Himalayan salt has been super popular for the past several years: you can cook with it, you can cook on it, you can buy lamps made from it, you can bathe with it - and much more!
But what is a salt room? Why would you go to one? What's it like?
When I was in Sedona recently, I went to a salt room - keep reading and I'll tell you all about it!
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What is a salt room?
Salt rooms are exactly what they sound like: Rooms filled with and made entirely of Himalayan salt. Salt lamps, salt bricks, salt covering the ground like sand: it's all part of the salt room experience. There are also similar spaces called salt caves.
Why go to a salt room?
Himalayan salt is said to have a whole host of benefits for your body - both inside and out. Specifically, using Himalayan salt lamps in your environment - typically in the form of lamps and candle holders - is said to promote calm and relaxation, ease respiratory issues, and help to clean the air.
Salt rooms - with FAR more salt than the average home would incorporate into their decor and in a much smaller space - are said to amplify that.
There are tons of articles that discuss the (potential and actual) benefits of salt lamps and salt therapy; a simple Google search will give you tons of reading. Since there is so much information already out there, I'll just give you a few points - and then get to my own experience. According to Organic Spa Magazine,
The calming and detoxifying effects of halotherapy can support the immune, nervous and lymphatic systems. Additional benefits are reduced stress and headaches, increased energy, and better sleep patterns.
And according to the Breathe Salt Rooms website,
Dry Salt Therapy is a natural and holistic treatment for adults and children that has been known to aid in detoxifying the respiratory system, healing skin conditions, promoting better breathing, sounder sleep and overall wellness.
So we know that Himalayan salt - and salt rooms - are supposed to have a host of potential benefits. But what what the room like, when I tried it? Did any of this actually happen?
My experience
So what was my experience like in the salt room? I went with my family: the salt room we were in was set up to accommodate 5-6 people at a time. There were four of us, plus another guest we didn't know. Getting in to the salt room was easy: first, you took off your shoes and put on little disposable booties, to keep the room clean. No special clothing was needed - something you can relax in and is loose-fitting is ideal, but we just wore our regular clothes.
The room was the size of a large walk-in closet, with a few reclining chairs, an armchair, and a blanket to lay on the ground. It was pretty cozy while we were all standing - and I was nervous that it was going to feel like pretty tight quarters - but, once everyone got settled, there was plenty of space.
After we chose our spots - I laid on the salt-sand, on a blanket - we simply closed our eyes and rested for about 45 minutes. There was the beautiful glow of the salt, some relaxing music, and I brought a set of chakra stones that I laid on me while I rested in the salt. It was a little chilly in the room - most salt rooms are kept around 70-75 degrees - so we had blankets if we needed them (I needed mine). But otherwise, it was really comfortable.
Results
So - what happened? How did I feel? Did it work? Would I do it again??
Overall, I have to say that it was a really relaxing, calming experience. It also had a really great ambiance. I'm a huge salt lamp fan and have several at home. Regardless of any potential health benefits (or none), I think they are an excellent addition to any space, to create great lighting for winding down in the evening.
While I certainly can't vouch for all of the healing claims and long-term benefits, I will say that after just one session:
- I was more relaxed. It was a great way to take time out for myself and just rest.
- I felt like I was breathing better. My sinuses felt clear and...fresh? I'm not sure how to describe it. My boyfriend - who has chronic sinus issues - said the same.
- My hair was SO SOFT. OMG. This was probably the most surprising benefit - but my hair was silkier and smoother than it has EVER been, ever. And I had not used anything different than my normal routine (in fact, I hadn't even showered yet that day - we went first thing in the morning).
So, all in all, I would definitely go again - and would encourage you to try one*, if you have the opportunity! I personally didn't experience any negatives - other than being a little chilly, toward the end (with the cooler room, my body at rest, and generally trending toward the "freeze baby" end of the spectrum, I wasn't very surprised about this). And I feel like there were some definite benefits (soft hair!), even if they were just temporary. And, again, any time you can give yourself a little time to relax and rest, you're doing yourself a favor.
*of course, if you have any health concerns, use common sense safety and check with your doctor before deciding if a session is right for you. And be sure to ask the facility any questions you have, before you use their room! I found the place we went to be very helpful - and they even let me peek in the room to see what it was like, before I made a final decision on whether or not to try it.
What do you think? Would you try out a salt room?
Try out a salt lamp
Want to try out a salt lamp or some Himalayan salt products at home? While it won't be nearly as much salt as a salt room or salt cave would have, I really do believe they're a great addition to your home or space.
Here are a few links to try:
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