Get Inspired at Inspire Wellness

While I have a great belief in self-care, I have a hard time taking my own advice. Thankfully I have a very thoughtful partner who recognized my need and presented me with a gift certificate for some much-needed spa treatments. These treatments turned out to be a godsend as I was walking on air afterwards, feeling much more myself than I have in a long time.

I received both a massage and a float in the float tank at Inspire. The float tank is a large enclosed tank full of salt water and once you enter the tank and lay down -- you are floating on top of the water. This occurs because the sodium concentration is high enough and it increases the buoyancy of the body in the solution. I’ll get into this more later.

I had been dealing with a lot of external stressors, and I could use a few hours of rest and relaxation. I entered Inspire Wellness and was promptly greeted by a smiling receptionist. They knew I was coming and were awaiting my arrival.

I had scheduled my massage with Amy. I was familiar with her, and I knew I would be comfortable on her table. I laid down and prepared for my massage. When Amy entered, she made me feel calm and relaxed immediately. She explained how she wouldn’t talk during my massage, which was appreciated. I have no idea how she could do that because I’m a motormouth and having someone’s attention for 90 minutes is like a dream come true for me. I wouldn’t be able to shut up.

Amy had a good massage style. Her pressure was perfect, both relaxing and rehabilitating all at the same time. She also had a very comforting energy that made the whole experience that much more rejuvenating. She worked on all my problem spots, and my body felt amazing when I was done.

I decided I would do the float tank after my massage. With the work done on my tissues, I thought this would be a great time to rest and release tension. The salt water, and complete deprivation also assists in the relaxation of your muscles.

I have never floated before and this was a totally new experience. I really had no idea what to expect. The only external reference I had in relationship to deprivation tanks were those in science fiction films or television programs. One was a scene from “Fringe” where Olivia took a large amount of acid and then entered a tank in order to interface mentally with a dying colleague. This is not something that sounded very relaxing at all, so my preconceived notion of the events about to unfold were shaky. Was I going to enter the tank and enter a new level of consciousness? Will I hallucinate?

None of these things happened, unfortunately. Fortunately it did allow me to relax, dissolve and almost melt into the water. When you first lay down the water feels a bit warm to the touch. The saltiness of the water is apparent. It feels a bit thick but not sticky -- slick, but not slimy. It was a little mind bending. I got into the tank and sat down in the warm salty water. I felt as though I was bathing in the dead sea.

After laying down and finally figuring out how to turn the “relaxing” music off, I laid down to close my eyes and float. It was amazing how weightless I felt. I had to touch the bottom of the tank multiple times just to make sure I was still floating, and that I wasn’t touching the floor of the tank. I surely was. It took me a bit to actually relax. To give in to the float and to allow myself to just let go. Once I was able to do so, it was amazing. Getting out of your head while you’re totally weightless is crazy. You feel like you’re floating in space. The water around you and the darkness surrounding you is like a mystical cave.

After floating for almost an hour, I was sufficiently relaxed, and I exited the tank and rinsed off. I was so relaxed I could barely walk out of the office. I felt like a big bowl of Jello. My visit to Inspire was very beneficial. I could feel the effects of my treatments for days after. If you’re looking for relaxation, self-care, and an overall inspired experience. I would recommend checking out a massage, a float and a session in the salt cave for an experience of renewal and rejuvenation.