We allow ourselves to be absorbed into the fabric of all life, from the tiniest ant to the myriad wonders that lie beyond the blue of our sky… And maybe this is why I love wonder: because it is the state of contemplation, of awe, without the urgent, obsessive need to always find an answer. It allows us to sink back into the moment and be enveloped by it.
Beautiful words from Dejah Beauchamp on views from a hammock.
Rainy day Sunday, lemony yoghurt cake – correct method.
For my birthday this year, a few girlfriends chipped in to buy me an introductory float tank package which included 3 x one hour sessions. I was both excited and nervous about the prospect of this – supreme relaxation with minimal effort? Yes please. Lying in complete darkness in a small confined space for 60 minutes? My claustrophobia is not so sure…
Nonetheless, I booked myself in for my first session this morning. I was shown to my room which consisted of two tanks and a shower, and ambient lighting. The tank looks a little like a giant plastic coffin, with a small roller hatch on the side. Awesome. I checked my claustrophobia in at the door, put on some ear plugs and lowered myself into the tank, after taking a quick shower to rinse off any essential body oils.
The tank is filled with ten inches of water heated to 35.3 degrees celcius, and is highly concentrated with epsom salts (magnesium sulphate). I’m a huge fan of epsom salt baths; I order the salts online in 11kg tubs which get delivered to my front door and I try to take one at least once weekly at home. Except the float tank is about a million times more concentrated than my home attempts, which is why they call it a float tank: as soon as I laid back on the water there was no effort required on my part to stay afloat. This was very cool. I had always wanted to swim in the Dead Sea but for now this is pretty close!
I pulled the hatch door shut and found myself in complete darkness. I closed my eyes and succumbed to the experience of the sensation of pure weightlessness. This part was easy to do. The water is pleasantly warm and there is literally nothing to do except to lay there. Easy to do, until your mind starts to take over… as a first time floater, my curious mind began to wander and it was wondering how long the scheduled sixty minute session would actually feel like. Would it feel like 10 minutes? 2 hours? Would I be bored? What am I doing here?
I had been told that music would be played to signal the end of my 1 hour session, so I didn’t have to worry about falling asleep and not waking up. As I lay there wondering how I would pass the next 49 minutes, I began to experience what might best be described as a dream state. Thoughts came and passed, yet awareness of my physical body which at first felt like I was floating on a cloud began to diminish into complete non-existence, except for moments of a random jerk of the leg or arm (sort of like when you are falling asleep in bed).
It felt like another 5 minutes had passed when I heard the music coming through the water. I stretched out in the water and slowly sat up. Time flew! Had I fallen asleep? As I exited the tank I felt like I had just come out of a deep deep meditation. My body felt super relaxed, and my mind felt clear, calm and refreshed. I felt amazing! As I left the building, everything felt brighter and clearer and I’m pretty sure I was smiling at strangers on the street like a total loony. I was just on such a high and I can not wait to do it again.
This was quite a strange post to write for me because it’s difficult to find words to describe the experience, but it was just such an awesome experience and I thoroughly recommend you give it a try. 4 hours on and I am still buzzing (if one can be buzzed on relaxation). Floaty float float. Float!
x char
Sundays are without a doubt my favourite day. Saturdays are usually preoccupied with errands and social engagements, but Sundays are my day. It’s the day where I get to indulge in a beautiful self-practice at the shala (usually accompanied by the magical sounds of Nadav Kahn) with a little sleep-in after a week of super early morning starts. It’s the day where I usually have the rest of the day to do whatever my heart desires, and in keeping with the commitment to living a lifestyle that is awesome, aware, creative and fun, I’ve resolved to make sure that I do at least one thing every Sunday that is exactly that. And what better way to commit than to blog about it, so that in some way I feel like I am being held accountable for what I’ve set out to do…
So today. No shala practice due to a practice yesterday, but after a generous lie in I headed down to my favourite growers’ market in Marrickville to meet my gorgeous friends for a chai in the autumn sun and a post Saturday night debrief, before proceeding with our produce purchases. For my friends Sally and Rommel, this is no novelty event. They live locally and have been buying their produce here on a weekly basis. Fresh fruit and veg, raw organic honey, local meats, nuts and dried fruits, organic teas, freshly baked loafs – throw in an array of delicious foodie stalls on offer and you wonder why you’d do your grocery shop anywhere else! Clothing and trinkets too if that’s more your thing, but the emphasis is mostly on food and produce here. I was reminded of how I used to savour my Sundays here before teaching yoga and ‘life’ got in the way; words can not express how ridiculously happy I am that I’ve got my Sundays back now!
It’s locally grown, seasonal, fresh and sustainable. Have a conversation with the suppliers and other happy market-goers, eat healthy wholesome foods to your belly’s content and learn more about where your food comes from. Even just being in an environment like this is enough to spark a little awareness in eating less processed food, less junk. I happily picked up my fruit, veg + nuts for the week and a healthy little mint plant that is waiting to be transferred to its new home on my kitchen window sill.
Really, if you haven’t already, why wouldn’t you?!
Chai Tent + Mint’s New Home
Image: © 2013 by Charmaine Pang. All rights reserved
My naturopath Kylie Seaton put me on to a good thing a few years ago. It was a little project called Random Acts of Awesomeness. It simply required the execution of Acts of Awesomeness on a regular basis. Now here’s the thing, your Awesome may not be my Awesome but that’s what’s precisely so awesome about it. There are no rules! You can be as inventive or as random or as spontaneous as you like. I went to get lunch the other day and ended up getting a thai massage instead. Awesome. I had friends over and baked a cake which turned out slightly burnt but they loved it anyway. Awesome. My friend Mark and I wandered way too far from the office for lunch than we should’ve solely because the vietnamese Continue reading
One other crucial shift must happen in order to facilitate the transition into full immersion in the yoga tradition. You must make the transition from a fitness oriented approach to yoga into a devotional one. By getting this subtle shift you will gain consistency and regularity in the way that you do your practice. A daily spiritual ritual where you take time to connect internally to a deep sense of yourself requires dedication. The requirement to practice six days a week is meant to develop the kind of mental, spiritual and Continue reading
Ultimate raw delight of a smoothie saves another day! Click for how-to goodness x
