Every time I tout my new-found spa service obsession, I get the same reaction: “Won’t you feel claustrophobic?” “Didn’t you feel trapped?”, and every time my answer has been no. I’ve never felt more calm and zenned out in my entire life (and that is no exaggeration), thanks to H20 Float and the magic of floating.

Not too long ago, someone had recommended that I try floating as a way of relieving stress. They said that it was a unique experience in which you give your body a break, in order to focus in on your mind. At first, I’ll admit that I was hesitant. I thought that feeling trapped was an inevitable outcome for me, and that I would’ve wasted my time and money on something that did the opposite of what I was trying to achieve. However, I was proven completely wrong, and now I’m committed to floating at least twice a month.

Let me explain. The act of floating (for spa purposes, obviously) is where you float weightlessly in a pool of intensely salinized water. And when I say intensely, I’m talking 10 inches of water filled with over 1000 lbs of Epsom salt. Think the Dead Sea, but 50% more buoyancy.. Not only that, the water maintains a temperature of approximately 34.5° Celsius, which is about the same temperature as your skin. Your muscles relax, your mind relaxes, and you feel like you’ve become one with the water.

At H20 Float, you can choose to float in an open-concept or closed-pod room, depending on what experience you prefer. For those of you who are nervous about claustrophobia, the open-concept rooms contain a shower and what is essentially a giant bath tub. Quick side-note: all of the rooms contain showers for you to rinse off before and after your float. This type of room is also the choice for tandem floating, which is when you opt to share your float time side-by-side with a loved one (Adrian wishes he were so lucky).

For my first experience, however, I went all in. I was determined to get the most out of my float time, and in a closed-pod, I was armed and ready. Initially, the thought of closing myself into a human-sized jelly bean freaked me out. Every time I opened my eyes, there was a lid above my head. Once I relaxed my body though, my mind went with it and so did all of my physical and mental stress. I was in my own space with only my thoughts, and the idea of physically separating myself from my stress helped me to mentally separate from it, as well. I chose to have quiet rainforest noises accompany me during my float, but you can choose from soothing and relaxing music, crashing ocean waves, or complete silence during your float time.

H20 Float Spa is at heart just that, a spa. Not only is the process of floating calming and relaxing, the rest of the experience here is great as well. From the moment you step in the door, you feel comfortable and ready to unwind. You’re greeted with slippers and a luxurious robe, and your float room is stocked with the works: towels, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, ear plugs, and a float pillow. The ear plugs help to keep the water and salt out of your ears, and the float pillow helps to support your neck while floating. In addition to your float experience, H20 Float Spa also offers RMT certified massage therapy, and a cozy waiting room to help you slow down before and/or after your services.

On top of the obvious benefits to your mental health, floating comes with a number of physical benefits too. The buoyancy of the water helps to relieve physical pain caused by tension and stress, and the Magnesium Sulfate Epsom Salts are a natural exfoliator and antimicrobial which helps to revitalize dull skin and congested hair.

So have I convinced you to try floating as a form of self-care yet? Because if it wasn’t already evident, I won’t be stopping any time soon. Treat yourself to a float and let me know what you think about your experience in the comments, I’m anticipating a raving review!