Grotto de Sal was the product of necessity—and pain. When Elias Amkie was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, his suffering was so great that he almost completely lost the ability to walk. Painkillers did little to help and all the other treatments that Western medicine was willing to offer had dangerous side effects. So Elias looked elsewhere. After an uncomfortable plane ride to Israel he finally found relief while floating in the Dead Sea, where the salt- and mineral-rich waters allow swimmers to experience a sense of weightlessness.

Determined to bring those healing properties back home, Elias founded Grotto de Sal, a wellness center that focuses on holistic treatments such as salt scrubs, mud wraps, massages, and, of course, its signature service: Dead Sea salt floats. Thanks to an infusion of imported minerals and salts, the center's float tanks mimic the properties of the Dead Sea and help reduce pain and inflammation, while encouraging bodies to heal in a way they usually can't under the force of gravity.