

I Tried Flotation Therapy As An Act Of Self-Care & It Changed The Game
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.
Courtesy of Bianca Lambert for xoNecole
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.
Courtesy of Bianca Lambert for xoNecole
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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Bianca Lambert is a proud Atlanta native soaking up the Los Angeles sun. She is the founder of Mae B: a stationery company for women of color and a digital content creator on a mission to elevate the voices of women of color everywhere.
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Victoria Monét's 'The Jaguar Tour' Is A Lesson In The Art Of Performing
There’s people who perform songs, and then there’s performers, and let me tell you something: Victoria Monét is a PERFORMER. I first fell in love with her as an artist after hearing her hit song “Moment,” and then when her album JAGUAR was released in 2020, I was hooked. JAGUAR was one of those albums that I kept on repeat as I and the rest of the world were going through the motions of being in a pandemic. I remember watching her perform her single “Jaguar” from the album on her YouTube channel, and the way she performed so effortlessly with such confidence, I knew I had to see her live.
Luckily, I got the opportunity. Along with dropping JAGUAR II, which features the viral single “On My Mama,” Victoria also announced The Jaguar Tour, and as soon as the tickets dropped, it quickly sold out. I attended her Atlanta show at the Buckhead Theatre, and besides being met with a sea of concertgoers from wall to wall, my ears were immediately hit with a beautiful voice from none other than Alex Vaughn, who opened for the mother of one. Once Alex finished her set, it was time for the main event.
Victoria Monét
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images
As soon as Victoria stepped on stage, it was hers. She commanded the room with her sultry voice and hypnotic dance moves, performing songs from albums JAGUAR I and II and previous projects such as Life After Love, Pt. 1. Fans were singing her songs word for word to the point where, at times, you no longer heard her singing. However, it was clear that she was in a room filled with love and support, and she also showed it back on stage. The singer rarely took breaks in between songs and dazzled fans with her smooth moves that is reminiscent of the legendary Janet Jackson.
One of my favorite moments was when she performed “Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem).” She dressed in a trench coat and fedora, complete with her pimp cane, and another big moment was when she performed “Stop (Askin’ Me 4Shyt)”. Overall, it was nice to vibe out to live performances of some of my personal faves like “Ass Like That,” “How Does It Make You Feel,” “Alright,” and “Big Boss.” In a recent cover story for Galore, Victoria revealed what she hopes concert attendees walk away with.
“On tour, I really wanna give people the best version of Victoria on stage, better than I’ve ever been before. I’m hoping people have the time of their life at the show,” she said. After working behind the scenes as a songwriter for so long, the California native now has all eyes on her, and it’s clear she was ready for this moment.
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Feature image by Paras Griffin/Getty Images