Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Kirk.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Whenever I mention our new spa, Lightly Salted, the first question people usually ask is, “What’s a salt room?” I’ve answered this question so many times that my response has become automatic, almost a part of me. (Though I am happy to say I am meeting more and more people in the community who do know about salt rooms and are avid enthusiasts of salt therapy).
After hearing my spiel, and talking through follow-up questions such as “What the heck is a halo generator?”, people then commonly ask, “Why a salt room?” My answer to that question is a little less automatic because it hits close to home. I am not launching Lightly Salted just because I happen to like spas. I haven’t put so much of my time, heart, and soul into cultivating this dream from thin air because it was fun. In fact, fun is not the first word I would use to describe the process of launching a brick-and-mortar business.
Answering the question of “why a salt room?” is a bit more complicated. About eight years ago, while crossing the street as a pedestrian, I was struck by an F150 truck traveling at approximately 45 mph. I am very well aware of how lucky I am to be here today. In the months and years that followed I experienced chronic, long-term pain and tension in my back, shoulders, and neck. I often had migraines and trouble managing my emotions (brain injuries are tricky like that). I was told I would need to be on maintenance pain medication, muscle relaxers, and anti-anxiety medication for the foreseeable future.
I decided, though, that this course of treatment wasn’t for me. I also realized that just because I decided “this treatment wasn’t for me” didn’t mean the pain or other symptoms would magically disappear. So, I turned to holistic practices. I started visiting an acupuncturist biweekly, a massage therapist monthly, and a salt room as often as I could. Slowly but surely, I was able to wean myself off conventional medications and live a symptom-free life. I didn’t even have to take my allergy medication anymore! I was so overcome by the power of these treatments that I began integrating more and more holistic practices into my life.
When we moved to Lake Nona, the spaces and practices I frequented became almost too far out of reach. I was having to plan my entire afternoon around a multi-hour treatment window (and that was if traffic was good!). This became almost unsustainable on a regular basis. On the tail of the pandemic, I pitched my idea of consolidating these services in a fresh, clean, non-issue space to my husband. ‘Huh?’ was his initial reaction. This conversation was followed by months of navigating construction, licensure, and a life’s worth of DIY projects. We didn’t do this alone, it took this community to help us get things up and running, and our family remains forever grateful for the opportunity to provide such powerful healing services back to the same community that helped us get here. It’s been a tremendous undertaking, but seeing how these services have positively impacted so many, already, has made everything more than worth it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Specific to this business – nothing went as planned. We are a small business, and navigating the rising cost of goods, advertising, scheduling, etc. was difficult.
We experienced a handful of delays but our family and neighbors rallied around us to bring everything together at the last minute. Our business neighbors were amazed at how quickly we were able to get everything decorated. Pulcini Construction worked extremely hard to help us make our deadlines while ensuring the integrity of the build. Epic Sky completed the fiber-optic installations in record time. Visual Signs and Graphics did the same for our exterior sign – we owe so much to the community and these other businesses for helping us make our dream a reality.
Our grand opening/ribbon cutting was promoted by several local businesses and was one of the biggest Lake Nona had ever seen – thanks to the support and encouragement of those local businesses who have now become friends.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I actually maintain a full-time position outside of this business. That is my career – it’s what I am good at and well-versed in. This business is my passion. It’s fulfilling on a totally different level.
I have always been drawn to holistic wellness and a holistic lifestyle. I obtained my Master of Arts in contemplative development and have been a certified Maitri Meditation Instructor for eight years. I have always had a love for yoga (particularly aerial yoga) and began really focusing on my diet around the age of 23 or 24.
My head-first dive into holistic wellness was jumpstarted by my accident – after the birth of our daughter, wellness wasn’t a choice, it was a way of life.
The opportunity to further my passion in such a way that I can include our community has and continues to be an absolute dream that I am forever grateful for.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We have been so incredibly humbled by the broad network of family, friends, neighbors, and small business collaborators who helped us shape our dream and get our brand in front of the community. I have taken a lot of guidance from my parents, who are well-versed in business ownership and continue to support us with day-to-day operations and decisions. My husband’s father was a guiding voice through all of the beautiful DIY installations you will see throughout the space.
We offer a local business and artisan connection space – it’s a cool geographic shelf built by my husband, which showcases various products from local artisans and businesses in the community. We essentially charge the processing fee for any goods sold – my intention for the space was to help others connect their brand to more people in the community. In exchange, these artisans also help promote our business and our brand through their social media. Every single one of them has become a friend and we are so grateful for their partnership!
We have also begun expanding our services to include goods from other local spaces – specifically food. We have partnered with a local charcuterie business (garnished by George) and a vegan bowl/pressed juice business (Vegan Out) to offer some fun packages like private parties and self-health days!
Pricing:
- Unlimited salt memberships start at $109
- Massages starting at $109
- Acupuncture & Fire Cupping starts at $99
- Vibrational Therapy Massages start at $99
- Sauna sessions start at $39
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lightlysaltedspa.com
- Instagram: @lightlysaltedspa
- Facebook: @lightlysaltedspa
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lightly-salted-orlando
Image Credits
Ashley Phillips Photography
