Buoyant Spa has opened a new location in Rock Hill (9603 Manchester), where people can go to relax and float.
The spa opened in Chesterfield earlier this year and, with this second location, expands toward city. They offer “flotation therapy,” which involves a guest relaxing in a flotation and sensory deprivation tank. “Floating” is great for stress relief and muscle relaxation.
“Buoyant Float spa offers a spa-like atmosphere where our guests are greeted with extra amenities such as robes, slippers, locker rooms, and pods that are emptied between each floater,” says spa owner Mikell Rush. To ensure cleanliness, the float pods are emptied and then sanitized after every session.
See also: Experiencing F.L.O.A.T.
An hour-long float session puts people in 200 gallons of skin-temperature water and about 900 pounds of Epsom salt, “creating a gravity-free environment, along with a light- and sound-proof environment,” Rush adds. Floating allows the guest to focus on themselves rather than stimuli from the outside world; it also lets muscles used for sitting upright and standing to relax, which gravity normally prevents.
“Research also shows that it helps with pain management, joint recovery, and muscle recovery… and Rheumatoid Arthritis,” says Rush. “Flotation therapy helps one decompress their mind and body. Having an environment that is stimulus-free allows cortisol levels to lower, allowing our natural endorphin to increase. So for someone with stress, anxiety, depression, or addiction, [floating] may be a great alternative.”
Rush says she got her inspiration to open a floating spa from a friend’s video. “Three years ago, I was on Facebook and saw a 30-second clip of a float pod with this cool-looking water and zen music in the background captioned ‘my first float, I’ll let you know how it was’ from a friend of mine,” she says.
She asked her friend what floating was, and after her friend explained, she was intrigued. “At this time there were not any float centers in St. Louis, so I flew to Seattle to have my first three floats. I was sold!” Rush has a background in nursing and pharmaceutical sales, so she’s always been interested in wellness. She has practiced other therapeutic forms, including massages, acupuncture, and meditation. The new location at Rock Hill offers all the same amenities and services as the Chesterfield location does. The location will be easier to access for people closer to the city.
Rock Hill is “centrally located, high visibility, and easy to access for the surrounding communities,” says Rush.
The new location is open 9 a.m.–9 p.m. seven days a week. For more information and to book an appointment visit its website.
