After a recent girls trip to Indiana for a comedy show, my friend Erin and I decided to try something fun and different on our way home. We talked about finding a place to float in a salt bed, but frankly, that is terrifying because I am claustrophobic. Instead, we found a salt cave! It was actually more like a salt room, but salt cave sounds so much cooler!

Negatively charged ions in the salt are said to improve many conditions, such as inflammation in the lungs, asthma, allergies, and sinus congestion.  Dry air is more powerful than moist air and salt ions purify the air. Some experts say a 45-minute session in a salt room is equal to 3 days by the sea. I would personally prefer 3 days at the beach than 30 minutes in a salt room. Just saying. Since ocean air is made up of negative ions, breathing this air helps the body absorb oxygen and balance serotonin levels. (Proof to my theory that living by the ocean makes you happy)

Evolve Boutique & Healing Arts Center, in Niles, Michigan, was the name of the spa. It opened at 10:00am which was perfect timing for our drive home, and it happened to be on our way. Normally you need a reservation but luckily the cave was available when we stopped in. Everything lined up so I guess it was meant to be!

We each paid $20 for a 30-minute session. No shoes allowed, socks optional. We decided to go barefoot, which was shocking since my friend Erin refuses to go barefoot in a hotel room, yet she will rip off her socks and shoes and run around in a pile of Himalayan salt that hundreds of other people have likely touched with their bare feet. She’s weird but I love her. 

We walked in the room, which was dimly lit (they actually gave us a few lighting options but we chose dimly lit) The ground was covered in crushed Himalayan salt. We relaxed in zero gravity chairs with soft music playing. After a few minutes of giggles and “what the hell are we doing here” conversations, we settled in and began to relax.

After 30 minutes in the room, we both felt like we could breathe a little deeper and easier.  Erin has a lot of allergy issues and said she felt great, less congested, and could breathe better. I woke up that morning feeling like I was coming down with a cold. I had the very early stages of an earache and sore throat. After a few minutes in the salt room, my earache actually started to feel worse. Even though I could breathe a little deeper, my earache and sore throat lingered until the next day and then I felt back to normal.

I’m not sure if it was the peaceful atmosphere or the salt that made us feel so relaxed. At one point I could have fallen asleep.

We visited the shop on the way out. Everyone knows a good salt cave has a gift shop! You will be shocked to know I bought salt. 2 salt shakers actually. One Pink Himalayan salt shaker and one Black Himalayan salt shaker. Pink Himalayan salt has less sodium and more minerals than table salt, so it’s said to be a healthier option. The black salt has an egg taste and smell to it, which was SO incredibly weird. I tried a little sample, which was like eating bits and pieces of a hard-boiled egg. This type of salt is commonly used in Indian dishes. So far I haven’t actually used it – but I have made a lot of dinner guests try it for fun! Not something I will use very often, but too unique to pass up.

Overall, the salt cave was a very unique and relaxing experience. It’s not something I would pay for on a regular basis, but it was fun to try. If you get the opportunity, check it out. Even if you don’t feel any benefit from the negative ions, I am sure you will feel relaxed, like you’ve spent 3 days at the beach!