City’s first floatation centre helps one destress, refresh

The brainchild of Chennaiites Rohan Ajit, Rajdeep Madanawat and Prajeev TK, Chennai Floats lets guests enter a pod which is filled with epsom salt. The pod, a float tank, looks like a large enclosed bathtub and is designed to black out all external distractions, such as sight, sound, tactile sensation and gravity. 

“It is a way of achieving deep relaxation by spending 60-90 minutes in a float tank. One has to just lie down quietly in darkness, suspended in a warm solution of epsom salt,” explains Prajeev, adding, “The concept is extremely popular abroad. However, there are only a few such facilities available in India.” 

Explaining about the concept Rohan says, “The concept of floatation has been around since 50s but then, it was more of an experiment. It was only later that rudimentary pods were made. Modern-day floatation pods are light and sound proof. Technically, it is called restricted environmental stimulation therapy.” 

The salinity is brought using epsom salts, which also has healing powers that revitalises the skin by removing toxins and enhancing joint recovery. “The buoyancy results in almost zero gravity feeling. This enables deep relaxation and can be therapeutic for those leading a hectic lifestyle. Athletes across the world use it to relax both their minds and bodies to heal from fatigue naturally,” says Prajeev. 

Further counting the benefits, he adds, “It improves sleep, eliminates fatigue and jet lag, deepens meditation, alleviates stress (mental and physical), reduce blood pressure, speed up muscle recovery, boosts immune function, improves cardiovascular performance, enhances creativity and is excellent for skin detox and deep pore nourishment.” There are three such pods, all sourced from Singapore, at this facility, and people can opt for a 60-minute or a 90-minute session. People can opt for complete darkness, and the pods also have a soft light within for those who’d prefer it.