PEORIA MAGAZINE January 2023

p ounds of Epsom salts are dissolved in 12 inches of water, making the water dense in nutrients like magnesium. The body is so buoyant that it takes effort not to float, and there is no pressure on the hips or joints. Ultraviolet lights and hydrogen peroxide work with the salt to keep the roomclean. Ozone is pumped in to allow for comfortable breathingwithminimal chemicals. Salinity and ph are checked daily. The water goes through three filtration cycles after every float session. "It's all computerized. I don't have to go in there to tell you it's time to come out. There are lights that come on. Also, there's an intercom out to the front desk. If you have an issue, you can contact me. If I have an issue, I can contact you. And nobody has to enter." A DIVERSE CLIENTELE Bell's float clients range fromathletes looking for injury recovery to moms looking for relaxation. Regular visitors have told Bell that the float suite helps them sleep better even days after a session. "I've had a couple of people get into a really deep sleep in the tank,” Bell said. “That's what it's all about. Checking out from the world, getting away fromnoise pollution, sound pollution, all those sorts of things." The mental benefits of floating are well documented. In a 2016 study, pro athletes said f loating helped them recover psychologically from intense training. The European Journal of Integrative Medicine reported in 2014 that creative people find that floating increases imagination, focus and precision. One 60-minute float session can reduce generalized anxiety disorder symptoms like stress, depression, fatigue and sleep difficulties. Alec Hagaman, captain of the Peoria Rivermen hockey team, said he first decided to use the float tank on the recommendation of teammates. "A few of the guys said afterward the body is just really refreshed and they got the best sleep of their life,” he said. “It was the end of the year and my body

The flotation tank at Stress Busters Massage and Float Suite in Morton Photo by Ron Johnson

can cause problems while floating. He suggests avoiding caffeine for a few hours and having a small snack before floating to prevent jitters. Anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol is not allowed into the float suite, he said. ‘MY BODY WAS PRETTY WORN DOWN. IT WAS SO NICE TO GET IN THERE ... AND JUST RELAX’ — Rivermen hockey player Stress Busters offers the float room as a standalone service, but some people choose to add a massage. Bell emphasized that Stress Busters focuses on therapeutic massage instead of spa service. "We're not a fufu massage," he said, laughing. "We're here to relieve stress and eliminate anxiety and things we all suffer from.Weworkwith chiropractors, trainers, athletes and soccer moms. I just like to help people feel better." For more information on floating or to schedule a session, go to https:// floatmorton.com/.

was pretty worn down. It was so nice and peaceful to get in there and be alone with your own thoughts and just relax. Playing hockey, with all the travel, you don't get the best sleep. It was just really refreshing." That doesn’t even touch on the physi cal benefits, such as lower cortisol levels and the removal of lactic acid. Floating can ease the symptoms of tension head aches, chronic pain and nerve issues. Rivermen forward Tyler Barrow testified that time in the tank “greatly helps with my recovery” during a long, bruising season. Bell relateshowtheanti-inflammatory benefits of the suite helped another local hockey player with a swollen face and a black eye. "He floated and came back out, and I happened to catch him in the lobby. I had to do a double-take,” said Bell. “It pulled all the inflammation out of his face, and his eye looked 80%better. Even though the water only comes up to mid-cheek, within a week, his black eye was gone." Despite the benefits, Bell says float therapy isn't for everyone. Some people find it too quiet. Anyone who gets overwhelmed can leave the suite at any time. Bell also notes that skin irritations -- cuts, sunburns, or fresh tattoos --

Laurie Pillman is an author and freelance writer/editor, based in Peoria

JANUARY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE 41