It’s a rainy winter weeknight, and yet the waiting room of the Himalayan Salt Cave and Wellness Center, in Pottstown, is packed with people. Men and women, children and senior citizens fill the lobby, busily checking in on their reservations. The monthly sound bowl meditation event starts soon; both the 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. sessions are sold out.

Natural Awakenings: Wow, there are a lot of people here! Anita Heft: We take reservations weeks in advance. These events are very popular, as are our crystal healing and guided meditation events. We do all sorts of events in the caves, from bridal parties to yoga classes, reflexology and reiki. There are options for socializing—you can rent the cave or family room and just come in and hang out or be quiet and peaceful. There’s also a salt bed that delivers a more concentrated experience. All of these options offer the benefit of breathing in the salt air and taking some time to rest and relax.

What kinds of people come in on a regular basis? We have people of all kinds, really. We’ve had babies as small as two months old, and I have an older couple that has a monthly membership.

Do you have to have a health issue to benefit from the salt? Many clients that come say it helps with their coughing, asthma and skin conditions and that it opens up their sinuses. My son had allergies and it really helped his breathing. I hear others say it helps relieve their migraines, and an older client reports that it alleviates her neuropathy pain and tremors. Others just appreciate the stress-reduction benefits, better sleeping and how they feel when they leave.

Why do people need to wear special socks into the rooms? These socks are washed with detergent that doesn’t have any harmful chemicals. The salt in the cave is not like regular salt—it’s organic and contaminate-free. It came directly from a mine in Pakistan that is known for its purity. Particularly because many people that come here can have allergies, respiratory and/or sensitive skin conditions, we don’t want to risk contaminating it.

You opened up last July but you already have over 3,000 Facebook friends. Are you surprised that salt caves have become so popular? I’m really blessed. People have really taken to it. They come because they are curious, and they keep coming back because they say they just feel good.

Location: The Himalayan Salt & Wellness Cave is located at 1494 N. Charlotte St., in Pottstown. For more information, visit HimalayanSaltNWellness.com or call 610-310-3884.

February 2017