Close your eyes and take a deep breath as you float across the water to the soothing sound of chimes. Crystal singing bowls start to vibrate, lulling you into deep relaxation as the lapping water casts you gently adrift. You’d be forgiven for thinking this peaceful scene can only be found on the azure shores of tropical islands, for it is in fact taking place at health clubs and wellness facilities across the North-east. Float therapy and sound baths have risen in popularity as a way to reduce stress and anxiety. But what exactly is this craze, can water and sound waves really help relieve tension? Trend is on hand with the answers, and goodness we’re feeling relaxed as a result.
There are a few different ways to enjoy the floating experience, which largely depend on whether or not you want to get wet. If you’d prefer to stay relatively dry, some floating experiences can be done aboard a comfortable air bed which will enable you to bob gently across the water without dipping as much as a toe in. With a warm blanket and eye mask, it makes for a cosy first foray into the world of floating. So far, so good but where does the sound bath element come in?
Water is a natural conductor of sound; it carries vibrations more deeply than air. Combine floating with a sound bath delivered by an expert practitioner, and prepare yourself for a completely immersive experience. This is certainly the ethos of Serenity Waves, which offers floating sound bath experiences at venues including Ardoe House. But be warned these events regularly sell out so it’s best to book in advance. Another perk of sound baths is that they have the magical effect of silencing or at least quietening your thoughts. You won’t be making a mental to do list or wondering if you got the chicken out for dinner, it’s got to be worth it for that perk alone.
For those wanting to go the whole hog, might we suggest Urban Wellness. The wellness hub in Bridge of Don was the first venue in Scotland to offer a specialist float room. Floating fully in water can enable your body to relax, reset and restore thanks to the effects of zero gravity. At Urban Wellness, the float room is both light and sound proof so you can shut out the world completely. Floating is believed to decrease cortisol which is that pesky stress hormone, alleviate physical stresses on the body and can even improve sleep and boost your immunity. If you’re wondering how you float in the first place without the aid of an inflatable, the float tank contains magnesium Epsom salts. Much like the effects of the Dead Sea, you become completely buoyant without the need to travel quite so far for the experience. To see their complete offering, go to urbanwellnesshub.co.uk You can also head to Alleve in Aberdeen where there is a chamber filled with skin temperature water and those all-important Epsom salts. The wellness sanctuary offers further therapies including cold plunge therapy and the contrast of a traditional Finnish sauna. You can find out more at alleve.co.uk
If you’re looking to head into spring feeling recharged or just fancy trying something new, floating and a gentle sound bath might just be the way forward. Anchor your soul and let your mind drift away, wellness never felt so easy.