You Don’t Need to Say Bye to the Salt Air Just Because Summer’s Over

There really is something special about breathing in the salty air at the beach. That sense of calm and well-being you feel after a day by the ocean isn’t just in your head. It’s actual science. Salt-rich air has been studied for its potential respiratory benefits. And studies shows that surrounding yourself in salt improves your respiratory system, clears mucus, offers deep relaxation, provides skin benefits and downshifts your nervous system.

That’s part of the appeal behind salt rooms, which are becoming an increasingly popular form of self care and wellness. And because we live in one of the best areas of the country, of course the Main Line just got a brand new salt room — this time in Bryn Mawr at INVU Salon.

Last Christmas, INVU owner Rachel Allen and her mother, Barb, took a few days away from the craziness of the salon during the holidays to decompress in Williamsburg, Virginia. It was there that the mother-daughter duo experienced a salt room for the first time. Both women were immediately struck by how they felt afterwards. Rachel recalls waking up the next morning with completely clear airways and having “the best night sleep of our lives.” That’s when she turned to her mom and said “We need to build one of these in my salon.”

INVU has been a Best of Philly and Best of the Main Line winner and is a wildly popular hair salon on the Main Line. It’s also where I get my hair cut, so you can imagine my excitement when Rachel pulled me aside last spring to share her plans for a wellness suite on the other side of the salon.

I had sat inside a salt room before and understood the calm you feel in a room completely surrounded by Pink Himalayan salt. Beyond feeling peaceful and refreshed, the space itself is absolutely stunning. But the bricks of salt on the walls and the crystals of salt on the floor do more than just create a vibe. There are real health benefits to pure Pink Himalayan salt.

INVU Salon is now home to a 250 square-foot active salt room. Unlike passive salt rooms, which primarily use salt as part of the environment, an active salt room is specifically designed to disperse airborne salt particles. Active salt rooms use a device called a halogenerator that distributes microscopic particles of dry salt into the air. This process is known as halotherapy.

Breathing in salt-rich air from a halogenerator supports respiratory wellness in a big way! Dry salt aerosols help loosen mucus, making it easier to clear your airways. People with respiratory conditions such as asthma or COPD seek out halotherapy as a complimentary wellness treatment. In fact, people of all ages — big and small — can benefit from time inside a salt room. That’s why a salt room is such a wonderful wellness therapy.

For me, one of the biggest benefits of sitting inside a salt room is simply having 45 minutes to stop. The Salt Room at INVU Salon is intentionally designed to create a calming environment, with comfortable seating, soft lighting, quiet music and very few distractions. Taking time away from phones, work, kids, errands and everyday responsibilities provides a valuable opportunity to downshift.

The relaxing environment is one of the most immediate benefits you’ll notice inside the salt room. The last time I was in The Salt Room I brought a book with me, but once I settled into the comfy chair, wrapped up in the cozy blanket and put on my eye mask, all I wanted to do was drift away. I was more than content to do absolutely nothing in there, which we all know can be surprisingly difficult to make time for in everyday life.

A salt room session can also become a dedicated period for mindfulness, quiet breathing or meditation. Rachel already has plans to bring in various professionals to lead small meditation groups and workshops in The Salt Room, which feels like a natural extension of the space.

When you visit The Salt Room, wear comfortable clothes. You can even grab a robe. There are lockers to secure your belongings. You’ll keep your shoes on because the crystals on the floor can be difficult to walk on. Disposable booties go over your shoes to protect the salt, and disposable eye masks are available to take into the room, which I recommend for the full zen experience.

You may cough a little when you first breath in the salt particles. That’s just the salt doing its thing. You may also notice a salty taste on your lips, especially if you sit near the halogenerator window. I recommend sitting there to get closest to the source! You’ll have 45 minutes inside The Salt Room to do as you please. Most sessions are shared with other members, but you can also book the entire room for an additional fee.

But Rachel didn’t stop with the salt room.

She also added an infrared sauna and two ionic foot baths to compliment the salt therapy — because Rachel clearly understands the importance of creating opportunities for deep relaxation after a hard day’s work.

I recommend starting with a salt room session, followed by 20-30 minutes inside the sauna, and closing out your afternoon of wellness with an ionic foot bath.

I had never tried an ionic foot bath before, but I found it fascinating. You place your feet in a basin of warm salt water with a small device called an ionizing array. The device creates an electrical current that causes the water to change color. During the 30-minute session, toxins are drawn out of the body through the feet and into the water. The water color is said to determine where your body is holding onto the most toxins. My water turned a reddish-orange color, which signals inflammation— that makes sense considering how much I ask of my body.

The Salt Room at INVU fits nicely into any wellness routine, while offering something a little different from your usual self-care treatments. INVU recommends starting with a few back to back salt sessions before easing into a more regularly spaced out wellness routine that incorporates halotherapy.

And now for the fun part: for my readers, through the end of September, a single salt room session is only $35 (normally $49), or $55 when you combine the salt room with either the infrared sauna or ionic foot spa. After September, all packages will be 10% off for you guys. Just mention this article - or me - when you check out.

Because sometimes the best wellness treatment is simply giving yourself permission to stop, breathe and do absolutely nothing for 45 minutes.

*this post is sponsored but my thoughts, experiences and opinions are always my own and honestly shared — and that will never change!