You guys! You know that friend who is always ahead of the trends and knows what the next new thing is? Well, let me be that friend for you today! Have you heard of floating? You haven’t? Well, I’ve just tried it, and I’ve got to tell you all about it….

What is the most common thing we, as mothers, say to each other when we greet each other? “Hey, how have you been?” “Busy! You?” “Yes, busy, me too!”

Let’s face it—we are busy. We are moms. All this busyness makes it hard to find time for ourselves, makes it hard for us to relax, makes it hard for us to even think straight. What if there was a way for us to escape just for a couple hours, clear our minds, and experience relaxation like we’ve never experienced before?

Well, we can.

It’s called floating. Iowa just got their first facility: Fadeaway Floatation Therapy in West Des Moines.

And it’s amazing.

No light, no sound, the feeling of weightlessness. It’s WOW.

My Experience

Thanks to Fadeaway, I recently had the chance to experience two floating sessions at their amazing facility. During my floats, it felt like I was floating in outer space. I even experienced a slight spinning sensation both times I began my floats. For the 90-minute duration, I experienced different “phases” of relaxation that went from prayer (what better time?), meditation on positive phrases and verses I have memorized, thinking about the day’s events, and my to-do list (if I’m honest), to at one point being on the verge of falling asleep.

I spoke with Fadeaway’s owner, Talia Chaffee, and she told me that everyone has such different experiences during floating, especially during their first few floats. There are some people who don’t have such wonderful experiences the first time they float because it takes a while to get used to everything and get comfortable. (I know many moms who get massages and don’t even relax until the last 10 minutes. If that’s you, you might relate.) But, she says that you should not give up if is not what you were envisioning. Try it at least a couple times to allow yourself to get accustomed to the tank and to see the full benefits. They offer a new client package and a monthly membership, as well.

I will say that although I had a very pleasant first float, I did a few things differently the second time around that made it an even better experience for me. For example, I went in the evening both times in the 7:00-9:00 p.m. time slot, and although their website warned me, for the first float, I didn’t eat far enough ahead of time and I could hear my body digesting dinner. I also found that I wanted a hairbrush after my first float (because you shower before and after you go in the floating tank), so for the second float I made sure to bring one along. Another thing I did for round two was bring a hair tie to tame my tresses; and, I was more careful not to get the solution into my eyes.

I have gotten mixed reactions when I tell friends and family about my experience floating. Several are excited to give it a try, but a lot of people say they couldn’t do it because they are claustrophobic. I can honestly say, I don’t have claustrophobia, but I didn’t ever feel like I was enclosed in a tight place at all. Quite the opposite. When I was floating, I felt that I was in the vast openness of space. And you can keep the lid open if you want to.

Friends and family had questions, as well: “Was it hard to relax and let the water hold you?” Well, no. It was quite easy! While I do not easily float on my back in the pool, there is so much epsom salt in the water that you feel as though your body is made of cork. SO cool. I was also asked if I got cold. No, the water is the same temperature as your skin, so you can’t feel where the water ends and the air begins. Plus, there is a heater in the tank that you can turn on and off. I kept it on.

There are so many benefits to floating that I cannot list them all or I’d bore you, but please visit Fadeaway Floatation’s website. There is much to be learned about this amazing new way for us mommas to treat ourselves.

You just gotta try it! You owe it to yourself!

Be sure to jump over and read our Local Business Highlight on Fadeaway Floatation Therapy and enter the giveaway for a chance to win one of three FREE 90-minute floating sessions!

Disclaimer: I received two complimentary sessions at Fadeaway Flotation Therapy in exchange for writing this post. All opinions expressed are my own.