Using the Pool Pod to access the Dead Sea Salt Therapy Pool

“I was both excited and terrified to be the first person to use the Pool Pod to enter the Dead Sea Salt pool. I needn’t have worried; thanks to the friendly and confident staff, and the incredible pool pod machine the whole experience was magical.

I know what you’re thinking, it’s just getting into a pool, hardly magic. But, for those of us with mobility constraints, access to pools is difficult.

On arrival, staff took the time to explain that I would transfer from my wheelchair to the pool pod wheelchair, attach safety straps, and then be wheeled into the pool pod lift.

Once on the pool pod lift, the wheels of my chair were locked by the staff, and they checked I was ready to be lowered into the water. A member of staff was in the water waiting for me, and two more were on the pool edge operating the lift. The mechanism of the lift was extremely smooth, and I felt secure.

As soon as my legs entered the water, they started floating - the Dead Sea salts were a lot more buoyant than I’d imagined. By the time the lift was at its lowest position, with the water at chest height, all I could think was how nice the water felt on my body, how soft it was on my skin, and how light my body felt.

It’s hard to describe the feeling of weightlessness as I entered the water. I immediately floated upright. Upright without pain. Upright without fear. Upright in water and free to move. It was such a great feeling to be moving without pain, I’m sure I squealed!

I was in the water for 30 minutes, and enjoyed every moment of freedom; moving my legs, hips, and back. I walked, I swam, I bounced, I stretched in ways I haven’t for years and it was heavenly. Again, not something you can understand unless you can’t stand, sit, or even lie down without some sort of pain.

At the end of the session, I was a little worried about how I’d get back into the pool pod chair, but it was surprisingly easy, and, before I knew it, I was back under the weight of gravity, and out of the pool. Gravity is not my friend.

It’s important to wash off the salts after this treatment, and I was worried I’d have to go to the disabled changing to do so. But, the pool pod chair wheeled into the showers, where a hand-held shower was easy to use. I was even thoughtfully offered extra towels to keep my chair dry when I transferred back.

The whole experience was rejuvenating for body and soul. An hour later, I’m still in less pain than I was, I feel so much more relaxed and, perhaps even more importantly, I feel hope that I can do this again, and that my days of enjoying the water are back.”