Oprah's 'happiness guru' designed apartments to maximize joy — and they start at $5 million

Happiness guru and alternative health practitioner Deepak Chopra — who gained mainstream attention after his appearance on Oprah in 1993 — is now venturing into home design.

As of late January, 70% have been sold.

On a beach in northeast Miami, the Muse Residences will include 49 floors and 68 units, seven of which will be designed by Chopra.

Chopra partnered with r

Chopra has a holistic view of health, and believes the mind, body, soul, and universe are all connected. He says he tried to bring that philosophy to the new residences.

Some scientists and medical professionals have criticized Chopra's claims, calling his teachings pseudoscience, particularly those related to evolution and medicine.

The units' design concentrates on three core wellness principles: water, air, and light. Chopra says that focusing on these natural elements will connect residents to nature.

Chopra also says the units' state-of-the-art water purification and air filtration systems will boost residents' immune systems.

"Statistics show that 90% of our time is spent indoors, and 70% of all indoor space is polluted and more contaminated than a polluted city," Chopra says. "With extreme filtration, the quality of air will be what it would be in a natural environment — a forest, for example."

Because artificial lighting can disrupt your natural sleep cycle, Chopra says, the units will also incorporate circadian lighting — meaning the indoor lights will automatically adjust based on the level of sunlight outside.

The units will have morning, mid-day, and evening settings, though that can be turned off manually if residents choose.

Recent research has emphasized the benefits of following circadian rhythms. In a 2013 study, scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder found that if you live by the sun's schedule, you are more likely to go to sleep at least an hour earlier, wake up an hour earlier, and feel less sluggish, because your internal clock and external environment are more in sync.

"Ever since the lightbulb was invented, people fell out of balance, because you can stay up late at night with the wrong kind of lighting. Your computer gives off lighting that makes you feel alert and disrupts sleep," Chopra says.

The interior walls will be painted cool, muted colors — such as blue, lavender, and cream — which Chopra says promote feelings of calmness.

The units will each have two or three bedrooms and start at 2,360 square feet. The top floors will have two 5,995-square-foot penthouses.

The building will also include luxury amenities, including an infinity pool ...

... a gym ...

... and a restaurant.

The Muse Residences are part of the smart home movement, Chopra says. In the future, he expects homes will be able to monitor residents' blood pressure, heart rate, stress levels, and immune functions, then recommend how to adjust lighting and temperature accordingly.

Chopra hopes the new units will promote happiness in their residents. With a beautiful multimillion-dollar apartment like this one, however, who wouldn't be happy?