The Standard

Issue date: 2/20/07 Section: Features

Downtown is looking up, with more and more businesses opening in the area. Upon walking into this new trendy downtown attraction, patrons are greeted by what looks to be a large chemistry set off to the left. Vibrant colors and bubbling water may intimidate at first, but there is no school here, only one of the most important aspects of life: oxygen.

Downtown Tans and Oxygen Bar opened its doors for business on Feb. 7 and is owned by Angye Sawyer and Julie Brandt. The facility has an oxygen bar that offers 24 different aromas, each scent a different blend of organic oils for the stimulation of energy, muscle relaxation, stress relief, sexuality, appetite and the respiratory and digestive systems.

"It's 90 percent oxygen that's filtered through an oxygen concentrator, and it goes through each one of the bottles," Sawyer said. "All of these are organic with the exception of a few of them."

Sawyer said the idea was formed after a model used in Las Vegas, where casinos filter oxygen into the rooms and casinos. It decreases hangovers and headaches, and casinos use it in order to get people to gamble longer.

At Downtown Tans, a variety of scents are listed under each of the seven categories. As energy stimulants, customers can breathe the fresh aroma of tea tree, lime, orange or citrus paradise. A male aphrodisiac and stimulant is offered in cinnamon flavor, while the female version is cherry. Lavender scent relaxes, calms and helps for menstrual pain. It, along with wintergreen, offers an alternative way to relieve depression. There are even scents to help suppress the appetite and diminish cravings for sweets.

Oxygen sessions are five- to 20-minute increments.

Dave Sawyer, Angye Sawyer's husband, suggests coming in three times a week.

The more oxygen, the more stimulants get to cells, he said, although more than 20 minutes has no advantage. He also said the body can eventually become accustomed to the oxygen, so it is not recommended for everyday use.

"It affects people differently; not everyone gets the same effect off of aromas," Dave Sawyer said.

Angye Sawyer said she notices the effects of the oxygen right away.

"I'll sit down when we're slow and watch TV and do 20 minutes, and it just overall makes you feel a little bit better," she said. "I can be completely tired from a long day and sit on that for a while and feel better."

Angye Sawyer said business has been increasing steadily, with college and high school students as frequent customers.

Continued...

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