A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to try a Float pod at Zen Float Spa, located in Girven road in Papamoa. This beautiful and calming space is a place you need to go and experience, Nicole is amazing and so welcoming.. Before heading there, I was quite anxious about spending an hour in an enclosed space, in the dark by myself.  I had heard great things about the Float pods, including how it is being used for recovery with sports and athletes, rehabilitation, health and of course to relax and get away from the busy world in which we live.

What is a float pod? Float pods contain highly concentrated Epsom salts – a form of magnesium that can absorb through the skin and into the body. Flotation therapy limits external stress factors that are constantly bombarding our senses and our lives. When we remove some of the external stressors our bodies finally have a chance to free itself begin to rest and repair.

Getting into the pod I was quite nervous and thought I would leave the tank open, however I closed it and did not feel claustrophobic at all! Music plays to begin with, to calm the mind and the body. Before I knew it, the music signalling that the time was up came back on and I had been in the pod for 1 hour! I defiantly felt relaxed after the pod, and my muscles loved it! Will I go again? Yes! I think the float pods are suited to everyone, and is a great way to allow the body to go into a parasympathetic state (healing state) rather than the constant sympathetic (fight and flight) state that we live our lives in.

Some of the benefits that you might get from a float session include:
• Improving sleep patterns
• Normalising blood pressures
• Destress and relaxation
• Improving athletic performance
• Increases your bodies ability to detoxify with mineral salt rich bath
• Helps the brain to produce theta waves which are helpful with meditation, Increases magnesium absorption and lots more