Those of you who follow the blog regularly will know how seriously I take my ‘me time,’ so you can imagine my excitement when I was invited to try out a new floatation spa in the Jewellery Quarter at the weekend.
The Floating Spa is the brainchild (and obvious passion) of Naveed Ladha, the owner and manager. It officially opened it’s doors on Saturday, but I was lucky enough to attend the launch party on Friday evening, where I was warmly welcomed and given a tour of the facilities.
It’s a clean, well-designed space. There’s a reception area, a relaxation lounge for use before and after a floatation session (complete with chalkboards to write messages on), a massage room, a chiropractic room, lovely changing facilities and in two specially-designed, private wet-rooms are the floatation pods.
These pods are fantastic (and look rather space-age too!). They’re used as Restricted Environmental Stimulus Therapy (R.E.S.T), allowing the user to float weightlessly. They’re filled with Epsom Salt water, heated to 35.5 degrees to match the skin temperature perfectly, and there are options of lights or darkness (you can completely close the lid of you choose), music or silence during a session. Each experience is unique to every individual – by cutting off the senses and allowing complete relaxation, the mind and body has a chance to de-stress.
Perfect.
I booked a session for Saturday morning (each session is about an hour-and-a-half in total, with the actual floatation lasting an hour) and was so excited that I arrived half an hour early. However, Nav (who must have been exhausted from the launch party the night before) greeted me with the same warm smile and graciously took the time to show me all the facilities again, explaining in detail how to work the showers and pod. He then gave me a set of earplugs, showed me how to contact him should I need to, and then left me alone for my session. I had been advised to wear light swimwear or, if I felt brave enough, nothing at all. I wore a bikini, and felt comfortable in doing so – the room is able to be locked from the inside and there is an intercom system directly linked to reception in the pod, but I left the door unlocked, simply because it was my first session and I wasn’t sure how my body would react to it.
I needn’t have worried – I was perfectly fine all the way through.
However, during the first twenty minutes I made several rookie mistakes, forgetting that it was salt water and ending up with some in my eyes (ouch) and not putting in my earplug properly which meant that I had to find it in the pod and redo it. Luckily, I had been given a freshwater spray to rinse my eyes out.
I decided to start again, and I switched all the lights and music off and made serious attempts to just allow myself to relax and float. Nav had warned me that it may take a while for my mind and body to switch off, and he was right (at one point I was singing a random song to myself) so I followed his advice and focused on my breathing and heartbeat.
And then… bliss.
After a while it didn’t feel like I was in water. I was warm and comfortable, and at one point I think I drifted off to sleep. For a time, there was nothing – it was the most relaxed I have been in a while. Amazing.
The music then came on to signify five minutes before the end of the session, and I was genuinely disappointed. I could have spent all day in there. I got out and had a shower (with vegan shampoo, conditioner and shower gel already supplied), during which the cleaning system began (there’s a three-tier cleaning system before and after each session), then got changed, and then I took myself off to the other changing room (fully equipped with hair dryers, organic products and things that I always forget to bring with me, such as cotton buds and face wipes. It’s a good job they were there too – I managed to sneeze and get mascara halfway up my face).
What I particularly loved about the session was that it was a completely private experience, both during and after the floatation had finished. I was given unlimited time to use the changing and relaxation facilities, and while I knew that assistance was available at any point, I didn’t feel under any pressure to leave, and I wasn’t given the ‘hard-sell’ to purchase products that I often experience at spas.
Absolutely one of the best experiences I’ve had in a long time, and it’s a completely unique experience in Birmingham – there’s nothing else like it in the city.
And do you know what? I slept like a baby on Saturday night!
Want to know more?
Singular sessions are £55.00, but three sessions can be purchased for £120.00 for a limited time only. They can be given as gifts, and there are gift cards available for the three sessions. Toiletries and clean, fluffy towels are provided for each session. It’s also possible to purchase kilogram bags of Epsom Salts and the Faith in Nature products from reception to use at home. Massage and chiropractic services are charged separately.
Worth every penny.
You can find The Floating Spa via:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thefloatingspa
Twitter: @TheFloatingSpa
Website: http://thefloatingspa.com/
Disclaimer: I was very kindly given a free floating session, but was under no obligation to provide a positive review. It’s a tough life, but someone has to do it!
Sounds like a wonderful experience. I’ll be looking for some of these in the US>
You really should my lovely – it’s certainly something new that I’ve never experienced before, and I’ll certainly be going back again!!
Sounds like heaven…although the lid of the pod would have to stay open, I’d panic if it was closed.
I wasn’t brave enough to close it completely, but I turned all the lights off… It was awesome!
Would love to have an experience in a floatation tank. Will need to look for one nearer to home. Blessings Joy
It’s real bliss Joy! Fantastic experience!!!
I have GOT to try this. One of my college students did this for an assignment and he described it as wonderful.
It really was – certainly one of the most relaxing things I’ve ever done!
This sounds absolutely wonderful! I think I need to try this…
Another thing to add to the list when you visit!
I need to come for a month!
Haha! And bring about £500 too!
Oh yeah, and the rest! That’ll last about a day, I think 😀
Haha! Absolutely!
Reblogged this on Diane T. Wickles and commented:
I love to pamper myself and this floating spa sounds wonderful to me!
Thank you for the reblog!
You bet 🙂
That sounds dreamy. I think it would take me a bit to get used to then to shut my thoughts off but then… 💕 These should be available everywhere.
Thanks Sarah! I don’t know if I would have the confidence to shut the lid completely – I certainly didn’t this time! Such an awesome experience though… Certainly something to go and do again!
Who knew? Birmingham always surprises me! Love your blog!
It’s been a love affair that I’ve had with the city for a long time, and it only gets better. Thanks Camellia – so glad you like it!
I grew up there, live about 40 minutes outside of Birmingham- it is, to me one of those hidden jewels…keep talking about it!! love your blog
Where abouts? And thanks!
I live in Pell City- toward Atlanta off I 20
I grew up in Birmingham and lived in Hoover when it was brand new! My sister still lives in Bham…do you live in Birmingham?
I live in Birmingham UK…
Ha! oh me, all of this time I thought you were in Alabama …funny
Hahaha! I figured when you started talking about Atlanta! I get that a lot from Americans… I’m British haha!