The bench under the shower head just seems strange. The idea of the bench is to have a place to sit and be gently caressed by the warm water, not to have it beat your brains out. But maybe I have different ideas about the meaning of benches.

The concept of the bench is to use the hand held while sitting, or just enjoying the steam from the hot water. Good luck!

I would agree that the bench should be positioned on the opposite side of the shower head. Also, another reason for the bench is for those ladies that would like to sit and shave rather than hobble on one foot. :-) Therefore the bench should not be under the shower head because the running water would just rinse the shave cream off as soon as you put it
on!

If you have 2 shower heads ( sounds as though you do ) place it away from the primary head in my opinion.

What were the reasons it was recommend that it be placed @ the shower head?

Keep in mind your showering habits. Do you shave your legs in the shower? Do you like to sit and relax under the hot shower? Etc...

Also, do you have a secondary area in the shower to store bottles, bar soap etc...? A recessed niche'? Or, will the bench be only area to place shower necessities?

It's a good place to set your foot on when shaving your legs too :)

Primary head no bench. Rain head has bench for relaxing under the water

My bench is opposite the showerhead.

Agreed, shower bench should go either perpendicular or opposite to the shower head.

For a 58" x 34" shower with plumbing on the short wall, should I have the bench opposite the plumbing? My concern is it's too far from the shower head to be warm. Can you get hand helds with super long hose?

Placement of a shower bench below the handheld shower head: if the bather is profoundly disabled and must be bathed by a caregiver, placement of the bench in this manner is optimized for the care giver. Everything is within easy reach.

I would think having it on other side of the shower head would be too far away. If you are using hand held for shaving legs where will you put it while saving? On the ground? Wouldn't be long enough. If you are right under the shower head, it can be reached. If you have an injury and cannot stand, you can clean yourself while sitting and have everything right there. When you shower normally, the bench will not be in the way because it will be in front of you if you are not using it. makes sense to me. Doesn't look as nice but definitely more functional.

I never felt there was a need for two shower heads..unless the shower needs to accommodate two people at a time?...and find a handheld shower head the most versatile tool for showering...as it is so handy for rinsing all the less reachable “crannies”..

This allows you to put the bench wherever it looks best..or is more hidden from view...or is easiest to install..whichever addresses your needs

In your case where you have it looks best...however i would suggest a wall or half wall between the toilet and bench...since the view of the toilet is not a desired aesthetic while seated in the shower