Karen Koch
Owner
Hello! I’m Karen Lyons Koch, the owner of Salt Essentials Wellness. I have been proudly calling the Tampa Bay area home for over 45 years. I am a Gulf High School and Tampa College graduate. I spent my prior life working as a court reporter in Pasco and Pinellas Counties, and then was a stay-at-home mom, raising two now adult boys.
As an allergy/asthma sufferer my entire life, I was looking for an all-natural therapy to alleviate my symptoms. That’s when I discovered Halo (salt) therapy while traveling to DelRay Beach, Florida. From that first 45-minute session, I felt immediate relief and noticed incredible results. Unfortunately, there was not a dry salt therapy facility in our area. So, after much research and consideration, I decided to open one of my own. We started our buildout prior to the pandemic, and after much perseverance, opened our doors in October of 2020.
Now, after serving our clients and community for close to 4 years, we see more than ever the power of Halotherapy and how it can help with respiratory and skin health, as well as overall wellness by boosting our powerful immune systems. We are proud to offer life-enhancing wellness services, not only with Halotherapy, but with Infrared Sauna, Massage, Esthetician Services, and Magnetic Resonance Therapy.
It has been and will continue to be my privilege to offer the best in holistic healing to our clients and community, both young and old, and greatly appreciate your patronage.
Frannie
Massage Therapist
Nurturing. Intuitive. Integrative.
Frannie has over 30 years of training and experience working in holistic health and wellness centers, spas, and chiropractic settings and has found a home at Salt Essentials. She also has done extensive work with special populations and as a creative arts facilitator. Frannie specializes in integrative therapeutic massage, including:
Nick
Massage Therapist
Clinical. Firm. Unconventional.
Nicholas has 35 years of experience. His massage incorporates sports, deep tissue, lymphatic, cross-fiber, trigger point, compression, and reflexology, depending on your specific needs. He is also proficient in rapid tension relief with the use of a massage gun.
Nick specializes in firm to deep, and extreme pressure if desired. Through postural assessment and knowing a client’s profession, he can tailor the massage to muscle groups affected by daily routine. While implementing reflexology, he can assist in working on various parts of the body in a less intense manner. Nick’s work is like no other and he can resolve many issues in a short amount of time.
Wendy
Massage Therapist
Relaxing. Intentional. Focused.
Wendy has been practicing therapeutic massage for over 20 years. She was trained and licensed in Ohio. For 18 years she collaborated with a chiropractor to facilitate the well-being of the patients. She and her husband recently moved to Florida where she passed the Florida state boards to continue her work here in the sunshine state.
She has extensive experience in deep tissue therapeutic, Swedish massage, and neuromuscular therapy.
Ariana
Lead Esthetician + Spa Manager
Rejuvenating. Balanced. Bespoke.
Ariana has been in the Aesthetics industry for over 8 years. She found her passion for skincare going through her skin journey. She graduated from Bellus Academy in California with over 900 hours of training and continues to stay educated on the best treatments for all skin types. Throughout her time in the skin-care industry, Ariana has gathered extensive experience across various modalities and skincare product lines.
Ariana’s favorite thing about being an Esthetician is helping people fall in love with their skin. Her skincare knowledge and facial recommendations will have you feeling like the best version of yourself.
Pamela
Massage Therapist
Nature-Inspired. Grounding. Healing.
Pamela is a St Pete native who draws inspiration from the natural world. She’s fueled by music and outdoor adventure with her two Yorkie dogs, Nov and Nova. She believes that nature can teach us many lessons about how to live better lives.
Pamela learned the value of massage therapy after surviving a car accident in 2019, which taught her to appreciate the healing power of touch. She applies this knowledge to her clients, who seek relief from stress and pain through her gentle hands and healing touch.