First of all, I knew that Leah and Brad were my type of peeps right off the hop. As soon as I extended my arm to shake hands, Leah insisted on a warm embrace stating that they were huggers. I. LOVE. Huggers. Like really, what beats a big fat hug? We sat down and chatted for quite a while and their personalities just warmed my heart. Leah and Brad are a vegan, newlywed couple who became drawn to floating ever since their first experience in Minneapolis. They went on to describe how their demeanours had completely changed for the rest of their trip. The couple found that they were attracting such positively spirited strangers that would stop and chat with them. They felt as if they were the most charming, reconnected individuals roaming Minneapolis. Leah has also battled stomach issues for as long as she could remember and she immediately felt a calming shift with her digestion after that first float. Their experience had such an impact on them that they could not simply let go of letting go. They were hooked. Leah and Brad longed to share floating with Winnipeg, a city that was more or less unaware of such a unique, healing therapy. Congratulations to Brad and Leah-FLOAT.CALM has been afloat for just over a month now and Winnipeg is loving it!

My Float

I realized that I obviously had to float before I could be a cheerleader for it. I never promote anything I do not believe in or would do or use myself. Before even visiting the floatation centre I signed up for their VIP package. I knew I would love it. When I walked into FLOAT.CALM for the first time, I had wished I brought along my two kitties and a blanket because I legit wanted to hang out there all day long. The staff and atmosphere were so inviting and friendly. Once I was shown to my private room and received my first time low down on what to do, I will admit I was a little bit nervous. When you float, you are enclosed in a floating pod (which resembles a horizontal tank). Once in the pod, you have 90 minutes to yourself, by yourself. 90 minutes where all you can see is pure darkness and all you can hear are your thoughts, your breaths and your heart beating. For those who do not necessarily enjoy sorting out their shit, that can be scary. But do you know what else floating is? Freeing. Relieving. Relaxing. Calming. And blissful. For the first half an hour I was tripping out…my mind is a monster that is not easily tamed. I kept opening my eyes just to see if I could see anything yet. I would sway from side to side, change position of my arms every two minutes, and try my damn hardest to let my muscles relax. You know you are floating but you still do not fully trust it. Those were all normal reactions for a first time floater. After those initial 30 minutes or so it was all smooth sailing from there. I was able to reach a state I had never reached before: meditation! In the past I have tried so hard to meditate because I know it is good for us. No matter how many times I tried or however many apps I downloaded to help guide me I was convinced I was not capable of getting to that sacred state. As far as I was concerned I had two very opposite mentalities: either full speed with my thoughts running a mile a minute or passed right out. Floating changed this for me.