By Gopika Suresh
Recently, I came across something that I had never heard of before: a chance to lighten my day over a session of salt therapy at Salt World in HSR Layout. Upon entering, I sat on one of the chairs for a while, wondering what they would do. I saw a few packs of Himalayan salts on display and I thought: Will I get drenched while getting this done? If I did, how would I get back to the office? Are they going to scrub me with this salt? Will it hurt?
A pamphlet on the coffee table caught my eyes; I went through it and laughed to myself. Does this even work? What’s the point of having thirty sessions and going right back into all the dust and pollution? By the time these questions took over my head, a few more people arrived and I stopped myself and decided to experience it first.
Chamber of salts
Before the workshop began, we were given scrubs to wear over our hair and feet for hygiene reasons. Dr. Poornima Shetty, our advisor for the day led us to a room made of salt. It looked like Snow World at first glance with salty walls and floors. Honestly, I felt I had killed the vibe of the room a bit as I was the only one wearing green and not white. The room smelt like nothing, but I have to tell you I had a sick urge to taste the salt. However, I quickly told myself to focus and forget the urge. There were a few chairs but I picked the floor since it felt cooler. Dr. Shetty began her session about yoga and essential salts. I was familiar with yoga but Salt Therapy was something I was completely intrigued by. I was intrigued when she said they use “pharmaceutical grade” salt that is 100% pure Nacl (sodium chloride) that is used in saline sprays for nasal congestion since ages.
Dr Shetty spoke about how it is important to regulate and be aware of our breathing, and how most of us have forgotten to breathe the right way. Being a professional dancer, I knew how much difference just breathing right could do on stage. The doctor stressed on the importance of holding your back straight and how it is linked to various other bodily aspects. My dance teacher had also said that the way you hold your back can tell if you are a good dancer at first glance. Obviously breathing and posture made so much sense to yogis, musicians and dancers, but it’s often neglected by the others.
We had a small practice of five minutes where we were made to observe our breathing pattern and were asked to control it by inhaling deeply and exhaling even more deeply. We were then directed to a room where the therapy actually began. Salt particles were injected into the atmosphere by using a device called the halogenerator. And just seconds into the treatment, I knew I was starting to doze off. It felt even cooler than the previous room and made me feel as though I was in meditation almost instantly. I was aware of the minute salt particles hitting my skin and the smell of it was building up. I looked around and saw it wasn’t just me who was in a trance, but everyone else too. At that point, I didn’t know if this healed anything at all, but it just felt surreal. I fell asleep imagining what it would be like had our bedrooms and classrooms been like this. I remember waking up after about half-an-hour and feeling as though I was under a waterfall.
Time was up. I reluctantly got out of the room, removed the scrubs, put on my footwear and was ready to go. I knew I was coming back though; less salt in just food is not the only thing that I was going to complain about from now on. I want regular salt room sessions too!
Salt World
No 1, Sri Chakra, 2nd Floor, 18th main, Behind Sai Baba Temple Phone: 99863-88677, 98801-03741.
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