A new floatation centre in Halifax is offering clients a way to relax the mind and body through the use of salt water.
Lindsay MacPhee believes in the power of salt water.
Two years ago, she had an epiphany during a float tank session in Vancouver.
“I had a really deep introspective moment that told me to move back home to Nova Scotia, so that's always stuck with me,” says MacPhee.
She returned home and when her engineering job fell through, she decided to switch gears and share her passion for floating with others.
MacPhee opened The Floatation Centre in Halifax just a few weeks ago.
“When you're in the tank, there's no sights, smells, or sounds, and the temperature of the water is the same as your skin's surface, so after a while you don't feel anything at all,” says MacPhee.
MacPhee says, when the senses are deprived and external stimuli is removed, the brain acts differently.
“Your brain goes into an induced state of relaxation, which is a theta wave state. It's typically known as the meditative state.”
Floating has been shown to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, while boosting dopamine and endorphins – the neurotransmitters responsible for happiness.
“That's great for stress, depression, anxiety,” says MacPhee.
Each tank is filled with 10 to 11 inches of water and 900 pounds of Epsom salt.
The high concentration of salt helps maintain optimal buoyancy, and magnesium is absorbed through the skin.
“It lowers your blood pressure, it's great for chronic pain, and fibromyalgia,” says MacPhee.
Ricky Goodall has experienced the physical benefits of floating first hand.
“My muscles were a lot more relaxed. I do a lot of exercising, so being able to relax my muscles is very important,” says Goodall.
Goodall is a meditation instructor, but says he was still a bit skeptical at first.
“Like meditation, you don't really understand the benefits the first couple times you try, so sometimes it takes just kind of trusting in the process and seeing how it goes.”
Goodall now tries to incorporate floating into his wellness routine every few weeks. He calls the experience positive and relaxing.
MacPhee says many first time clients worry about being able to turn off their mind.
She says it's common to be hyper-aware of your thoughts for the first 20 to 30 minutes of a 75 minute session.
“I have them do a creative visualization when a thought comes in to acknowledge it, hit a reset button, and say goodbye to it and then just keep on repeating that,” says MacPhee.
MacPhee says response has been great and the community has already embraced the wide-reaching benefits of floating.
“It's been really difficult to have a target market, because it really can help everyone for the mental, spiritual, physical aspects of it,” says MacPhee.
MacPhee says she does a walk through with clients ahead of time so they feel completely comfortable.
For anybody who is nervous or claustrophobic, the rooms are completely private so you can leave the door of the tank open.
