Float your way to the world!

https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/vishal-gandhi-b882b38

Being a working professional for a while, I totally understand the need to take breaks in between to not only recharge myself but also centre myself to be able to give the best to my professional life. This post essentially comes from one of the month-changing (if not life changing) experiences I had last week. I was gifted a sensory deprivation float experience on a Friday as a New Year Gift (the Beatles’ song is on an endless loop in my brain!) from my husband.

I chose a late evening session so I wouldn’t be rushed.

I have pretty serious fear issues of closed spaces. So I was happy to see that the floatation tank in the 1000 Petals centre at Gurgaon was a float room, and not a pod whose lid would close down on my head. It looked like it was easier to get in and out of the tank as well. I’m also just a little claustrophobic and have asthma so I wanted to be sure there was plenty of air to breathe. (It’s amazing what your mind can convince your body of!) The reception room at 1000 petals is so inviting – such great colors and these instant serenity that you feel as you enter that space!

The host Vishal who checked me in was really pleasant and informative and seemed genuinely happy for me to be there on my new year resolution trip. After a warm shower, I stepped into the tank, settled down into the water and lay back, leaving the lights on for a moment just to orient myself. Finally, I pushed the button to turn off the light and experienced my own body in a whole new way. The temperature of the water is so perfect, you don’t even feel it against your skin. There was NO light – not the tiniest bit – not even a glow around the door. We are NEVER in complete darkness in real life. It was an amazing feeling. Then with earplugs in, I realized I could HEAR my heart beating and my lungs breathing.

At first, I didn’t trust the water to completely support me so I was a little tense trying to stay afloat. Then I systematically relaxed every muscle, allowing my body to truly float and fell asleep! I fell asleep – lying in water! About ninety minutes later, I was slowly awakened by the reverberations of music through the water.

It’s an amazing way to wake up!

I laid there for a few minutes just enjoying the novelty of feeling music and finally turned on the interior light and opened the door. The similarities to being born were not lost on me. Coming out of a warm, totally dark place where I was floating in liquid into light and fresh air! What a joyful experience! I took a long, warm shower.

I was in hawt heaven!

I sat in the lobby for a little bit, talking with Vishal and having another big drink of water and green tea served in beautiful equipment before I left. I didn’t want to leave right away. I felt too new, too vulnerable – I wanted to adapt a little before I faced the sensory overload of the outside world again. But my choice of a late night/early morning float worked on more levels than I realized when I made my appointment. Feeling fresh and reborn, it seemed as though I had stepped out into the dawn of a new day – no traffic on the streets, just birds calling to each other.

The perfect cap to my float.

I did extensive research before “taking the plunge” – about floatation tanks and about floatation places in Gurgaon – and 1000 petals is the ONLY place which provides the sensory deprivation experience! Everything about it encourages you to relax and open yourself to the possibilities of your own Self, the you that you would be without all the noise of the world bombarding you. If you have ever thought that it might be an interesting thing to try – or you know you’d really like it but you just haven’t found the time – I encourage you to do it. NOW.

No one is promised tomorrow!