Winnipeggers who love water and wellness can take a break with the growing float spa industry.

“Floating is one of the things that benefits chronic pain,” Roi Jones says.

Jones opened Jellyfish Float Spa, the first of three float spas in Winnipeg, in 2013. Since then, two other float spas have opened in Winnipeg: Float.Calm on Pembina Highway and the FloatHairium on Westminister Avenue.

Jones initially wanted to open Jellyfish for his mother-in-law who suffers from fibromyalgia, an illness that leaves her in constant pain. 

“I also thought it would be an amazing addition to Winnipeg. Nobody had it back then,” Jones says.

Floating is a therapeutic treatment where a person lays in a large, egg-shaped pod that is filled with 10 to 12 inches of water and 1,000 pounds of epsom salts, Jones says.

According to the Jellyfish Float Spa website, the salt content allows the body to float at the surface of the water. 

With the tank closed, it is completely dark and silent, shutting out the distractions of the outside world and allowing the mind and body to relax and recharge, the website reads.

There are many benefits to floating, Jones says. Some of them are stress relief, chronic pain relief, athletic recovery and creative inspiration.

Floating could help students manage stress levels throughout the semester and exam periods, Jones says.

He also says floating could provide opportunity to think about assignment and essay ideas free of distraction. 

Jones floats once a week, saying that floating brings him mental clarity and helps him achieve personal and business goals. He says it also helps enhance his musical awareness.

Simon Burgess has been floating weekly for the last two years. 

“I’ve always been interested in self-improvement and mindfulness techniques,” Burgess says. “I approach floating the same way. I try new visualization and meditation techniques in the tank and see what works.”

As part of his weekly wind down routine, Burgess floats every Friday after work. 

“It’s a great way to decompress and let go,” Burgess says. “I also sometimes plan out my goals for the following week while I’m in the tank and have no distractions.”

Jones says there is a four step filtration process in the pods at Jellyfish Float Spa that helps guarantee maximum cleanliness. 

Each tank has a hot tub filter, as well as an ozone filter that oxidizes the water, Jones says.

Bromine is used as a sanitizer and the water quality is lab-tested four times a year. 

Showering is mandatory before and after to maintain the cleanliness of the water and facility.

When floating for the first time, Jones suggests listening to one’s mind and body, and to understand that all experiences will be unique to the person who is floating.

JellyFish Float Spa offers a 15 per cent discount to all post-secondary students with a valid student ID. It is located at 894 St. Mary’s Rd. Float.Calm is located at 337C Pembina Hwy., and the FloatHairium is located at 763 Westminster Ave.

Published in Volume 70, Number 16 of The Uniter (January 21, 2016)