At Fort Worth wellness and meditation center, you can be proactive about mental health

It’s an old but well proven belief that rest and relaxation can help a person unwind. Hence, the popularity of vacations.

But what if a person could take a vacation more frequently without even having to pack a suitcase? Melissa Caldarelli, owner of Sound Waves Mindful Meditation in Fort Worth, offers this opportunity.

Sound Waves, which opened in November 2021, is a holistic wellness center. They offer ultra-modern technology in a relaxing atmosphere. And while merely relaxing cannot heal illness, they note on their website that science has proven there is a connection between mental and physical health.

And there is plenty to be stressed about in the world, not the least of which is the COVID-19 pandemic. Caldarelli said a number of clients have come to them to help rebound from dealing with coronavirus.

“COVID affects the respiratory system, and halotherapy works a lot like gargling with salt water when you have a sore throat. Dry salt is super absorbent, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory,” she said. “A halo generator is used to grind salt into micro-particles, which are inhaled to clean and strengthen the lungs. Another side effect of COVID is the loss of smell or taste; clients have reported an improvement on both after halotherapy.”

Popular forms of treatment

Halotherapy, also known as salt therapy, is one of their most popular forms of treatment. It involves breathing in air with tiny salt particles to improve your breathing. It is considered an alternative treatment for lung problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and cough.

Another popular form of therapy is vibroacoustic, which uses low frequencies and therapeutic music delivered through special speakers called transducers. The music is sent from the source into the transducers and then is felt by the body as vibration and heard by the ears as sound.

This, she said, is another way they have helped folks deal with COVID and all it brings.

“During COVID, we had to learn to work from home, sanitize everything we touched, stay away from people outside of our homes. The news announced daily the death count. It’s no wonder so many people suffered from stress, anxiety, and depression,” Caldarelli said.

“ ... Anxiety and depression are not just a COVID issue. More than 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime according to the CDC.”

And while antidepressants are available, they are often not the answer, she said.

“Way too often, when people take antidepressants, they say it makes them feel worse. With vibroacoustic therapy, there are no side effects, and the benefits start immediately,” she said. “We want to reach people when they are starting to feel stressed, before it turns into something bigger and more complex to get past.”

Meditation a key part of therapy

The idea to open Sound Waves came after visiting a friend in Katy who had purchased a vibroacoustic bed for her own practice at the beginning of the pandemic, Caldarelli said.

“When we got back, we went on with our ‘new’ normal lives and didn’t think much more about it until the evening news started reporting how child abuse, spousal abuse, drug/alcohol abuse, depression, and so on were spiking. I commented to my husband how I wished the vibroacoustic bed was available to everyone, and he replied, ‘So why don’t you make it available?’

“I have had family members who have suffered from depression and lost a very dear friend to suicide. Because I am so passionate about mental health, it felt like the right thing to do.”

Then, while looking for a space to rent, they came across a space that had previously been Area Salt, so Caldarelli started researching the benefits of halotherapy.

She also reminded folks that meditation is an important part of the therapy. If you’re not sure how to meditate, don’t worry, they can show you.

“We offer mindful meditation and breath work with all services. Although meditation is not mandatory, it is encouraged,” she said. “So many people want to meditate, but after downloading apps and failing because they just don’t have a true understanding of how to meditate.”

So far their clients have ranged in age from 2 to 76, Caldarelli said.

“Children spend more time outdoors and are closer to the ground, so they are more susceptible to allergens, not to mention they are more likely to spread germs to each other,” she said.

After all, Caldarelli said, stress, anxiety, and depression does not discriminate. It affects folks of all ages.

Caldarelli also offered advice for anyone looking to just feel better and be more healthy in these stressful times.

“We need to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to our mental and physical health,” she said. “I encourage everyone to check in with themselves, see where you are. And whether you come to us, get a massage, talk to a friend, go for a walk, or listen to music, please find some time for yourself to decompress, relax, and enjoy that time.”