'In
the Pink' at SALT in Santa Barbara
I
have always loved the beautiful pink hue of Himalayan
salt, as well as its fine cooking properties, but recently I
visited SALT, located at 740 State Street in Santa Barbara,
California, where a totally new experience of the benefits of
ancient salt is in process. This wonderful venue gives new meaning
to the term 'salt of the earth" in the heart of downtown
Santa Barbara.
Owners
Pamela McCaskey and her partner Kelly Egan have created a surreal
visual Salt Cave environment comprised completely of Himalayan
salt where guests are surrounded from ceiling to floor by the
beautiful and healthful pink stuff, held together with rich
wood and metal netting. The floors, walls and ceilings of the
salt cave, and waiting areas are filled with the visually pleasing
and sensually relaxing pink salt.
Healthy Pink Salt
Guests
enter Salt off a busy main street in downtown Santa Barbara
with no clue as they walk down the stairs to SALT they are on
a magical journey into a special respite of relaxation and escape
from the outside noise and chaos in process above the beautiful
Salt Cave. In minutes visitors happily find themselves in a
serene pink vortex of salt and sweet peaceful vibrations.
Salt
offers a charming gift shop where visitors can purchase a bevy
of products for cooking, bath and pampering, as well as cookbooks
and health information on the benefits of salt. The waiting
room, where guests relax before scrub, massage, sound therapy,
yoga, Pilates and more, is a comfy salt filled respite with
lighted candles, salt lamps and yoga tea selections to sip while
you wait.
Salt Entrance
The
private and quite massage rooms, for single or couples, are
clean and attractive with private showers. The salt scrub and
massage is wonderful, and leaves your skin feeling like silk.
The therapists at Salt are excellent and very accommodating
to the personal comfort needs of patrons. Either prior to or
after your treatments you can revel in the healthful atmosphere
of the Salt Cave. This is an amazing room completely made of
salt (ceiling, walls, floors) with soft lighting and comfortable
lounge chairs to settle into before salt filled air is funneled
into the room, along with relaxing music.
While I was in the SALT Cave their were other guests that ranged
in age from early twenties to late seventies. This form of sensual
and sensible relaxation seems to be enjoyed by all ages and
I can testify to the calming results of an hour in the Salt
Cave. It is such an easy way to breath in salt infused air,
find your quiet place and revel in it for an hour; a bargain
experience for the twenty-five dollar per hour fee.
The
welcoming space is also used for yoga, Pilates and special event
programs, and has become popular for group gatherings to enjoy
the optimum health venue combined with social activities. I
was told that group special events with yoga and refreshing
beverages are welcomed.
Entrance to Salt Cave
The
what and why of salt has been researched nearly to death, but
many who have tried it and found it to be true believe the benefits
of this ancient salt can create an electrolyte balance, increase
hydration, regulate water content both inside and outside of
cells, balance pH (alkaline/acidity) and help reduce acid reflux,
prevent muscle cramping, aid in proper metabolism functioning,
strengthen bones, lower blood pressure, help the intestines
absorb nutrients, prevent goiters, improve circulation, and
dissolve and eliminate sediment to remove toxins.
Pink
Salt In The Kitchen
For cooking or curing cooks should use pre-ground salt or grinders,
as they would any other salt. Cooking with Salt Slabs and using
them as serving platters is a current trend in places like the
Monterey Plaza Hotel. The slabs will impart an enhanced salt
tastes and mineral content. Chilled salt slabs can be decorated
beautifully with fruits, sushi, vegetables or cheese, and frozen
slabs are great for presenting cold desserts or sorbets. Heated
slabs are ideal to sear vegetables, shrimp, fish fillets or
thinly sliced beef. The dense salt blocks conduct heat beautifully
with nearly perfect heat distribution. Himalayan salt is naturally
anti-microbial, and requires minimal cleaning time. There are
countless books on the history of salt including The Story of
Salt by author Mark Kulansky with illustrations by S.D. Schindler.
Salt Block Cooking: 70 Recipes for Grilling, Chilling, Searing
and Serving on Himalayan Salt Blocks by Mark Bitterman is ideal
for home chefs.
Classes offered at SALT include flow-core yoga, gentle yoga,
foundation training, mat Pilates, let it go yoga, woman's empower
group, divine dance, sound healing, breath workshop, breath
empowerment workshop and drum circle classes.. SALT also offers
special activities for Kids and welcomes seniors to participate
in weekly classes.
For
hours, treatment and class fees, or product information visit
www.saltcavesb.com.
Contributed By Bonnie Carroll
http://www.lifebitesnews.com