guidance. “Customer service was excellent,” he says. “They walked me through the entire process and were available every step of the way.” He notes that his contractor had never installed steam before, but found the instructions easy to follow for a smooth installation. According to John, in the years since installation day, the steam shower has worked flawlessly, even without maintenance. “It’s a workhorse that never fails.”

>> Visit the MrSteam Virtual Spa

John’s tiled home steam room ended up measuring 4 ½ ft. x 5 ½ ft. and is sealed to the ceiling, with the exception of a transom for ventilation. His contractor sloped the ceiling to keep condensate from dripping down on users.

Inside, a comfortable bench greets the bather as the steam generator works from the other side of the wall to produce a calming mist that the former L.A. Sheriff’s Department officer has grown so accustomed to.

>> See Top 10 Considerations Before Installing a Steam Shower

Ready to Start Your Own Love Affair with Steam?

We invite you to build your own steam shower using the MrSteam Virtual Spa, and then visit a MrSteam Dealer near you.