A Long Time Coming

My co-worker / friend and I have birthdays only a few days apart. We try to do something each year to celebrate together, but in recent years, life has gotten in the way. Three years ago we made a plan to go to a float tank and dine at Red Lobster. After all the planning, wishing, and trying to coordinate schedules; the day has finally arrived.

Saga and Leif thinking about diving in.
Leif suffered a disfiguring accident in the parkade.
Surgery is scheduled soon!

For those of you who don't know, a float tank is a small pool of water, saturated with salt to the point that it's impossible to sink. For 75 minutes (if I'm driving to the city, I'm getting the longest session they will allow), you float and listen to music. I've heard that an hour float is as restful as an 8 hour sleep. It's advised that you don't consume caffeine before.

Saga checking out the float tank!

There were a few options in Calgary. I chose Redox Wellness Sauna and Float Spa, primarily because I could get us both appointments at the same time on our day off, and it seemed easy to get to (and there is a Red Lobster close by).

So What Was The Float Like?

Everything I wrote before this point was before the float experience. 

We arrived at the Spa and got a brief tour of the facility. They have several private float rooms, cold plunge rooms, and sauna rooms. I am not the least bit tempted to try a cold plunge! Each room has it's own changing area and shower; shampoo, conditioner, earplugs and towels are provided. There is also a Vanity Room, where one can dry and style their hair after (in case you have a special lunch planned). There is tea room with cozy couches and chairs to relax in before and after.

Disposable ear plugs are provided to keep the water out and there is a floatie head rest you can use. I chose not to use the head rest. There are some different tracks of music to select, but we just let the attendant choose. We could have listened to them ahead of time, if we wanted, on their website. There are controls inside to control the music volume and the lights.

Once you close the door, which made me think of a submarine, you are in a cube, about 7 feet or so. I have a tendency to be claustrophobic, but since nothing is touching you except water, I had no issues.  The water is close to body temperature and just deep enough that you don't touch the bottom when you lay on your back. I took a dry washcloth with me and hung it on the hand rail, just in case I got salt water in my eyes. There are some air vents that bring fresh air in, without blowing on you. 

The blue lights can be on, but I chose to have them off. The float was incredibly relaxing. The strangest thing about the whole experience was that if you tried to lift your arms out of the water, they felt heavy. In the water, it's like being weightless. Personally, I think 60 minutes would have been long enough for me. I was starting to get a little fidgety near the end. That could have been because it was 12:30 and I had a very small breakfast in anticipation of our lunch at Red Lobster! My stomach was growling (or maybe the trolls were grumbling)! When your time is up, the blue lights come on and the music turns off. It's not at all jarring or abrupt.

The Vanity Room. If you look closely,
Saga is in the orchids.

Because I'm the kind of person who wants to know these things, I looked up how they clean the water. After every use, the water is cycled through a cleaning regime of hydrogen peroxide, UV and ozone.

I was definitely thirsty after. I expected my skin to feel very dry from the salt water, but it really didn't. The pool has Epsom salt in it, so it's a good dose of magnesium. I was certainly sleepy and wished we didn't have the long drive home. Next time we will need a chauffeur or to stay in the city! All in all, this is an experience I would like to repeat, when I have the opportunity!

The tea room was lovely and had a couple of sections, so if there was more than one group, we still had privacy. It had a great view, but we didn't stay long because we were really hungry for our seafood!

Saga checking out the shrimp

Sometimes it only takes half a day and a good friend to have an adventure! It's important to make time for these moments!

P.S. On the way home we stopped at Staples and got more coloured fountain pens and highlighters. I also found a lovely sketchbook that may become a scrapbook!