Before you read this, I'm going to give you a disclaimer — I'm about to write the most LA thing I've ever written: I floated in a soundproof pod filled with 10 inches of water and 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt to destress. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, I want to tell you more about floatation therapy and how I got the chance to give it a try.
Studies on flotation and infrared sauna therapy say that floating can temporarily reduce pain, muscle tension, stress, and anxiety while increasing feelings of well-being, energy, and providing improvement to your sleep quality.
I received an email inviting me to a launch event at Pause — a studio in Venice that specializes in the "float" experience. I was intrigued and immediately said yes, especially since publicist, Kilee Hughes was extending the invite. I had been a long-time fangirl of hers and couldn't wait to meet her in person.
When I arrived to the airy studio, I was greeted by the Pause staff and told the ins and outs of having a successful float. Next thing I knew, I was rinsing off in the shower (a requirement before floating) and getting ready to hop into the pod in my birthday suit — they recommend, floating in the nude to get the best experience.
Once, I was in the pod, a voice came over the speaker to guide me into my float. I laid back, relaxed, and tried to let my body go.
Since there was only about 10 inches of water, I didn't worry about drowning or anything like that, but I could feel myself trying to hold my head up. Part of the reason could have been that I was trying not to get all of my hair wet, but since I was already in, I forgot about my hair and just let myself fully enjoy the experience.
The first fifteen minutes I was thinking, "Okay, I'm just floating around in here, and I don't understand the point of this." But, at the twenty-minute mark, I felt myself start to doze off, and the hamster wheel of thoughts that usually play in my mind had floated away (pun intended). I wasn't thinking about anything until I thought about the fact I wasn't thinking about anything.
I was just floating, dozing, and mediating. As my session came to an end, I heard the same calming voice come through the speakers letting me know my floating was coming it an end. I got out of the pod, rinsed my hair, showered and got dressed. When I walked into the waiting area, I started to feel how differently my body felt. I was holding in some annoyance before I arrived but when I left, I felt rested— like I could just go home and take a nap for the rest of the day.
Since it was 11 A.M. on a Monday and I was on my way to work, that wasn't an option. All day, I felt like I was on a cloud and the ongoing thoughts that usually never stop in my head were just gone.
I wasn't overthinking. I stayed in the present moment all day, which is something I have never been able to do.
The final perk was the full night of sleep I enjoyed, which has not been a thing for me lately. The next morning, I woke up and felt rested. At the start of this, I mentioned this was the most LA thing I've probably ever written, but floating is available in Atlanta, DC, New York, Dallas, Nashville, Houston, Baton Rouge and many other places in the US.
If you're looking for a new way to incorporate wellness into your life, I'd give floating a try. I'm planning to add the practice to my wellness routine. It might be just what you need to add to your self-care practice to calm and clear your mind.
Featured image by Getty Images.
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