Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/561260
WALKING INTO WINNIPEG'S FLOAT.CALM for the first time, it's natural to be apprehensive. e idea of floating in a pod of salt water for 90 minutes with no outside stimulation – yes, you have to let go of the smart phone – would leave most people feeling like a fish out of water. But with technology within our reach around the clock, the mental and physical stress of being constantly connected can severely affect our minds and bodies, leading to an inability to concentrate, difficulty sleeping, headaches and eye strain, among other issues. Floating provides a rare opportunity to disconnect from technology and reconnect with yourself. "We don't realize how much we need that escape," says Leah Dawn, who started Float.Calm in October 2014 with husband Brad Dauk. "We're so connected that when we're finally able to let ourselves go and stop the noise, our minds practically say, 'Wow, thank you. I so needed that break.' " Devoid of light and sound, a pool noodle your only companion, you lay in 25 centimetres of salt water. e 383 kilograms of pharmaceutical grade Epsom salt used in each float pod creates an extremely buoyant environment, making you feel weightless. As a wave of serenity takes over, the outside world evaporates. is time is for you. It's meditation meets relaxation as you float away on your own mini sea of tranquility. Benefits range from improved sleep and anxiety reduction to pain management and muscle recovery. So for just a short time, stop updating Facebook, checking email and taking pictures of your meals, and let your cares wash away. www.floatcalm.com 18 G O I N G P L A C E S | F A L L 2 0 1 5 POD POD POD A Dip in the POD A Dip in the POD base