OSWEGO – Relentless pop-up ads that led to a Chrismas gift, turned into a future for Tammy Wilkinson and Terry LaRoi, owners of Aqua Spa Float Center and Wellness Boutique.
The gift in question was time in a Float Therapy session, otherwise known as Sensory Deprivation. A float pod or tank, is filled with about 10 inches of salt water where one literally floats, experiencing varying degrees of sensory deprivation designed to bring about meditation, relaxation, and a calm not experienced in any other way.
Knowing LaRoi was not big on materialistic gifts, but instead experiences, Wilkinson decided they shoud give it a try, employing it as the perfect holiday present.
From reading varying articles, Wilkinson knew of the potential benefits associated with floats, but didn’t expect the intense transformational outcome it would have on them, especially in regards to health challenges she experiences. Floating a few more times as a couple, the two finally found their way into separate tanks.
“And that’s when it became beyond magical for me, because, for me to be in a tank by myself, without sensory input; to just be with my own thoughts and feelings – it always gave me the benefit of less inflammation [and] less pain, so we kept going,” Wilkinson said. “I remember Terry and I at one point during that process looking at each other and saying, ‘Do you want to open a float center?’ And I said, ‘I really do; I really, really do.’”
The pair traveled the country viewing various float centers , incorporating some of what saw into their own business; the couple wanting to offer the community a variety of the best health approches combined wih a luxurious spa-like atmosphere.
Sensory Deprivation can sound a bit disconcerting to someone who may not have heard the term before, or understand the concept behind it. The couple took into account all of probable uncertainties that would accompany running a Float Center.
The true experience of a sensory deprivation tank is no light, no sound, and no sensory input to the degree this is possible. But Wilkinson recognized this may not be something everyone is ready for right away. To soften the experience, all Aqua Spa tanks and pods are equipped with twinkle lights and calming blue ambient light depending on a person’s preference. Music is available in all pods, and larger pods were chosen on purpose to lessen any feelings of claustrophobia.
Both owners are excited to share their experience and knowledge of floating, with the spa launching a soft opening this coming Sunday, November 15. A grand opening date will be announced at a later time.
“I want to say how grateful I am, and how this journey has taught me so much as a person,” Wilkinson said. “I want everyone in the community to know that whether you’re just starting out, you’re getting back on the wagon, or you’re an advanced junkie for health and wellness, this place is meant to be your sanctuary. It’s meant to meet you where you are. We don’t take the best care of ourselves all the time. It’s a journey, so, come and take the journey. We will be here, and we want this to be your sanctuary, your Aqua Spa.”
For a list of Aqua Spa services, please click here.
Video: Orientation before you float.
- The author of this story and the company president (Fred Reed) each had the privilege of experiencing a float session at Aqua Spa Float Center and Wellness Boutique. The following is my personal story. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy your float experience as much as I did. Namaste!
I have to admit, I was very anxious about my float session. It was the experience-it-for-yourself part of this story. The day of our session, I read up on floating to help expand my horizons on the subject.
“Let me get this straight”, I thought. “I’m going into a watery, salt-filled, body-flotation pod with zero stimuli and pitch darkness?” My husband gave me a high five when I told him what I was doing, expressing slight jealousy at my good fortune. I stared him down. I didn’t feel lucky, I felt somewhat freaked out. I saw pictures of the pods online and wasn’t convinced I could climb into one and be okay.
I could feel the fear rising in my stomach on the drive over. The staff was amazingly nice; their graciousness melting away some of my misgivings. By the time a staff member showed me my float room, I calmed down a lot, for two reasons:
1) My room was the deluxe model; a nice-sized tank – an enclosed, warm mini-pool per se.
2) This one came with options – a very subtle ambient blue light or LED stars in the ceiling AND ambient music if I wanted. Salvation! For the first time in the past three hours, my anxiety subsided enough that I felt I wanted to try this experiment!
The best piece of advice I can give you is to do what the float employee told me to do; “Don’t expect anything,” he said, right before leaving me to myself.
Finally alone, I followed all the necessary preparations before entering the pod. I then slipped into the water, turned on the twinkle lights and ambient music, closed my eyes, and let myself drift.
For one of the first times in my life, I felt my mind relax like it never had before. It took that session to make me realize how free I was from the world; free from people, the noise, the energies of the world both good and bad.
In dystopian, sci-fi movies, a space ship hurtles through the atmosphere, usually leaving behind a messy, disjointed planet, its occupants looking out the window, both sad and grateful to be leaving all that angst behind. “If I could leave earth,” I thought, “this would be it!”
That’s how I felt – I left the world behind and every petty, anxiety-ridden, what-I-thought-was-important idea, giving myself time to honor me. I couldn’t believe how amazing it felt!
An hour had passed when the announcement came that my session was done. It was hard to describe how supernaturally wonderful I felt. I didn’t want to leave; only craving more of what I had just experienced.
These past few days have been wonderful. I can tell you for certain I will be returning for more float sessions. Life is too precious to let pressures of this world drag us down. Try floating. You’ll never be the same! 🙂
-Shea O’Malley.
Following is a list of services Aqua Spa will offer –
Floats:
- Four Deluxe Quest Float Suites, all suites eight by seven feet in size, hosting cathedral-type ceilings. The tanks open and spacious, suitable for those who might suffer from claustrophobia. All tanks come with soft blue light, LED star ceiling lights, and soft ambient music options for customer convenience.
- One Revolution Orb float- a smaller pod for the more purist, avid floater. The style is a little more closed with a concave top for more room. It gives the experience similar to a weighted blanket. The pod also comes with soft blue ambient light and music options for customer convenience.
- Salt room with Halo-therapy
- Three infra-red sauna’s including Chromatherapy
- One Cryo-therapy Suite
- A four-station Oxygen Bar
- Massage Therapist
- Massage chairs including Aromatherapy, heat and Chromatherapy
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