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6 LIVE IT UP! FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL S pending an hour "floating" at Equilibrium Float Center can be a mini-vacation for your body and soul, an ideal way to get self-care into your practice. Perhaps this relates to one of your New Year's resolutions, or you've been meaning to work on restoring your mental and physical well-being. Austin Twohig, who owns and operates Equilibrium with Kellen Rice and Domi- nique Speight, encourages any skeptics to give it a try. "Floating has mental and physi- cal benefits. It is both a zero gravity and zero stimulus environment," Twohig says. e zero gravity allows your body to completely relax and realign itself. "ere are times that I will be in the middle of a float session and my back will crack as though I just had a chiropractic adjustment. It feels amazing. e zero stimulus allows you to clear your mind or deeply focus on some aspect of your life. I enjoy floating the most when I have a problem I need to ponder, or I need to brainstorm," he adds. For those who have never heard of float- ing, Equilibrium provides this overview on its web site: "Floatation R.E.S.T." (Restricted Environmental Stimulation erapy) or 'Floating,' is a powerful means to experienc- ing deep rest and rejuvenation. Our large float rooms are insulated against light and sound, with a shallow solution of Epsom salt and warm water that allows you to lie comfortably supported on the surface…the ideal space to relax, reflect and restore your inner balance." When you are about to do your first float, one of the Equilibrium staff members takes plenty of time to ensure you feel com- fortable and know what to expect during your session. e area outside the float room has amenities like a comfortable wooden seat, a plush floor mat, towels and a nice shower. Aer the float, there is a relaxation/ recovery room to spend a few minutes in, to help transition back into the 'real world.' It's stocked with tea, water and chocolate. ere are several chalkboards where you can read people's post-float comments; many talk about losing a sense of time or being relaxed or serene in a way they have never experienced. "You don't realize the benefits until you try it," says Twohig. "Even I was doubtful before my first time. You can't imagine how healing and relaxing a silent, zero gravity environment can be." For new customers, there is a special intro package of three 60-minute floats for $99. Aer that, Equi- librium encourages customers to become members, which enables them to receive more discounts. When some people hear about floating, they are concerned about claustrophobia. "Some float centers have 'pods' which are rather small," says Twohig. "Some people feel very cramped in these. We bought float rooms, which are much bigger. You can stand up and stretch when lying down. Most people can reach as far as possible with their arms and legs and not touch the sides of our float rooms." You can't do that in a pod, Twohig says. "If darkness or silence is a problem for people, we have audio and light therapy sessions available. And of course, anytime anyone feels uncomfortable they can just open the door of the float room and step out." One of Equilibrium's priorities is helping people with stress relief. "e best part of my day is seeing the transformation of some- one pre- and post-float," Twohig shares. "ey always come out looking content and relaxed, sometimes even euphoric." Evy Cambridge, 73, has been floating for about a year. "I try and go every two weeks and have been fairly successful with that pace," shares Cambridge. "For me, floating is a combination of a deep meditation and a good massage, all the while being supported and nurtured by the warm water." About 25 percent of Equilibrium's clients are over 60 years old. "e biggest benefit that seniors have reported is pain relief," says Twohig. "On multiple occasions I have heard people say that their back pain is gone." Some have stated, 'is is the best my back has felt in five (or more) years.' "It's pretty awesome to see someone get out of the float room and move more freely with far less pain," Twohig adds. When someone tells him they hurt less aer float- ing, it makes his day. "Less pain equals more happy." He believes that 'more happy' epito- mizes the spirit of Santa Cruz, and enjoys being able to bring this to the community. Floating is also excellent for sleep disor- ders. Customers of all ages have mentioned getting an excellent night's sleep aer float- ing. Myrt Hawkins, 70 years old, first came to Equilibrium several months ago aer going through treatment for breast cancer. "Recov- ering from the ravages of these treatments, I found that the float was very beneficial for physical healing through relaxation and the obvious benefits of water, salt, and quiet," says Hawkins. She plans to continue to float because of its physical, emotional and spiritual benefits. "I only mention my FLOAT YOUR WAY TO IMPROVED WELL-BEING BY TARA FATEMI WALKER photo courtesy of Equilibrium Float Center Austin Twohig, co-owner of Equilibrium Float Center

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