News — Himalayan Salt Stone Massage

By Michael Tompkins, past chairman of the International Spa Association and executive recruiter, Hutchinson ConsultingI'm not sure when I realized it was a game changer. It could have been when I first walked into the treatment room and saw the beautifully glowing Himalayan salt stones, but it wasn't. In fact, it took talking to Saltability founder Ann Brown, seeing the stones displayed in the treatment room, having not one but TWO salt stone massages, and finally using them with my own therapist hands before I realized how big this new trend will be. Let me take you through the process....

At the end of last week, ISPA sent out a link for its members to vote for the 2016 Innovate Awards. I can't begin to describe how it feels to see Saltability on the ballot in two places – for innovative product and treatment!ISPA holds a special place in my heart. From my time on the ISPA Board of Directors to the many emails and calls I exchange with my ISPA family, ISPA continues to make a difference in supporting my Saltability journey, and I am honored that Saltability is now in the running for an Innovate Award.What would winning this award mean...

I am in full spa director mode right now. For the past 16 years, I’ve been a spa director at Spa Shiki at The Lodge of Four Seasons. It’s been the best job ever, and I cannot believe that 16 years have just rolled by and left me shaking my head — in a good way — wondering where the time has gone. When I came up with the notion of Saltability, put pen to paper about what it might take and started an LLC in late 2014, I felt it was in my best interest to keep my “day” job just...

In the January 2016 issue, American Spa names salt therapy as one of the top spa trends for 2016. The magazine describes salt therapy as "a very safe, natural, and affordable modality for wellness and beauty” and calls salt “an ideal ingredient for countless spa services." While touting the benefits of different types of spa therapy, American Spa calls Himalayan salt a “particular spa standout." Saltability CEO Ann Brown is quoted in the article:  “By adding Himalayan salt to a full-body massage, clients get additional heat to allow the organic trace minerals to penetrate into the skin and body. It detoxifies,...

Throughout my 20-year career in the spa industry, I've been fueled by two things: (1) my belief in, and gratitude for, spa therapy to impact wellness, and (2) my competitive nature to run a profitable business that creates abundance not only for the owner, but also for all those involved.  Last year, I saw an opportunity that has renewed both my passion for health and wellness and my drive for success. As a spa director and consultant, I knew that spa guests were ready for something new, something different, something better than the typical hot stone massage that has been...