I had expected my summertime visit to Telluride, Colo., to involve a lot of time sweating outdoors — the agenda included hiking, birdwatching and foraging for mushrooms — and maybe a little downtime in my hotel’s hot tub.
But one thing I didn’t expect during my short trip to the strikingly scenic mountain town: experiencing deep relaxation inside a salt cave.
Many visitors to Telluride in the warmer months head for the hills. For example, climbing Wilson Peak, one of Colorado’s 58 fourteeners (mountain peaks that exceed 14,000 feet), is a popular pastime. And there’s no shortage of outdoor activities, which range from mountain biking and whitewater rafting to fly fishing and climbing a via ferrata.
Booking a salt cave treatment is likely off the radar of most travelers to the area. But I strongly suggest adding it to the list of things to do in Telluride.
At Pure Beauty & Wellness Spa, located along Colorado Ave., the area’s main street (Telluride is only eight blocks wide and 12 blocks long), clients can partake in a 45-minute session in one of southwest Colorado’s first salt caves.
Here’s how it works: The water flowing in the treatment room’s “graduation tower” waterfall breaks down the Himalayan salt rocks inside, turning them into microparticles that fill the air. Salt therapy, as it’s known, offers a host of health benefits. Breathing in Himalayan salt particles and absorbing them through the skin is said to spark an anti-inflammatory response, which helps with altitude adjustment — particularly useful in Telluride, which is located at an elevation of 8,750 feet — as well as insomnia; allergies and respiratory issues such as asthma; and skin issues such as eczema and acne. Himalayan salt is anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiviral. It boosts hydration and improves mineral levels, which can aid aching joints and muscles. The salt is made of negative ions, which are believed to draw out positive ions, allowing alleviation of stress, anxiety, headaches and depression.
Bold claims aside, the experience was truly tranquil. During a group session (up to five people, $45 per person) in one of the treatment rooms, which emanate a pink glow from the Himalayan salt lamps inside, our small team of travel writers sunk into our loungers and spent the entire time in total silence. The only sound we could hear was the trickling of the water feature and quiet, soothing music over a speaker.
I was so blissed out by the time our 45 minutes were up that I didn’t know if I had been awake or asleep during the session. But it didn’t matter; whether salt therapy can do all that it asserts, I was feeling its effects — and that’s all that really matters, isn’t it?
The Details
Pure Beauty & Wellness Spa
www.purebeautytelluride.com
