My brain is fried. My body's a shambles too, after an intense workout session to help me forget that my brain is fried. In the end, my futile attempt at rejuvenating and detoxing my mind from a bazillion zinging thoughts at the gym only resulted in a weird cycle with a drained body too. That said, there couldn't have been a better time for me to go review the floating sessions at Theta State Float Center.
Calmness inside the float pod.
Although situated in 24th Avenue Mall, in the middle of buzzing city lights and traffic jams, this wellness spa was the very physical and mental relaxation destination that I needed. Opened six months ago, it claims that floating in either one of their float pods or float rooms can revive the mind, as well as relieve physical pain such as spine problems, inflammation and shoulder aches, among others. It also claims to aid health concerns such as hypertension, insomnia, anxiety and depression. Each pod is packed with more than half-a-tonne of Epsom salt, thus creating the same effortless effect as floating in the Dead Sea does.
Once I got to the centre, I was welcomed with a comprehensive guide about what to expect. This includes letting me know that I will probably go through feelings that can range from panic attacks to, aha!, moments to sheer boredom, while floating in complete darkness, devoid of any sound, sights, smell or sense of touch whatsoever. The pods are filled with only 25cm of water so you couldn't drown even if you wanted to. For best results, it is crucial to completely let go so no strains will develop in your neck. Healing minerals in the water, like magnesium sulphate, can level up your hair and skin, but it is ultimately about reducing adrenalin and increasing the production of endorphins to experience a deep and pervasive inner calm. Opting for the one-hour float session, which is recommended for novice-floaters, the treatment started with a shower in my chamber before stepping into the 2m-tall, closet-like float room naked. Going birthday suit is to ensure the brain is free from any distracting sensations, so it can enter a true state of relaxation by not having to process any usual obligations of stimuli that surround us everyday.
The float pod gives a futuristic sci-fi feel to the experience.
The water is kept at body temperature through computer programming and feels like a satiny liquid. As I float in a pitch-black, gravity and sensory-free environment, it wasn't too hard to pretend I was an astronaut, stuck alone in a void à la Interstellar. If you want alone, you'll definitely feel hyper-isolated here — my first 10 minutes or so revolved around obsessing over how space people in solitude, deprived of everything they know, keep themselves from going mad by being alone with their thoughts.
When I finally got over the agonising loneliness and really settled in, the thoughts I was having all week were running in my head in a very focused manner, with a sharper clarity that I don't usually experience. Words pop up one by one to slowly chip away at the writer's block I have. A prolonged state of sensory reduction means I also heard a very crisp crackling from my hungry stomach, but when I'm not really thinking about anything, it's plain nice to be feeling an unwinding oneness between the mind, body and relaxation. It's a fitting stepping stone for those who want to get into meditation but can't afford long retreats or the time to do so.
When nearing the end of my session, green, instrumental music starts to play. That's a signal that it's time to get up. The filters then will start working to sanitise the water, making sure it is sterile and in ship shape for the next floater. Athletes and pregnant women are among the frequent visitors to Theta, as even an hour of weightlessness, having no muscle tension on any body part whatsoever, can achieve a healing process a night's sleep cannot.
I did feel that the ache from my squats were less pronounced after the float, even if not completely gone. With results that didn't turn out to be as gimmicky as I first suspected, this new holistic alternative to de-stress, revitalise and really get away from everything is far from being a one-visit novelty.
Visit Theta State Float Center, 24th Avenue, 1st floor, Sukhumvit Soi 24. Prices are 1,950 baht for 60 minutes, 2,350 baht for 90 minutes and 2,800 baht for 120 minutes. Visit www.thetastatefloat.com or call 02-261-7943.
