The relaxation begins the minute you cross the threshold of Flöt Spa in Midtown Atlanta where soothing music emanates from the speakers and the lighting is set to a calm. Your soft-spoken spa guide leads you to a dressing room where you slip into a plush robe and slippers. Then you are led to the decompression lounge replete with comfy chairs, warm tea or chilled water and chocolates for you to delight on. After a brief respite, your spa guide leads you to your very own private flotation room where you can lock the door and shut the world out!
Watch this video here to learn more.
For fifty minutes, you are now ready to experience a one-of-a-kind, near weightless flotation experience where you can be free from the harmful forces of gravity, recover from the effects of stress, illness, or injury from strenuous exercise, and where every single muscle in your body is able to relax. Aside from being an astronaut floating weightlessly in space or lounging effortlessly in the Dead Sea, Flöt Spa provides this truly unique experience where your mind can drift into the deepest state of relaxation possible!
THE BENEFITS OF FLOTATION THERAPY
Also known as floating and float therapy, flötation involves lying in a salt-water solution in a specially designed pod that offers the most effective and incredible means of stress relief and relaxation available. It was first used by John C. Lilly in 1954 to test the effects of sensory deprivation. Today, flotation therapy is used by young and old alike for meditation, relaxation, and for holistic and medical purposes.
“If we can put our body in a near zero gravity environment, that experience allows our muscles to relax. It allows blood to flow into tight areas and it dramatically helps drain away pain and inflammatory chemicals that accumulate in tight muscles,” said Ryan Landy, who opened Flöt Spa in Midtown after 17 years working as a licensed physical therapist in Atlanta. For relaxation, flotation therapy allows you to unwind, and find your own piece of serenity. “It promotes total calm, can eliminate fatigue and jet lag and improve sleep,” Landy added.
“During my session, I went into a very deep meditation. I have not been in such peace since” said Alyson Howard-Hoag, Authentic Beauty’s CEO and Founder. “I know so many of my clients at Authentic Beauty are under a lot of stress and there are so few places where a person can desensitize in such a healthy way. This is an amazing opportunity for people to manage their stress,” she said.
In addition to boosting immune function and relieving pain from arthritis, migraines, spinal disorders, sport injuries and more, medically, Landy said floating is ideal for the following medical conditions and situations:
• General neck and low back pain
• Headaches and migraines
• Sports injuries such as torn muscles, trigger points and tendonitis
• Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Degenerative Disc and Joint Disease
• Pregnancy induced low back and joint pain
• Improves circulation and distribution of oxygen and nutrients
• Reduces blood pressure, pulse, heart rate and oxygen consumption
• Improves athletic performance and helps prevent sports injuries while speeding up the healing process
THE POD:
The pod itself is about 12 inches deep and resembles a very large, enclosed bathtub built of fiberglass that is designed to block out all external distractions such as sights, sounds, tactile sensations and gravity. The pod is filled with room temperature warm (96°F) water and a super-saturated Epsom-salt solution (almost 300 lbs. of salt), which creates an environment similar to that of the Dead Sea that lets you float effortlessly on the surface of the water.
The door to your pod is fully controllable from within. You can choose whether to float with the door open or closed. There is also an interior light for beginners or for those who don’t enjoy being in the dark; however, Landy said almost all users (even those with claustrophobia) are floating with the light off within three sessions.
WHAT TO WEAR, WHAT TO BRING AND AT HOME PREP?
Do not shave at all on the day of your Flöt session because the water’s high salt content can be irritating to your skin. The spa provides Vaseline in your private Flöt room for you to cover any small cuts and grazes. In terms of clothing, less is more and ideally you float naked depriving your skin of additional sensations. “But a bathing suit is fine too,” Landy said.
For the body conscious, have no fear! Each pod is housed in a lockable yet spacious private room and everything is provided for you including big, fluffy, fresh towels, ear plugs to wear to keep any salt from entering your ears, shampoo and body wash, deodorant and skin cream and a changing room with hair dryers after your flotation session.
READY SET FLOAT!
Once you’ve entered your private flotation room at Flöt Spa, you shower to remove any makeup and any excess body oils and skin cells prior to floating. Ladies with hair coloring who have had their hair dyed recently are encouraged to wear a swim cap to protect hair coloring. After your quick invigorating shower and with your complimentary earplugs in, you enter the Flöt pod where soothing ambient music is played for the first 10 minutes. This is followed by 40 minutes of golden silence. Your total Flöt session is 50 minutes and as the session comes to an end, the music is played again so that you know your session is coming to a close.
While you are floating and after, don’t panic if you feel a bit tender in your lower back or neck areas because you’ve accumulated years of tension. This is normal with zero gravity and goes away quickly. 
For the ideal flotation experience with ear plugs in, lid closed and the tank’s interior lights switched off, the quietness and darkness will allow your mind to drift into a deep relaxed state. But Landy said it might take you 2-3 Flöt sessions to experience total relaxation because who is used to zero gravity?
The good news is that you are in total control and you can float with the pod open, or slightly opened and with the light or music on or off. The entire floatation experience is centered around your comfort. And you can build up to the ideal floating conditions with zero distractions.
AFTER YOUR SESSION
Post float, take another shower to wash away the salt from your skin and be prepared for your skin to feel soft. Then, clients are encouraged to linger in the decompression lounge so you aren’t rushing back into the real world too soon. This is also a great time to consider additional therapies because your body is significantly relaxed and creates the perfect environment and opportunity to receive a massage.
“Your muscles will be 50 percent more relaxed and your massage therapist can get in there and work in deep areas without applying as much pressure,” Landy said. In addition to flotation therapy, he and his staff offer massage therapy, and skincare therapy as well as an evaluation and physical therapy treatment with a doctor’s referral.
Once you are ready to go, plan on feeling relaxed for at least a day or two because the benefits of floating are latent! You will also likely sleep better. And research shows that when you float for one hour (assuming you can relax) it is equivalent to getting four hours of REM sleep. Best of all? The effects of flotation therapy are cumulative. “The more often you flöt, the better it is for you,” Landy said.
A SPECIAL OFFER FOR AUTHENTIC BEAUTY CLIENTS
For Authentic Beauty clients, pay $45 for a first time half hour Flöt session and just $50 on your 2nd visit. Or get a 30 minute Flöt session and an hour massage for $115. Flöt Spa is open Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 9 pm and Friday through Sunday from 10 am to 9 pm. For an appointment call 404.464.8613 or visit them online HERE. Flöt is located at 1045 Piedmont Ave, N.E. Suite 202 in Atlanta.
