I’m going to make a bold assertion here that undermines our culture of workaholicism. Being rested is essential to showing up at work as your most genius and creative self. Yes, there it is, I said it. Being “busy” and “burning the midnight oil” over the long haul is working against you. Chronic stress on your body and mind is detrimental for modern workers who are needed to be bright-eyed and fresh in our fast-paced world. And while you might be nodding your head in agreement with what I’m saying, your inner skeptic is likely chiming in: “yeah sounds great, Gina, but I’m just not good at relaxing.” So, in today’s blog, I’m sharing my recent experience with a super cool relaxation method that you can test out to reduce stress and boost your genius. I’m talking about FLOATING!
My clients know I often recommend taking a bath in Epsom Salts (about 4 cups will do it!) as a relaxation tool to reduce stress. The practice of floating takes this to an EPIC level. I first heard of floating on the Tim Ferriss podcast where he shared research that floating multiple times can have an impact on your body equivalent to 2 weeks of vacation. This was a lightbulb moment for me. I immediately knew some of my clients could use such a tool!
I got the nudge I needed to try out floating for myself when my publicist pal Daphne Ortiz let me know she was working with the company: Float Sixty. So you are probably waiting with bated breath to know: what is floating? At centers like Float Sixty, you soak in a small pool or tank filled with a solution of 1,000 pounds of Epsom Salts. Compare that to my 4 cups! And because of the high concentration of salt, you literally “float” with no effort whatsoever. Think: Dead Sea.
So how was my experience?
I was walked by the attendant to a big private room that I had to myself to get settled in. She explained details like showering before and after, that I could go naked or in a bathing suit, and that I could enjoy the meditation room after my float. I followed most of her instructions, but forgot a few because I was so excited. So this meant I got in and out of the tank a few times before I was really ready to begin. But once it was on, it was on!
To add to the healing salts, the tank was also filled with healing turquoise light. I had plugged in a Deepak Chopra mediation from my i-Phone. And, for those 60 minutes, I was truly unplugged and relaxed. The experience was also a bit on the playful side. I thought it was so cool that I just floated in the water. So I bounced myself around the tank pushing my feet off the walls!
My mind and body truly were at rest in a way that I don’t normally experience. My neck, which is chronically stressed, felt at ease. There was zero effort of my body in the tank – just floating. And my mind let go of all worry. Perhaps that turquoise light had something to do with it!
It truly was one of the most relaxing experiences of my life. I gained an even deeper appreciation for the importance of unplugging and resting. How wonderful that you can get a dose of that kind of rejuvenation in just sixty minutes!
Check out floating for yourself at a local float center in your area. If you’re in Chicago, you can enjoy your first float at Float Sixty for $50 (that is $10 off the usual first float price) or extend to a Three Float Pack for $160 (that is $65 off the usual price) when you enter the code: floatgenius.