Ahhhh… the peace, the relaxation, the quiet in my mind…
For one hour yesterday, I enjoyed this feeling of “ahhhh.” I will feel it again in a couple of weeks, and I will look forward to it until then. At times, I will think about that feeling as I lay in bed at night while sleep evades me yet again. How do I get this feeling of “ahhhh”?
I float. You read that correctly. I float – in water. But this isn’t just hopping on a raft and floating around a pool. In fact, there is no raft involved at all. It is just me and the water… and the Tibetan Singing Bowl soundtrack.
I first heard about float pod therapy last spring. My brother suggested it as a way to get out of my own head.
A float pod is basically a sensory deprivation chamber in which you float on a solution of highly concentrated Epsom salt. The pod looks like a giant egg, but it’s very roomy even when closed all the way. I was in control of my float experience. I could keep the lid open or closed, or even partially opened. I could keep the pod light on or off. I could control the music volume or turn it off completely. It was entirely up to me. There was even a float halo for my head in case I was nervous that I would sink. I wasn’t, so I didn’t even use that, and I didn’t sink.
I looked into it and found a place in Greensboro that has the pod and decided to try it out. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I decided to go all in and try the pod instead of the larger float room. I got myself a three-session package, because after all, wouldn’t I want to try it more than once? I’m glad I got the package because I am not sure that I would have gone back after the first time. I mean, it was cool and all, but I had a tough time shutting off my thoughts the first time. Plus, I played with the light and the sound knobs, got some water on my forehead, and even licked my finger to taste the water. That first time, I learned that I did not like the music off because then, I heard my stomach growling (it is suggested not to eat before floating). I also learned that I preferred to float in complete darkness.
The second time I floated, I was able to clear my mind better and focus only on the moment for most of the float. Once my hour was up, I felt almost joy. When you’ve gone through the loss of your person, any chance to feel joy again is something that you have to pay attention to. When you find something that brings you joy, you grab on and hold it because you fear that you will never feel that sense of contentment again.
Now, after seven months of floating, I am an old hat at it. I climb into my pod, lie back, and let the water lift me. I let my arms and legs be loose and go to a natural position. I turn off the light, and focus on a calm sea, the picture that I used for the background on this site. That image brings me joy and comfort, and so it is there that I go to clear my mind and lose myself. I am able to relax enough that I can’t feel where the water ends, and my body begins. Sometimes, I even fall asleep. Usually, falling asleep results in me jerking awake, thus creating waves in the pod, making me bounce from wall to wall until the water calms again. This makes me giggle.
If I could afford to float every day, I would. Here’s hoping that someone will open a float spa in Danville, and I can work as a float liaison! I would absolutely recommend floating to anyone, for any reason, but whatever you do, don’t taste the water – it is not salty like the sea.
Neat gift for someone!