Welcome to Your 90 Minute Vacation

09/27/2016

I think as a new mom (or really any mom in general) we tend to make a grave mistake: not taking the time for ourselves or taking care of ourselves. Doesn’t it just seem like another thing on the ‘to-do list’? With the 500 other things we have to deal with in a day, this is such an easy one to let slide. Without this vital self care we lose ourselves and what is really important to us as parents and people.

Could you imagine a place where you could go and feel rejuvenated in under 2 hours?

I first heard about floating when a new business opened in Red Deer called “The Float Shack”. Here is how The Float Shack explains floating: Floating is 1000 pounds of epsom salt in 11 inches of water in a light and sound proof pod. The water in the pod is so dense you float on the surface of the water without tensing a muscle. The pod is big enough to lay comfortably without touching the sides. The water is heated to the same temperature of your skin so that you have a hard time feeling what parts of your body are touching water and which are not. Once you are inside the pod you close the lid and drift into nothingness.

I got my chance to float for the first time earlier this summer. There is always a slight nervousness when you are trying something new for the first time, and this experience was no different. It did help that I had been to the space twice before and was even given a tour and see the float tank in person. I was surprised how big the tank really was! The thing I was the most worried about was closing the door of the tank, which I’m told is a pretty normal fear. I arrived early so that I could get another tour and have my questions answered before I hopped in the tank. They recommend you avoid caffeine at least 4 hours before and avoid shaving at least 12 hours in advance. The space is so warm, comfortable and inviting and I would strongly suggest to arrive early (without any electronics) and take sometime to get in the zone and start to relax.

For your first float there is someone who gives you a run down and tells you everything you need to know. There is a shower in the room that you need to use first before getting in. They recommend using ear plugs to avoid getting salt water in your ears and when your in the tank try not to touch your face. Once I got in the tank and floated around a bit, I tested to see what it was like with the door closed and make sure I could open it. It was very easy to move and I realized I was in complete control so it didn’t bother me at all to have the door closed. Music lightly plays for about 15 minutes and then I felt like I fell into a deep sleep. I was very surprised when what felt like a few minutes later the music was playing again. I felt absolutely amazing after my float! Like I had slept a solid 8 hours (which I haven’t done in over a year!).

This will be something that I add into my self care routine! There are so many benefits to floating for people with stress, pain, high blood pressure, circulation problems, and many more. It is also possible to float while pregnant, once cleared from your doctor. The weightless feeling in the tank is said to take the strain off your body from the added weight of baby. Magnesium is absorbed from the epsom salt which is important for mom and baby. For new moms, this is an easy few hours away from baby to refuel yourself! Floating can help with anxiety, depression, insomnia, headaches and postpartum depression. I think as new moms, we do not take enough time for ourselves, but, ‘you can not pour from an empty cup!’

I would recommend trying out The Float Shack! The staff are all amazing to deal with and they truly make you feel important. The space is amazing and the experience is surreal!

Images courtesy of The Float Shack