A Place to Float is a relaxation haven in the center of Indianapolis. Sensory deprivation pods are becoming popular buzzwords in today’s wellness trends. You may be wondering what exactly are these pods and what does sensory deprivation even mean. I am here to help enlighten you.
Sensory deprivation is the term used for turning off all external stimuli. They are the rare moments we have in life when there is no light, noise, movement, bottom line no distractions. Just some good ole quality time with you and your mind. Scientifically speaking, this is when our Sympathetic Nervous System starts to surrender and take our bodies out of flight or fight mode. This allows the Parasympathetic Nervous System to take over, putting our bodies in a feeling of overall ease and relaxation. Taking time to unplug from the world has a wealth of benefits. Sixty minutes of uninterrupted time with ourselves can lead to stress reduction, increased creativity, increased mental clarity, etc.
Each pod or pool is filled with nearly a thousand pounds of Epsom salt. Salt nourishes our bodies by regulating electrolytes and helping with mood stabilization. The purpose of this much salt in the tank is to create a buoyant environment for the body. The body completely floats without any effort or force. It’s the closest I have ever been to being completely weightless. It is probably the closest feeling you can get to being in space, other than one of those zero gravity simulators. Buoyancy allows all of your muscles to fully relax and release tension due to the support of the water. This is beneficial for relieving chronic pain, over worked muscles, muscle knots, etc.
Some people may like to use a 60 minute session of float for the best nap of their lives but this time can also be used to develop a meditation or mindfulness practice. There is an option to use an aux cord to play music, mantras, or mediations.
In my first float it took awhile for me to get settled. I think everyone feels this way their first float. I wanted to play around in the water for the first few minutes because it was such a strange feeling to be weightless. I was just bopping around like an excited 7 year old at the pool on Memorial Day weekend. It was a challenge for me to calm my mind in the beginning.
I scheduled my float for the morning which wasn’t optimal for my natural rhythm. I am most productive and sharp in the mornings. Knowing this about myself, I should have scheduled my appointment for the evening when I am apt to mentally let go. Next time I think I will find a meditation or meditation music play for the first few minutes to help me ease my mind off. The hour goes by pretty fast and after there is a personal shower to rise after. The showers here are not to be looked over. They are just as stellar as the float.
Post float my body felt completely blissed out. It was similar to a massage but a different kind of warm and melty feeling in your body. There is a relaxation lounge to stay in as long you need before returning back to reality. I could have stayed there all day to hide of from the rest of my daily responsibilities.
If you are interested in reading about anymore of the plethora of benefits of floating check out www.aplacetofloat.com They have a special for $45 for your first float. If you loved your float and would like a monthly membership, they offer these for $109 a month. They will even subtract your first float payment out of that price. I think this is one of the best wellness services available because it gives your body that blissed out feeling as a massage while allowing you to work on a mindfulness practice. The mind body connection is the most valuable one we can develop.