by Julia Leikin, Spa Coordinator
Everyday stress can weigh heavily on the mind and body, leaving muscles tight and thoughts frazzled. It’s with this in mind that we created our most profound offering for relieving the effects of stress: our Mind/Body Exploration package. This dual-appointment experience combines the immensely therapeutic benefits of Esalen® massage with the uniquely relaxing retreat of a salt water float. Paired consecutively, these therapies complement each other beautifully to offer your mind, body, and spirit an opportunity to release tension and reconnect with your inner stillness.
“The mind/body exploration package was very therapeutic…the float in sensory deprivation really allowed the massage experience to deepen and opened my inner communication in a very real and clear way.” - Anna C., TripAdvisor
Esalen Massage for your Body
Esalen massage is a deeply relaxing style with a highly personalized touch. Esalen certified massage therapists use long, flowing strokes and a wide variety of techniques to gradually relax and open the body to deeper work. Practitioners of Esalen are skilled in tuning in to each individual’s body and catering their touch to the needs of the client in each moment. Working in this way, our Esalen massage therapists are able to build a rapport with the body and achieve truly therapeutic bodywork.
Salt Water Floatation for your Mind
Our salt water floatation tank, also known as a sensory deprivation tank, offers an entirely unique environment for your consciousness. In daily life, we are bombarded with the sights and sounds of a fast-paced environment. Even when things are going well, our bodies still tend to take on stress from the world around us.
Upon stepping into the tank, all of this outside stimulus is shut out entirely, as your body floats effortlessly in the salt water and eventually becomes enveloped in a bubble of your own natural body temperature. In the dark and quiet stillness, your mind is allowed a unique opportunity to turn inward and explore what sits beneath the busy surface that clouds our inner world.
What you find from there is highly individual; some fall into a deep, restorative sleep, while others experience something profound, beyond the limits of the body. Many simply rest in the inherent peace of stillness.
We are often asked, “which should I do first?” The answer is really quite simple: either one! You can arrange your Mind/Body Exploration package any way you prefer, so whether you float first or start with a massage is entirely up to you.
Massage First, then Float
If you are feeling a little apprehensive about the salt water float experience, we often recommend arranging to float after your massage. This way, your body will already be in a restful state when entering the float tank. Having had bodywork from one of our skilled massage therapists, you will likely find it easier to settle into the tank environment and find a comfortable position for your body. Starting your float session with a calm mind and relaxed body may allow you to drop into a place of peace and relaxation more quickly and easily than if you were to enter the float tank right off the bat. This way, you may be able to spend more of your time enjoying a deep state of relaxation during the float experience.
“I love to float after getting a massage because it’s like I’m already floating when I get in, so dropping in is effortless and I can just enjoy every moment of my time in the tank” -Ashley, Spa Director
Float First, Massage Second
Similarly, receiving a massage after floating can help your body relax into receiving touch from your massage therapist. During the day, we tend to be in a state of stress or activation, and our muscles tense in response. In the float tank, once your mind has processed that this new environment is safe and comfortable, your nervous system shifts into a state of rest. In turn, your muscles soften. Heading from this relaxed environment directly into massage is like getting a head-start on your session; your mind and body, already relaxed, are primed for the healing touch of your massage therapist.
“I love when a client comes right from a float; their bodies tend to be so open already , their muscles are like butter. I don’t have to spend so much time getting them warmed up, and can get right into really deep, powerful work” -Ellis, Esalen Massage Therapist
Couple’s Massage? Try Couple’s Mind/Body
The “couple’s” Mind/Body arrangement offers a perfect blend of “us time” and “me time” for pairs of all kinds to enjoy together. During a Couple’s Mind/Body Experience, one person receives massage while the other floats, then you swap! You will have an opportunity to meet in the middle and connect on your experience before heading in to your next appointment.
If sharing a massage room feels like a better way to connect, we will soon be able to offer this as well. Our new location, opening Fall 2021, will have space for you and your loved one to enjoy a couple’s massage together, before or after heading into your own individual float tanks.
At Still Point, it is our truest mission to offer everyone who walks through our doors an opportunity to find relief from stress and uncover the wisdom that lives in the stillness within. We hope to welcome you in soon to experience the benefits of mind and body relaxation.
