Relax and Rejuvenate at Float House

We live in a hectic world. As moms, we’re busy with all the things our little people need and with trying to do the housework, grocery shopping, laundry and other tasks with them in tow. Add in a part-time or full-time or work-at-home job and there seldom seems to be enough hours in the day. Sometimes, we just need to slow down. Appreciate the small moments. Reflect.

One way I’ve found to slow down recently has been floating. This is a relatively new idea in which you float in a dark, silent tank of saltwater. It’s like experiencing nothing. No sound, no sights, no touches. Just you.

I’m used to being constantly on the move. In fact, I have a hard time sitting down to watch a movie with my family mid-afternoon because that feels like “to-do” time. I’ve talked before about how I feel when I can’t complete my mental to-do list. So I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about floating. I mean, an hour and a half of doing… nothing? Could I really make time for that in my day? And if I did, would I enjoy it or would I be bored out of my mind, counting down until my float ended?

My first float was about a month ago. A friend and I ventured down to the Gastown Float House. Even our first steps in the door were relaxing. The environment is calming and quiet, and my friend still talks about the smell that wraps around you and draws you in. A friendly host greeted us, got us checked in, and gave us an iPad and earphones so that we could watch an introductory video about floating. As someone who stresses out over little details and what happens next, I found the video helpful to know what to expect in the float.

Then we were shown to our float rooms. We got our pick of lighting colour in the room (mine was a light green) and the next hour and a half was ours. The rooms have a shower, the float tank, and everything else you need for your float—robe, soft towel, ear plugs, shampoo, etc.

I showered quickly and eased my way into the tank. The amount of Epsom salts in the water make it feel smooth and thick. Then I was floating in soft, silent darkness.

Before going for my floats, I had the chance to speak to Mike Zaremba, one of the founders of Float House. It was easy to hear his enthusiasm for floating. He recommended that I go for at least three floats to get the full experience. The first float is a novel thing; my senses were still on alert, figuring out what I was doing. I bounced around the tank a little bit, checking out how it felt to float like that. At my next floats, I found it much easier to relax.

Mike also recommended trying floats at different times of day to figure out what works best for you. I went for two floats in the evening (after putting the kids to bed) and one float in the morning (thanks to the friend who went with me on my first float and offered to watch the girls for me). Surprisingly, the morning float was my best float. I found it easiest to relax and enjoy the experience at that float. I think I was almost too tired for the other floats and so found it harder to relax.

Float House has three locations around Vancouver—Gas Town, Kitsilano and Surrey—and one location in Victoria. Booking is super easy with their online system; just set up an account then login and browse for the location and time that works for you. There’s also a ton of information about floating on their website, which I recommend checking out before going for your float so you know what to expect.

If you’re looking for a way to slow down and relax… I recommend floating.