New year, new you

Time to get your mind and body back in gear after Christmas. Zaineb AI

Hassani kicks off our revitalising special with a visit to a flotation tank

usually take sessions twice a month.‘ says an amiable Roger Tyler. co-owner of

Glasgow's Willow Trading Rooms. and home to Glasgow‘s only flotation tank.

‘lilotation tanks.‘ he explains. ‘provide a unique experience for each person. the feeling of utter isolation and weightlessness is something that cannot be expkunedf

First introduced in 1954. the tanks have evolved from the first rudimentary sessions where participants would don a highly uncomfortable mask and allow themselves to be almost fully submerged in water to tanks like the one in Willow Trading Rooms. which is actually an 8ft by 4ft wide room. standing 7ft high. and filled with ten inches of salt loaded water. Hailed for their therapeutic qualities (Roger tells me it’s the equivalent of four hours sleep). I was driven by curiosity. plus a need to catch up on some much needed shut-eye. to venture into the unknown.

l’m shown downstairs into a small room. where visitors get changed and shower before their session. Two minutes later. and in my birthday suit (which I would recommend to anyone above

14 THE LIST 14 78 Feb 7008

wearing a swimsuit) I entered the room with slight trepidation. something almost certainly to do with my slight misgivings ()K.

be honest absolute loathing. of

total darkness.

I needn’t have worried. though. From the moment I got inside I was greeted by relaxing music. which is played for the first ten minutes then starts up again to signal the end of the session. which laid my mind to rest. Plus. thanks to one tonne of epsom salts in the water. I floated the minute I lay down.

Yes. the lirst quarter of an hour was pretty odd. especially when I had to remind myself to relax my muscles (no. I wasn‘t going to go under or float away) but once I‘d disengaged from these thoughts. it was very relaxing. The absence of sound was something blissful that I. like so many of us nowadays. don‘t often appreciate.

The sessions are

‘THE FEELING OF ISOLATION AND WEIGHTLESSNESS CANNOT BE EXPLAINED'

not for

everyone. though. and even if you‘re tempted. you should be in the right frame of mind to take one. “We had one girl come for a session.‘ says Roger. ‘then have to leave almost immediately because she felt there was a shark in the tank. 011 the other hand. a gentlemen who was in here not long ago told us he spent the entire hour thinking about a great pub lunch he'd had some ten years ago. You really can‘t describe the feeling.‘

The Essentials

Willow Trading Rooms. 715 Great Western Rd. Glasgow. info@willowtrading.co.uk, 0141 339 6446.

Edinburgh Floatarium. 29 North West Circus Place. Edinburgh. 0131 225 3350

Cost

Willow Trading sessions are $330. or book three for $60. Check for occasional 2-for-1 offers. Edinburgh Floatarium is £30 for a 1hr session, or book 3 sessions for £75. 10 for 53230.

What you need

Just yourself. Towels. shampoo and earplugs are provided. Handy links www.wi|lowtrading.co.uk. www.edinburghfloatarium.co.uk

Alternative Therapy Edinburgh

Aromatherapy

l-‘ar superior to a nasty blast of air freshener. learn the subtle art of aromatherapy. with beginner's classes in essential oils and massage. An 8-week non-vocational cottrse is available through the (‘li(‘. starting 27 Jan. priced £48 (U3 concessions). (‘li(‘. various locations. 46‘) 3250. adulteducation(a)edinburghgovuk. www.cdinburgh.gov.uk

Yoga

Find your happy place at a yoga class to suit you. The Aditi Yoga ('entre runs courses for yoga virgins or veterans. Beginner‘s classes must be booked in advance but other programmes can be

joined at any stage in the term. Beginner's

classes. £70 for 8 weeks. Aditi Yoga (‘entre. Alva Street. 226 2601.

www.aditiyogacentre.com

Massage

Learn what some Indian children learn from age live and up. with beginners evening classes in soothing Indian head massage. or shiatsu massage from (‘li(' (see above). If you‘re less interested in learning the techniques. but want to enjoy the benefits. Aditi (see above) offer pregnancy. reiki. shiatsu or foot massage

therapies.

Meditation

If you're frazzled alter (‘hristmas stress. drop in for lunchtime meditation at the Edinburgh Buddhist (‘entre. The first one in 200‘) takes place Wed 7 Jan. Five- and six-week meditation courses are also available. Edinburgh Buddhist (‘entre. Melville 'l'errace. 662 669‘),

www.cdinburgh buddhistcentre.org.uk

Turkish Baths

Like the idea of a spa therapy. but need change back from a tenner'.’ Ponobello Swim ('entre contains one of Britain's few original Victorian Turkish Baths still in use. The hammam has four rooms of varying temperatures. where you can sweat it out. feel energised. then chill-out. lintry is £5.70 for adults. Ponobello Swim (‘entre. The Promenade. 66‘) 6888. wwwedinburghleisure.co.uk