Floatation Therapy for Pregnant Mothers and Katie’s First Float Experience
Walking into The Float Shack in Red Deer, I was pleasantly surprised. The space has a rustic, homey feel that’s reminiscent of a hipster cafe moreso than a health studio. The lights are warm and the walls are wood. A far cry from the sterile, whIite spas I’ve encountered. We are greeted by Lance, who is friendly and eager to answer our questions.
Lance begins to tell us why people float. For most part, it’s about relaxation, stress relief, and the opportunity to do absolutely nothing for 90 minutes — the average session length (and not coincidently the time it takes to slip into REM). Aside from the cognitive benefits, floating takes away the pressure and weight gravity puts on our bones and muscles. Epsom salt itself has physical benefits. It helps improve your circulation, improve your body’s ability to use insulin, ease muscle pain, regulate electrolytes, and soften your skin.
There are 3 individual rooms with private showers. Each of the 3 float tanks consist of 1000 pounds of Epsom salt. This forces the body to float over the 10 inches of water. The water is set at roughly skin temperature with the intention of allowing it to feel like nothing. In fact, nothing is the theme. The slogan at the front desk was simply: Do more nothing. And that is precisely what you do in a sensory deprivation tank. Once inside, you lose sound, sight, and gravity.
Floatation therapy has been exceptional for pregnant women, especially those within the second and third trimesters. I think this is very beneficial for all surrogate mothers who are doing such an amazing thing – giving this gift of life to deserving Intended Parents. It offers relaxation and pain relief not found outside of the tank. Floatation tanks can help pregnant moms and surrogate mothers literally float through the pregnancy with a level of calm and comfort. All that Epsom salt solution can decrease inflammation and the pregnant mom will absorb lots of magnesium from the solution in the float tank.
Lance also told us that in the third trimester of pregnancy, a woman is typically most uncomfortable. A woman is pregnant then has all this pressure on her lungs and organs. This can inhibit sleeping and cause breathing issues. Floating in a floatation tank can help truly help release this pressure. I read that often people comment about the ‘mirror effect’ of the baby floating in the womb of the mother and the mother floating in the womb of the tank and the spiritual pleasure for the mother in this regard. There is a true depended connection between the mom and the baby while floating.
As I closed the door and lay back into the pillow of water, it became immediately apparent that shutting off my mind would be a challenge. My first thought was: What am I supposed to do now? Then Lance’s words echoed in my mind, “Everyone gets what they need out of their float session – whether it is to empty your thoughts, to sort through your mind, or even to sleep.” I closed my eyes and tried to relax my muscles. I didn’t realize how tense my neck or that I was subconsciously holding up my head until it gently fell back. Then the other muscles followed and I could feel a sense of weightlessness.
I’ve never really been able to turn my thoughts off. But I certainly came closer than I have in a long while. I think it would take a few more sessions to get used to and to give a fair review of the benefits, but for this first time floater, I say it’s worth giving a try — even if it’s to slip away from the hustle and bustle just long enough for a decent nap.
Visit The Float Shack at: www.thefloatshack.com
To watch Katie and Nathan’s visit at The Float Shack: https://youtu.be/dzoTXg
Katie Cheung, Marketing and Communications Specialist