All about Zero Gravity
Zero Gravity Mind & Wellness opened in July of 2022 after owners James and Deanna Seaton purchased the business in May of 2022 from the previous owners who ran it under the name InSPAration Float Centre.
Floating in Epsom salt water with no/minimal light is a way to improve mental focus, creativity and manage pain. It is believed that the practice of floating can contribute to a person’s mental and physical well being by helping to reduce anxiety, depression, pain, sore muscles and stress. Only about 10 inches of water are in the pristine cabins used for floating. The water is filled with about 1200 pounds of Epsom salt which creates a weightless environment because the water is so dense that you float on top of it.
The Epsom salts eliminate the constant physical stress of gravity on the bones and provide the muscles with a natural relaxant in the form of magnesium. The water and air temperature are kept the same so that the person floating loses track of where the water stops and air begins.
The experience is very relaxing with the water solution heated to body temperature which allows you to float peacefully and uninterrupted for the recommended 60 minutes or more. Many people who try it find it deeply relaxing and experience a renewed sense of well being.
There are three cabins available for floating that are windowless, ventilated and sealed by a door similar to those in commercial refrigerators. The cabins measure six and half feet high, five feet wide, and eight feet long. The cabin is kept very dark and sound proof once you are settled in and you have the option of silence or music while floating.
If you do not like being in total darkness, there is a small light you can opt to have turned on although complete darkness is recommended. The cabins with no chemicals or scents are cleaned regularly and very thoroughly. With sensory deprivation therapy, you can fully relax, recover and feel better than you did prior to floating. The body absorbs magnesium from the water and the experience allows the body to be totally free from pressure and contact points in the gravity free setting. While floating, the blood vessels dilate fully which lowers your blood pressure immediately which improves the body’s ability to receive oxygen, red blood cells and blood. Floating is great for muscle rejuvenation, arthritis, and general aches and pains we all get as we age.
Due to the fact that your mind gets to shut down and decompress, it can be good for those with anxiety, autism, ADHD, PTSD, and depression. Owner James is a veteran and because floating is helpful for veterans with PTSD, and as a way to thank our veterans for their service, James and Deanna have decided to offer veterans a flat rate of $50 per float. Both James and Deanna practice what they preach and float twice a week themselves.
Float sessions can be 30 minutes, 60 minutes or 90 minutes in length and their website has all the various pricing options. According to Deanna, a 60 minute float is equal to six hours of bedrest! After the float is over, people can relax in their comfortable lobby and have some tea, perhaps meditate before re-entering the busy world feeling refreshed and rested.
Hesitant to try it? Don’t be! Deanna and James invite you to book a tour and they will gladly show you what it’s all about. Having experienced it myself under the previous ownership, I can vouch that it really is a relaxing experience, the cabins and spa are very clean and hygienic and you do feel amazing afterwards! Deanna explains that most people who were reluctant end up being very pleasantly surprised and say that it is not at all what they thought it would be.
The salt for the cabins is sourced from local business OC Beauty in an effort to support another local business which is great to see.
Zero Gravity is open six days a week currently but they hope to operate seven days a week to reach more people. This is the type of relaxation therapy that everyone can benefit from. It is notable that many benefit plans cover Float therapy. It can also be covered under Wellness plans.
Deanna explains that you benefit from floating the more you float; ideally once a month for lasting results. They have packages for those who like to float regularly and they are shareable and do not expire.
Most new clients should aim to get in three floats to get used to it. Shift workers, hospital staff, paramedics would all benefit from floating so spread the word!
Zero Gravity is located at 143 Great Northern Road. You can reach them by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information including a great video, visit their website at www.zerogravityfloats.ca or follow them on FaceBook or Instagram!
