Want to Float on Epsom Salt? Check Out Philly’s New Floatation Spa

I did triple take this morning when a I got a press release about a new saltwater floatation spa that just opened at 209 West Girard Avenue. Yes, a floatation spa.

It’s called Halcyon Floats, a self-described “two-tank isolation spa in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia,” according to the press release. (Note: Our real estate gurus over on Property say the ‘hood is technically South Kensington, but … moving on.) The treatments work thusly: You’re lowered into a tank containing 10 inches of Epsom salt-laced water, whereupon you float in peace and quiet for 90 minutes. The water is so salty, apparently, that you become more buoyant than you would be if you floated on the Dead Sea.

Listen to this, from the press release:

With air and water that are both kept at skin temperature, it creates a sensation where it’s nearly impossible to tell where the body ends and the water begins. Soundproofing and complete darkness also amplify the experience of sensory deprivation.

For what it’s worth, Halcyon and other spas like it (there’s one in Bristol—who knew?) point to this study to show the treatment’s health benefits, which include improved mood, injury recovery and increased energy. And of course, there are loads of people who swear by Epsom salt baths as a way to help with aches and pains. (Personally, I have had success with this, especially after training or a race, but there are detractors who say the pain-relief power of Epsom salt is bunk.)

If you’re curious, the spa will officially celebrate its grand opening on Friday with an open house from 4 to 8 p.m. Floatation treatments cost $79 each, with bundle and monthly packages available.

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