I am floating, blissfully calm, drifting freely like a spaceman who has had his cable to the mothership accidentally disconnected and is now sliding through space. Though not as panicky, obviously. And without such big boots on.
Actually it is rather lovely. I am at the
Floatworks centre, a short stroll from London Bridge, and have been invited by Tim and the lovely team to come and have a try; I have never floated in a spacepod-type environment before but you know us here at GTC, always willing to have a stab at something just to keep you guys informed...
Upon arrival you are ushered through reception and into your own private room, and given comprehensive instructions on what to do. Basically there is a large pod-type tank filled with water and a huge concentration of
Epsom salts in suspension, (enough to support the body's weight and fool it into thinking it is weightless), and once you have had a quick shower you can climb straight in and enjoy it.
From a purely practical point of view, the pod is very easy to use. I had my lid closed and the light switched off, but you can leave a pleasing blue light on if you prefer if you do get a bit claustrophobic; there is also a panic button and a bottle of freshwater in case you need to spray the saltwater out of your eyes.
From a therapeutic side of things the benefits are astonishing. All the stresses and strains on your body are relieved, your brain enters a state where it/you can relax thoroughly and all the tension just leaves your body as you drift, comfortably supported by the warm water; I just wish I had known about this when I was pregnant and suffering from restless legs and insomnia! In fact all morning I had been suffering from an achey neck as a result of over-confidence at the gym, and the pain just disappeared in a truly wondrous fashion. And no Nurofen!
In addition to pure relaxation there are also a multitude of genuine health benefits, including improving blood flow and circulation, reducing jet lag, blood pressure, back pain and muscular tension. I have to say I loved the experience; it took me a while to unwind as the journey to London had been a bit of a 'mare so my mind insisted on running round in circles, rather than just shutting up and letting me sleep, but apparently the more you float the easier it becomes to switch off and let go. It was utterly, utterly pleasurable....
A couple of points of note; when inserting the earplugs provided, make sure you put in two the same size. Like a complete numpty, I didn't, and had one squeaky ear for the first half an hour. Secondly, do not whatever you do get water in your mouth or eyes as it stings like anything and tastes horrendous. In addition make sure you don't shave or pluck anything the day you go as the saltwater will sting beyond measure.
Fluffy towels cost £1 to hire, and there is shampoo, conditioner and showergel in your own shower; once you are dressed there are little hairdressing areas with comfy chairs, water, hairdryers and various toiletries to make yourself more human again, plus a great fishtank in reception if you feel like just sitting and staring blankly into space.
And no, you don't need a swimming costume......
So next time you are going to London, pop in and see the lovely Sarah and Babou at
Floatworks and treat yourself to a truly stress-free trip.... and if you mention us they'll give you a whopping 25% discount! Thanks chaps! :O)
