The feeling of being peaceful, fresh, elated; whatever the sensation is labeled, Travis McPhee sees the emotions written clearly on his patrons’ faces after a soak in a flotation pod – the first such business in the Bow Valley.
McPhee, owner of Float Canmore, offers a relaxing approach to being secluded in a spacious, soundproof pod in temperature controlled saltwater, available to anyone to indulge in its healing wonders.
“Everyone feels great walking out, but everyone’s experience is quite different,” said McPhee.
The new business opened its doors in downtown Canmore at 103 - 1002 8th Ave. just over two weeks ago (March 14).
It welcomes its floating patrons seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Float pods are for anyone, from pregnant women to athletes and beyond, and are used for a number of reasons, said McPhee, such as relaxation, healing and physical benefits, among others.
“Floating is complete removal of gravity on your system and with that comes a lot of huge benefits to muscles and your joints,” he said.
Each pod fills with 25 centimetres of water with a high volume of Epsom salts dissolved in it, which causes you to float.
Before stepping inside the wet, glowing pod, the peaking curiousity of what follows next usually causes first-time users to wonder what they bargained for.
“A lot of first time floaters will ask me, ‘What can I expect’ and I always just say, ‘nothing’ because I think it’s best to go in there with a clear mind,” said McPhee.
“The first comment is usually it’s way bigger (inside) than they expected. A lot of people float for different reasons; for me, principally, it manages my head space, and makes me feel light and have a non-busy mind as I go through my day as I live and make decisions.”
There is an option to have the pod dark or a choice of mood lights and music the patron can control from inside.
The water is also temperature controlled to preference and a typical session inside the pod is 60 minutes.
Like so many who live in this community, McPhee moved to the mountains for its iconic beauty and small-town vibe.
McPhee discovered floating in Calgary, but escaped to the Rocky Mountains for holistic personal reasons – feeling weighed down and stressed in the metropolitan life brought him to the bustling mountain town.
“I realized I was going to have to get creative and step outside of my comfort zone and do something so that I’m able to stay and live in the mountains ‘cause I love it here so much,” said McPhee.
While he took a personal journey to find inner peace, the idea was born for the flotation pods business in the Bow Valley.
For seven months, McPhee worked full-time on his project and hopes it will be embraced to the fullest degree.
Float Canmore can be contacted at 403-678-1207, floatcanmore.com, or its Facebook page: Float Canmore.
“If you’re curious about floating, definitely give it a try, you will not be disappointed. Everyone comes out feeling what I like to call the post-float glow, feeling blissed out … even if it feels like it can be intimidating, give it a try and you’re going to be happy you did,” said McPhee.
