Just 45 minutes is said to have respiratory benefits, according to Awaken for Wellness founder Chris Richmond. iStock/OscarMartin
One hour a day in a room filled with Himalayan salt is said to improve your child’s overall health—such as clearing out the bacteria in their sinuses and lungs—according to Chris Richmond, founder of Awaken for Wellness.
At Awaken for Wellness, previously known as The Salt Room Woodbury, Richmond welcomes families—including kids—to enjoy the benefits of its spaces. “It gives a chance for the parents to relax and let them get salt therapy, [while] the kids get respiratory benefits, as well,” he says. These rooms are privately rented and include small toys for children to play with during their allotted times.
Richmond says people often wonder what a salt room is before experiencing it. “We have salt all around the walls and on the ceiling, as well as on the floor,” Richmond says. “When you’re in that environment, it can give off negative ions, which are actually really good for our cells and our immune system. It can also give you a positive shift in your mood.”
Awaken for Wellness, which also has locations in St. Paul and Hudson, Wisconsin, uses salt machines, called Halo Generators, that crush the sodium chloride—aka pharmaceutical-grade salt—like a blender. A fan then pushes the small salt particles into the air for participants to breathe into their lungs and sinuses.
“When we breathe it in, sodium chloride has antimicrobial properties,” Richmond says. “It also is anti-inflammatory” Richmond says our cells need sodium, chloride and electrolytes to function—so breathing this into the “nooks and crannies of our lungs” can aid in the removal of allergies, bacteria, colds, fungus, mold spores, sinus irritation and viruses, he says.
Woodbury’s Awaken for Wellness welcomes clients into its salt rooms from 5 a.m. to midnight. “They can come in on their time,” Richmond says. In addition, it also offers breathwork classes, cold plunging, infrared saunas, red light therapy and sound therapy.
For adults, Richmond recommends doing the infrared sauna followed by salt therapy immediately after for the most effective results. He says spending up to 45 minutes in the salt rooms can be a “getaway for a lot of parents,” who may then want to experience other offerings.
Richmond says that clients with chronic or acute conditions would most benefit after using the salt rooms for at least three days in a row. However, it’s beneficial for anyone. “Young and old, anyone can use [the salt rooms],” he says. “Generally, the benefits are in the respiratory system—and the magic of it is [that it helps] almost for all respiratory conditions …”
The sound therapy sessions are dedicated to healing via singing bowls. The vibrations from the bowls produce healing sounds, all while being surrounded by salt caves and an experienced practitioner. It’s said to balance the body’s chakras, reduce cortisol levels and induce a deep state of relaxation.
Awaken for Wellness
2110 Eagle Creek Lane #350; 651.436.1725
This is not intended as medical advice. Consult your primary physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.
