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Imagine floating in a tank of water effortlessly without any distractions, minimal senses, and being put into a full state of relaxation.
That’s what float therapy is all about, according to Melissa Thode, founder and manager of Float Love in Saskatoon. She said she’s been floating for 10 years, and it has become an important therapy for her.
Float therapy is done in a darkened tank holding 11 inches of water with about 13,000 pounds of Epsom salts dissolved into it.
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“There’s so much salt in there where you just float effortlessly, half in and half out of the solution,” Thode said.
The water is also set to the same temperature as skin, Thode explained, which makes it hard to tell the difference between the water and the air inside the tank.
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Thode explained some people imagine the tanks as small, but there is plenty of room inside. She said her tanks are about six feet wide and eight feet long.
Float therapy can train your nervous system to be relaxed outside of the tank, she explained, adding she feels it’s important for both the mind and body.
Thode said it can also have a number of pain-reducing benefits, especially for those with arthritis or fibromyalgia.
“Some people say this is the only thing that alleviates their pain,” she explained.
Melissa Thode, owner of Float Love Saskatoon, says float therapy has both mental and physical benefits. (Mia Holowaychuk/650 CKOM)
Thode stressed the importance of mental health and how meditation can help with float therapy.
“Oftentimes we are really too busy to get into a place of relaxation, but this effortlessly puts you into a state of rest and digest without even needing to try,” she explained.
Thode said what makes float therapy so unique is that it doesn’t involve interacting with another person.
She said her staff at Float Love explain the process thoroughly from start to finish, and make sure customers feel comfortable before stepping into the tank.
Clients also have full control of their experience in the tank, from lighting and music to the amount of time spent inside.
“Floating is for everybody, and I think that it’s really important for everyone to just try it at least one time,” she said.