With the opening of our refurbished spa at the Intercontinental Hotel, we wanted to share with you the incredible benefits that a session in a salt room can provide. Salt rooms are such great wellness boosters a type of therapy has been formed around them: Halotherapy. This article will teach you more about salt rooms, Halotherapy, and the various ways they can improve your health.

​The salt room is a relaxing space in which you can inhale microscopic particles of pharmaceutical-grade salt in a controlled environment. This practice was actually discovered in the 1800’s when scientists realised that salt mine workers did not suffer from many of the respiratory problems that others around them experienced. 

Breathing in controlled amounts of salt has a long list of skin, respiratory and lifestyle benefits for people of all ages. This is thanks to salt’s antibacterial nature and it’s high absorbency. While you breathe in the salt, it will gently thin the mucus in your respiratory system, dislodging pathogens, debris and pollutants. Meanwhile on your skin, inflammation is reduced, natural regeneration is promoted and your pH is regulated to its ideal natural level.

​It may sound too good to be true, but simply sitting in a salt room can help improve your skin’s health and appearance. The little salt particles are incredibly absorbent, so they can get deep into your pores and absorb oils that would otherwise lead to excess shine, acne and blemishes. Absorbing excess oil and fluid also reduces swelling and inflammation, which is useful if you suffer from eczema or psoriasis. The salt is also great at dislodging dirt from your skin or inside your pores. All together, you will leave the salt room with visibly improved skin that’s clearer, cleaner and softer.

​With all of the pollutants we encounter on a daily basis, the salt room’s power to improve your breathing is useful for people of all ages. Even if you don’t suffer from any particular respiratory problems, a buildup of pollution in your respiratory system can cause anything from discomfort to serious health complications like lung cancer, strokes, high blood pressure and heart attacks. Salt room sessions counter this build up by helping to remove these toxins and keep your air circulation moving along smoothly. This also prevents these harmful substances from remaining in your respiratory system long enough to be absorbed into your blood, and affecting the rest of your body.

Thanks to salt’s antibacterial and anti inflammatory nature, swelling and irritation is reduced, making your breathing more comfortable and giving your immune system a helping hand. These same properties make a session in the salt room ideal for people who suffer from asthma, allergies or other respiratory ailments.

Salt Therapy During the Covid Crisis
In these times many people have some lasting complications after recovering from Covid-19, especially breathing problems. From congestion to shortness of breath, the anti-inflammatory and strengthening nature of Halotherapy is perfect for some much-needed relief. Your lung function is improved, as well as your immune system, helping in your long-term recovery progress.

​Halotherapy is calming for both the body and the mind. The immune, nervous and lymphatic systems all benefit from salt microparticles, as well as the body’s energy levels and sleep patterns. All of this can improve your mental health as a side effect, but a salt room session also directly helps your mental health by reducing stress and headaches. Unsurprisingly due to all of this, you may even find that your mood is improved.

Salt rooms are also popular among athletes for many reasons. Firstly, the salt room’s improvement to an athlete’s respiratory system will help improve stamina and performance. This improved breathing helps avoid the likelihood of an injury during training, helps reduce the buildup of lactic acid in muscles and the resulting soreness, and even helps reduce the chance of cramps. Better oxygen intake also reduces chances of dehydration, improves heart rate and boosts energy recovery.

​As you now know, enjoying Halotherapy in a salt room isn’t just a simple relaxation session. It will also boost your physical and mental health, as well as your appearance. The power of salt microparticles to improve your life is surprising in itself, and surprisingly effective given how simple and stress-free this therapy is.

As an employee, it's okay to look forward to your day off. More so if you're in the middle of a rough work week.

However, some people dread the idea of being idle during their day off. That said, we have listed nine ways you can have a productive day off from work.

​You spend most days of your week at work. Thus, even if you live in the same house as your family, you're not always present because you're working.

That said, your day off is an excellent time to catch up with them and be present in the moment. You can play board games, make a whole night out of it, or hang out in the living room or the backyard, relaxing with their presence.

Spending time with the people you love is a great way to keep your energy up for the week ahead.

​When you spend almost an entire day in the office, your mental health usually doesn't get breaks even when you clock out. That's why it's a good idea to spend a moment doing an activity that requires you to devote your time and focus on one thing, which is your mental health.

Given the hectic lives that people lead, a simple way to incorporate that during your break is meditation. Meditation can help you feel more tethered to reality and less stressed out about your life.

Simultaneously, it can boost your mood, make you feel more present, and allow you to be more grateful for everything in life, which is always a good thing.

​Some people think that relaxing is about chilling by the pool or watching a movie. Some believe that devoting yourself to a personal project is also relaxing.

If you belong in the second camp, then consider planning out a future DIY project.

This project should require planning, and it would be something that you work on outside of your, well, work. The satisfaction that you'd get and an improved sense of self-reliance is a great reason why you'd want to work on a DIY project.

You don't even need to go to an actual spa to get the benefit of a spa day. However, it will take the weight off of your shoulder to have to organize everything.

You need to leave it in the hands of professionals. Even though that is the case, it doesn't mean that you won't be able to enjoy a spa day at home. It can even provide joy in a different way when you do it at home.

You can use it as a time to bond with your family, friends, and so on because you can do it together. At the same time, if you've purchased a lot of spa items, this is your time to use them.

If you haven't been lighting that scented candle or using that fancy lotion, now is the time to be using them.

The Cleaning Exec Maid Service NYC people recommend cleaning your home bit by bit instead of spending the entire day doing so. That said, consider devoting a few hours to cleaning out your closet.

Get a few boxes and put in clothes that you want to throw away, keep, give away, or sell. It will make your closet a lot cleaner, and you'll have more space for newer clothes that you want to wear.

Simultaneously, if you donate the clothes, you are also helping a charity or a friend/family member out with the free clothes you gave them.

Many people are fond of reading, but you probably think of fantasy books and fiction when you think of reading as a hobby. If that's not your jam, there are all sorts of books out there for you. One thing that can tickle your fancy is personal growth books.

These books help you find different ways to improve your life as other people have tried themselves.

​If you're the kind who thinks sitting still at home isn't relaxing, you might want to consider getting into volunteerism. With volunteerism, you can be productive while also doing something good for other people who need help.

It's always satisfying to know that you've helped make the world a better place, no matter how minuscule it may be.

When working, unless your job is a physical one, you're probably glued to a chair for most of your work. This constant state is not suitable for your body, which is why it's a good idea to get your body moving more, especially when you have the free time to do so.

It will help you stretch out unused muscles that don't get any exercise. Plus, it's good for your overall health anyway.

​If you're in the mood for it, consider following the principles of feng shui to organize and change around your furniture placement. Many people have found that these minor changes have made their living environment a lot more organized and easier to move around daily.

Feng shui principles when it comes to organizing your home can help make natural pathways around a room. This explains why it's suitable for transforming the house without doing anything drastic to it.

​The nine ideas listed above are excellent in ensuring that you do something you're going to like during your day off. Whether you're a homebody or outdoorsy, there's something in this list that should inspire you to maximize your day off. So try these tips out on your next day off!

Carisma Spa at the Intercontinental Hotel has been refreshed with brand new facilities and stylish decor. In addition to the refurbishments, you can now enjoy a brand new Salt room and treat yourself to a luxurious spa session. This location is ideal for a pampering spa day in Malta, so this article will break down all the facilities you can enjoy during your wellness break.

A Turkish Hammam
Carisma is famous for its Turkish bath in addition to its world-famous massages in Malta, and at the newly refurbished location you can now enjoy a luxury getaway in this gorgeous marble room once again. The marble of this room heats up along with the air to maintain a blissfully warm experience that envelopes you in relaxation. After some time in the Hammam, your muscles relax and your pores open making the deep exfoliating massages that you can enjoy in the Hammam even more effective. This is the ultimate relaxation experience, reducing stress or aches and pains.

Steam Room
A steam room is a cozy experience that allows you to relax and loosen your muscles thanks to a humid heat created by boiling water. This humid head provides unique health benefits like reducing your blood pressure and loosening stiff joints. A session in a steam room also clears your breathing, aiding in the healthy functioning of your sinuses and lungs. The condensation from a steam room also rids your skin of toxins and dirt that it would have absorbed, even opening up your pores for deep cleansing from other treatments.

Sauna
A sauna provides the health benefits associated with dry heat. During a sauna session, your heart rate increases and your blood vessels widen, improving your circulation substantially. This improved circulation has many benefits, including allowing your muscles and organs to receive organs quicker. People who use saunas regularly are even less likely to suffer from cardiovascular health problems! If you have high stress levels, muscle soreness, joint pain and even asthma, regular sauna visits during a spa day in Malta can give you a boost of wellness and help ease your discomfort.

Couple Massage Facilities
Couples’ massages are a wonderful way to spend time with your partner or treat them for a special occasion. Specialized decorated couples’ rooms create a romantic setting in which you can enjoy a wide range of world-famous treatments together, at the same time. A couples’ massage can even be part of a luxurious couples’ spa break that can include free access to facilities, a healthy lunch or even luxury tea or prosecco.

A Brand New Salt Room
Salt rooms are excellent at improving your wellness, especially your respiratory health, making them an excellent treatment to enjoy during current times. A salt room session helps you regain your energy and health, whether you feel generally weak or have recovered from coronavirus and wish to help give your body a wellness boost. 

In fact, salt rooms provide a treatment called Halotherapy, i.e. therapy that improves your health through the breathing of salty air. Halotherapy in a salt room can help relieve various health concerns in both adults and children: asthma, allergies, respiratory concerns, sleeping problems and even skin conditions. These treatments are becoming more useful over time, as the increase in pollution around us irritates delicate membranes in our respiratory systems.

Salt rooms are also great for your mental wellness, as well as your physical health. They provide the benefits of stress relief, and give your mind a break from a constant stream of concerns that may be affecting you during daily life.

​If you wish to enjoy any or all of these facilities, Carisma Spa at the Intercontinental Hotel is ready to welcome you to a world of physical and mental wellness. You can make an inquiry or a booking here on our website.

Nestled in the luxurious, modern Hugo’s Hotel one can find Carisma Spa’s newest location. Recently opened, this elegant Spa offers a stylish location to pamper yourself with world-class treatments and facilities.

Indoor Pool
Carisma Spa at Hugo’s Hotel allows you to enjoy a relaxing swim in a luxurious marble indoor swimming pool that ignites the senses and creates an intimate setting that can be enjoyed alone or with loved ones. You can enjoy the gentle exercise that swimming provides in a beautiful location that takes you away from the stresses of everyday life.

Steam Room
A steam room is a cozy experience that allows you to relax and loosen your muscles thanks to a humid heat created by boiling water. This humid head provides unique health benefits like reducing your blood pressure and loosening stiff joints. A session in a steam room also clears your breathing, aiding in the healthy functioning of your sinuses and lungs. The condensation from a steam room also rids your skin of toxins and dirt that it would have absorbed, even opening up your pores for deep cleansing from other treatments.

Sauna
A sauna provides the health benefits associated with dry heat. During a sauna session, your heart rate increases and your blood vessels widen, improving your circulation substantially. This improved circulation has many benefits, including allowing your muscles and organs to receive organs quicker. People who use saunas regularly are even less likely to suffer from cardiovascular health problems!

If you have high stress levels, muscle soreness, joint pain and even asthma, regular sauna visits can give you a boost of wellness and help ease your discomfort.

Hammam
Carisma Spa is famous for its Turkish Hammams, so it’s unsurprising that our Spa at Hugo’s Hotel includes a beautiful marble Hammam room bathed in gentle light. This impressive room is made from antibacterial marble that heats up along with the rest of the room to maintain a blissfully warm experience that envelopes you in relaxation.

After some time in the Hammam, your muscles relax and your pores open making the deep exfoliating massages that you can enjoy in the Hammam even more effective. This is the ultimate relaxation experience, reducing stress or aches and pains. Hammams can also be enjoyed with loved ones as a couple or a group, and such intimate shared experiences have been proven to boost your mental health, giving you all a cathartic release from anxiety.

Couple Massage Facilities
Couples’ massages are a wonderful way to spend time with your partner or treat them for a special occasion. Specialised decorated couples’ rooms create a romantic setting in which you can enjoy a wide range of world-famous treatments together, at the same time. A couples’ massage can even be part of a luxurious couples’ spa break that can include free access to facilities, a healthy lunch or even luxury tea or prosecco.

Massages
Carisma Spa offers a wide range of specialised massages to meet any and all of your particular needs. Whether you want a massage simply to relax, or have a specific goal, you are sure to find the right treatment. You can choose massages from all over the world; from Hawaii to Bali, each with their own health benefits. One can also choose specialised massages to deeply relax muscles, relieve stress or treat a sports injury. Carisma also offers its Carisma Signature Massage which includes a full body massage treatment involving techniques from all over the world followed by Carisma’s signature tea.

Facials
Carisma’s range of facials takes your skin’s needs into consideration while addressing a particular concern, ranging from skin type problems to pigmentation or irritation. Facials for men are also available, taking men’s unique skin needs into consideration.

​If any of this sounds like something you’d love to experience, you’re in luck! Carisma Spa at Hugo’s Hotels will soon be open again and ready to welcome you to a world of wellness.