Shikha Jain reviews the floatation therapy experience at the Liquid Sanctuary
The night before the review, dark thoughts started to cloud over that had me reluctant to try the Floatation Therapy. Maybe because it was foreign to me, but the adventurous side of me wanted to give it a try regardless. Keeping my fingers crossed, and the instructions in mind, I stepped into the pool. Lying still on the bed of water, tranquillity lapped at my mind. The lights dimmed and the air was silent. The feeling is akin to flying or floating weightlessly because you don’t feel the presence of gravity pull. The result: a deep sense of calm and a feeling of being incredibly refreshed like you just woke up from the best nap of your life. These 40 minutes were priceless.
Core inspiration
Scientist Dr John Lilly, while studying brain waves and altered states of consciousness, discovered floating, otherwise known as Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST), in the 1950s. Liquid Sanctuary is Mumbai’s first floatation therapy centre. Their tanks resemble spa baths and are located within private therapy rooms that have been soundproofed to drown out any noise from the outside. “We live in a world where our brains are constantly at the mercy of external, environmental stimuli. Whether it’s staring at our phones and computers all day, sitting in the throes of Mumbai traffic, or being around or families and friends, we rarely get true alone time or solitude. This is what really inspired us to start a float spa in Mumbai,” says Digant Joshi, owner of Liquid Sanctuary.
Savour its benefits
Float therapy is a powerful tool for wellness, relaxation, pain relief and better sleep. The salt water is heated to our outside temperature, so we feel cocooned and safe. The high concentration of Epsom Salt (Magnesium sulfate) allows the body to float effortlessly while detoxifying and alleviating pain. Many compare the experience of floating to be the equivalent of meditation or lucid dreaming. In these frenzied times, what could be better!
