Escape to the Himalayas in Bellmore

From the outside, Bellmore’s Healing Grotto is a small, beige building off Newbridge Road. On the inside, Steve Izen, 58, of Island Park and Genevieve Cancel, of Seaford, mimicked the naturally occurring salt caves of the Himalayas by constructing Bellmore’s own. Surrounded by 13,000 pounds of pink Himalayan salt imported from Pakistan, guests can relax in this cave and experience halotherapy, a holistic approach to treating respiratory ailments and skin conditions.

According to Global Halotherapy Solutions, a major provider of salt cave treatment centers, “halotherapy consistently demonstrates a dramatic positive effect on symptoms of asthma.” Izen, who has had asthma his entire life, was inspired to open his own treatment center as a way to alleviate his and others’ symptoms. Izen’s wife has experience as a registered nurse and is fascinated by researching alternative forms of medicine and healing.

The couple was on vacation in Florida when they stumbled upon a salt cave and decided to try it. Izen was thoroughly satisfied by the experience and started researching places to undergo the treatment on Long Island. Surprised at how sparse the treatment centers are in New York, Izen started his own business in Bellmore.

Izen reached out for help with his endeavor to several friends who work out at his son, Jamie’s, gymnasium, Shapers Fitness. This included Genevieve Cancel, who he knew had experience with interior design. She became his co-owner, and the two have been running the business since October of 2016, serving over 5,000 clients.

Since relying on the halotherapy, Izen has weaned himself off of his inhaler, nebulizer and all of his asthma medication. “I don’t need them anymore,” he said. “This builds your immune system.”

The Healing Grotto recently installed a private salt booth for individual therapy sessions, which is the only one of its kind in New York state, according to its manufacturer at Global Halotherapy Solutions.