Business name: Newtown Salt Spa

Address: 43 South Main Street, Newtown

Owner: Katherine Hansen

Business background: During a trip to Europe in 2015, Newtown resident Katherine Hansen and her mother experienced firsthand the benefits of salt therapy.

They visited the Wieliczka Salt Mine located outside of Krakow, Poland, where the underground salt mine reaches depths of 1,070 feet and is more than 178 miles long.

"I really paid attention to how I felt when we were down there," Ms Hansen said.

Within 15 minutes, the headache that she had for the prior week subsided and she felt her sinuses become clear.

After her positive experience overseas, she continued to do research and venture to local salt caves, including one in Pennsylvania where her parents live.

Inspired to improve the health of others, she decided to open her first business - and the first salt spa - in Newtown.

"This is something I can see made a difference," Ms Hansen said. "I've always wanted to help people, in whatever I did, and this is something I thought Newtown could really benefit from."

Newtown Salt Spa officially opened on June 13, providing a calm and relaxing oasis for people to come to and receive the healing benefits of salt.

On Saturday, July 1, Newtown Salt Spa welcomed the friends, family, and the public to celebrate its ribbon-cutting ceremony. Guests were encouraged to stop by to learn about salt therapy, check out the new facility, and meet the owner of Sierra Scrubs and Soaps.

Business focus: Newtown Salt Spa offers 45-minute salt sessions for $30, where guests can enjoy the positive benefits of salt therapy. Anti-gravity chairs are available that can recline all the way back and lock into place for added comfort.

Inside the enclosed salt spa room, the lights are dimmed with tranquil music playing for a soothing ambiance. What makes it unlike any other spa experience is that there is about two inches of salt granules sprinkled on the ground and the walls are designed with salt bricks lining the walls.

Ms Hansen, her dad Jim Payne, and her husband Alex Hansen, installed each of the salt bricks on the wall one by one.

The room is set at a comfortable 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit with soft blankets available in the room.

"As your body relaxes, it gets a little cooler, so that's what the blankets are for," Ms Hansen explained.

Also supplied are protective foot booties for cleanliness and handheld salt bags to place on the parts of the body guests want to target, like the neck and shoulders.

The room has six chairs available in every session, with the ability to add two more for larger parties or meetings.

Guests can utilize the session time doing what they find relaxing, like reading a book, but cellphones and talking are discouraged when other guests are in the room.

By the main entrance, Newtown Salt Spa also has items for guests to purchase who looking to take home a little piece of the salt spa experience.

Ms Hansen sells Sierra Scrubs and Soaps products with essential oils, which are handmade by her mother Camille Payne. There are salt scrubs, cold pressed soaps, bath and shower fizzies, and bath salts available in a variety of scents.

There is also a selection Himalayan salt products, including lamps and candle holders, that come in all different shapes and sizes.

"When they heat up is when you get the benefits of the lamp, because it ionizes the air," said Ms Hansen.

Important to know: The Newtown Salt Spa brochure explains that by "using a device called a Halogenerator, we recreate the microclimate of natural salt caves by crushing and grinding pharmaceutical grade Himalayan salt into micro-sized particles and dispersing the salt aerosol into the air. This is also called Halotherapy."

"There are a lot of health benefits to it," Ms Hansen said.

Halotherapy may help when dealing with a broad number of ailments, including asthma, allergies, arthritis, circulatory issues, fatigue, inflammation, migraines, stress/anxiety, and smokers cough.

Ms Hansen says that, in most cases, a series of sessions is recommended to achieve the best results in having symptoms subside.

In addition to the salt spa's ability to remedy a number of issues, Ms Hansen added, "It's a structured relaxation time where absolutely nothing is going on... it's a calming, relaxing place away from everything."

Future promotions: Newtown Salt Spa has loyalty cards, where after a guest comes nine times they can get the tenth session free.

Also, after a session, guests receive a coupon for $5 off their next session, which is valid for the following two weeks.

Ms Hansen explained, "It really promotes coming back to get the real benefits if you are suffering from allergies or respiratory issues."

Hours: Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm, and closed Sunday and Monday. Appointments run on the hour every hour.

Website: newtownsaltspa.com

Social Media: facebook.com/newtownsaltspa

Phone: 203-491-2212

E-mail: info@newtownsaltspa.com

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