The Benefits Of Salty Yoga

The average person knows the tremendous benefits that comes from practicing yoga, but do you know the benefits from practicing Salty Yoga?   Salt therapy is an effective way to naturally treat all kinds of health conditions, from skin problems to upper and lower respiratory conditions. It is a non-invasive, drug-free, chemical-free, all natural solution. Participants that suffer from snoring to chronic bronchitis have raved about the results from this therapy.

The micron-sized particles of natural salt are emitted from halogenation, which reduces inflammation and detoxifies the lungs and sinuses. These smaller particles embed deep into the lungs and once there, absorb bacteria, fight infection and help with mucus, which would otherwise block the airways. The reduction of inflammation helps your body heal naturally, without side effects and long term reliance on medication.

Eligible Magazine sat down with co-founder Ellen Patrick of Breathe Easy NYC to learn more about the technique and the benefits from this practice.

Eligible Magazine (EM): Can you tell me a bit about Salty yoga? Why is this style of yoga ideal for those that may be suffering from asthma and other breathing ailments? 

Ellen Patrick (EP): Salty Yoga is a yoga class that focuses on strengthening and stretching the muscles of respiration and includes an awareness of proper breathing techniques.  It takes place in a salt room where pure salt is aerated into the environment.  The natural healing qualities of salt are anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral and help to support the healthy functioning of the respiratory system.  

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EM: Why was it important to you to offer this style of yoga practice?  

EP: I have been teaching yoga for 15 years and have observed that most people have dysfunctional breathing patterns that are caused by tension and weaknesses in the muscles of respiration, as well as a general lack of knowledge as to how the process of breathing takes place.  Learning to breathe properly has profound healing benefits in that it oxygenates and nourishes the body while relaxing the nervous system.

As a yoga therapist and owner of Breathe Easy, a dry salt therapy business, I felt it would be extremely helpful to my clients to enjoy the effects of better breathing while experiencing the healing qualities of salt in their respiratory system.  

EM: What additional alignments has salty yoga been proven or said to be good for? 

EP: Practicing yoga while experiencing dry salt therapy may help alleviate symptoms caused by asthma, COPD, allergies, colds, flus, cystic fibrosis and bronchitis.  

EM: Would you consider this a style of holistic healing?  

EP: Salty Yoga is a holistic healing modality as it works with the body and mind.  The yoga practice helps to create a healthy and vibrant receptacle for the breath to oxygenate and nourish the body while relaxing the nervous system.  Dry salt therapy uses the natural healing qualities of salt, as described previously, to help alleviate dysfunctions of the respiratory system such as inflammation, infections, mucus congestion, and viruses.

EM: Himalayan salt is not only ideal to include in your diet but also used to combat positive ions, can you explain in further detail? What are the healing properties of this salt? 

EP: There are a variety of different salts.  At Breathe Easy we use pure salt to aerate and inhale into the respiratory system.  The walls and floors of the salt room are covered with Himalayan pink salt.  We chose this for the environment of the room because it emits the most negative ions.  Negative ions are relaxing.  Electronic equipment like computers, cell phones, televisions, etc. emit positive ions which are agitating.  When entering the Breathe Easy salt room, you immediately feel a deep sense of relaxation due to the negative ions from the pink Himalayan salt. Combating stress is the first step to take during the healing process.

Your city may not have a salt room yoga studio but may have salt caves and salt healing rooms that will help you with your breathing and healing.  If you have experienced salty yoga before or a salt cave, tell us how it helped you in the comments below.