NaCl: Or the Chemical Elements of Relaxation

A trip to Traverse City’s Urban Oasis Salt Spa

By Brighid Driscoll | Dec. 23, 2023

On a trip to Louisville, Kentucky, Traverse City locals Carol and David Saxton didn’t expect to find themselves in a salt cave.

“I was looking for things to do so I decided to try it,” Carol says. She left feeling relaxed and like she could breathe easier. “It was such a profoundly beautiful experience.”

The couple began enjoying and learning more about halotherapy, also called salt therapy. Eventually, they decided to bring the experience to Traverse City, which led them to opening Urban Oasis Salt Spa seven years ago. “People here are very health conscious, so we thought it would be great to have here,” Carol says.

Since opening, the Saxtons have had over 15,000 people visit the spa, and they say many visit regularly. Customers enjoy feeling that they can help clear their lungs after illness or quitting smoking and are relieved of stress. “People come in for all sorts of reasons,” says David. “Athletes, people after having a cold, people looking for stress relief. Salt is antibacterial, so it’s always a sterile environment.”

As word got out about their services, their original location near Kids Creek quickly grew too small. Now, with a new location on West Bay Shore Drive, the Saxtons have created their dream salt spa.

Imported from a natural salt cave in Pakistan, rosy toned boulders of Himalayan salt cover the space and are lit from within for a calming atmosphere. “For Seasonal Disorder we set the light on amber and it really helps,” David explains. And though the Himalayan salt makes for a beautiful ambiance, the therapeutic aspect comes from a halo generator. A pharmaceutical grade salt is heated and ground into fine particles before being dispersed into the air via a generator.

All of that made us want a little R&R ourselves. So manager Lori Wares Wagner gave us a step-by-step guide for her perfect day of relaxing at the spa.

Best Face Forward

As winter sets in, the air becomes harsher on our skin. Long nights and extra cold days lead to more time inside and dull complexions.

“The perfect day starts with a facial,” Wagner says. “Let’s start from the head down.”

Facials address issues ranging from breakouts to dryness to tired-looking skin by deeply cleansing, exfoliating, and nourishing the skin. The experience enhances circulation and relaxes the muscles in our face. (Ask yourself: Are you clenching your jaw right now? Furrowing your brow? Yep, we were, too.)

Wagner says the spa’s therapists customize treatments to address specific concerns, combating signs of aging, acne, and environmental damage. Winter facials fix parched pores by providing intense hydration and repairing weather-induced issues like redness, flaking, and chapping. Therapists use rich, nourishing products to restore moisture, soothe irritation, and enhance the skin’s natural barrier. The result is a winter-ready complexion that remains supple, luminous, and protected.

But the best part, in Wagner’s opinion, is a scalp massage. “You know when you go to get your hair done, and they're shampooing your hair and massaging your head, and you're thinking, ‘Please don't ever stop’? That’s exactly what you can get here.”

Relaxation from Head to Toe

Next on the list? The full-body work-up.

“Of course, we provide a robe and slippers for the experience,” Wagner says. “After a facial, I would suggest a massage in our couples’ massage room that overlooks West Bay.”

Urban Oasis’s massage therapists have experience in all your favorite techniques, but for Wagner’s perfect day, she would go with a Himalayan Hot Stone massage, where smooth, heated stones are expertly placed and massaged over the body.

The rocks are made out of ancient Himalayan salt crystals and are purported to emit negative ions that promote a sense of well-being. This treatment removes tension, eases muscle stiffness, and enhances blood circulation. The mineral-rich stones also impart detoxifying benefits, revitalizing the skin. Wagner says guests love the warmth of this luxurious experience, as the Himalayan stones soothe mind, body, and spirit.

A walk from the massage table to the detox room is Wagner’s third stop. Ion foot detoxes are a popular spa therapy designed to rejuvenate the body from the soles up. The treatment involves placing feet in a warm water bath with positive and negative ions.

As toxins are drawn out through the feet, the water darkens, reflecting the release of impurities. “It’s revealing,” Wagner tells us.

Advocates of ion foot detoxes claim benefits such as improved energy levels, reduced inflammation, and enhanced overall wellness. The negative ions are thought to neutralize free radicals and promote a more alkaline environment in the body, potentially alleviating stress and supporting the immune system. Enthusiasts appreciate the ritual for its calming effects and the post-detox sensations, leaving them filled with lightness and vitality.

Sauna and Salt

“In that same detox room, I’d go right into the infrared sauna,” Wagner says of her next step.

The saunas most of us are familiar with involve hot air or steam. Infrared saunas differ in that they use radiant heat to heat your body directly. They can achieve the same results as a traditional sauna at lower temperatures. But hey, any excuse to feel warm is welcome in a northern Michigan winter, right?

The high temperatures of the sauna induce sweating, a natural process that flushes out toxins, cleanses the skin, and promotes a healthy glow. This heat exposure also improves blood circulation, aiding muscle recovery and reducing inflammation. Regular sauna sessions have benefits like lower blood pressure and improved cardiovascular function. The heat triggers the release of endorphins, promoting natural stress relief and enhancing mood.

Now, for our final treatment of the day. “Last but not least, I would enjoy a refreshment in our calming, stunning salt room. I always tell people this is the fireworks of the spa,” says Wagner.

Salt therapy or halotherapy began in the 1800s when a Polish physician noticed that salt mine workers weren’t prone to lung problems like other miners. Soon, salt therapy became an accessory asthma treatment in Eastern Europe. Later, halotherapy gained popularity in the United States in the mid-20th century.

Beyond the respiratory health boost, halotherapy is thought to have skin benefits, drawing on the therapeutic properties of salt—think antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory.

The Urban Oasis salt room is wrapped in serenity, with low lighting, soothing sounds, and chairs to sit and unwind in. Guests are encouraged to wear clean and comfortable clothes and enter the room with white socks. (Pro tip: The salt room is kept at a slightly cooler temperature, so bringing a sweatshirt or using a blanket may be more comfortable.)

“It's such a stress reducer,” Wagner says of the experience. “People are stressed to the max. They need some calmness in their life. It is the most claiming, refreshing atmosphere. Who doesn’t need more of that in their life?”