Imagine enjoying the relaxation, not to mention health and mindful benefits of breathing in salty air without having to leave Geauga County.
Imagine enjoying the relaxation, not to mention health and mindful benefits of breathing in salty air without having to leave Geauga County.
“We believe that there is too much stress in people’s lives,” said Candace Zinner, owner of the new salt cave on Chardon Square. “We wanted to create a space where people could unload and break free from their phones and everyday hustle.”
Salty, Geauga County’s first salt cave and lounge held an official grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony May 22 at its location at 102 East Park Street near the Chardon Public Library.
“Having never been in a salt cave before, I had no preconceptions of what it might be like,” said Geauga County Republican Party Chairman Nancy McArthur. “It was an amazing experience walking on a salt floor, surrounded by salt walls. It was very soothing and I really want to go back and spend some time relaxing there.”
Candace and her husband, Brandon Zinner, a Willoughby Police Department K-9 officer and Army National Guard member, said they are excited to call Chardon their home.
“We searched for months to find the perfect location for our salt cave and could not be happier to be located on the Chardon Square,” Candace said.
Salty offers services the couple have personally experienced and found to be powerful, natural and in line with their belief in the natural healing powers of the human body.
Services include a salt cave experience, salt booth treatment, foot detox experience, infrared sauna experience and tips and toes treatment.
The experience begins before you enter the doors to the salt cave as patrons are asked to remove their shoes before stepping onto the deep bed of salt granules.
The water feature creates a special natural healing microclimate where spa-goers may relax in zero-gravity orbital loungers while warmly nestled under cozy weighted blankets.
Soft music and stars above help drift attendees into a relaxing state of mind, a setting akin to a meditation or yoga class.
You simply sit, relax and breathe the refined air, similar to spending time at a beach while breathing in nature’s salty sea air.
Ancient healers and philosophers suggested salt inhalation for the respiratory system and health problems, according to the Salt Therapy Association.
“Additionally, halotherapy (breathing salty air) is known to help with all sorts of
respiratory issues from allergies to COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease),” Candace said.
Scientific studies show people with asthma and other ailments breathe easier after halotherapy and inhaling salt particles may reduce inflammation and mucus in the lungs improving respiratory conditions.
This can be very beneficial during allergy season, Candace said.
“We decided to go with Salt Cave Pro Design Puresolspa for our cave builder,” she said. “We wanted to be as authentic as we could. Our cave designer, Beata Hatley, is from Poland where her father was an engineer in the salt mines there. So we were honored that she agreed to build our cave in the image of the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland.”
Wieliczka’s is considered to be one of the top tourist attractions in Poland and is where salt mine workers are said to have exhibited fewer respiratory illnesses.
According to the STA, skin conditions can also be improved with halotherapy.
Salty’s booth treatments offer halotherapy in a private setting with adjustable levels of salt-particle concentration from Salty’s halo-generator, offering an individualized and targeted session, Candace said.
The calming and detoxifying effects of halotherapy can support the immune, nervous and lymphatic systems, according to the STA, which said additional benefits include reduced stress and headaches, increased energy and better sleep patterns.
“I worked with adults with developmental disabilities for the past 10 years,” Candace said. “We love helping people, but decided we needed something more calming and relaxing to escape to and I got such a benefit from the salt therapy myself, we decided to open our own business.”
The couple drove all around searching for a place and kept coming back to Chardon. “We got a great business mentor, a business plan, a great banker and tons of support from business owners’ friends and family,” Candace said. “We found good people to help us build and design our dream of a calming relaxing atmosphere.”
McArthur said having worked as a sales representative in the retail industry and as a small business banker, she has respect for and a fascination with business owners, their faith in themselves to succeed, and belief in their products and services.
“It’s the American dream,” McArthur said.“It’s rewarding to see our small city thriving and attracting unique businesses like Salty. Chardon City Council is committed to creating a supportive environment for business owners. We welcome entrepreneurs and are excited to see what the future holds for our square and the rest of our growing city.”
