Page 99 - Flathead Living // Spring 2015

so patients could focus on relaxing their bodies.
Gardner believes the decrease in his back pain came from free floating, with- out even his body weight pressure on his back, like he would have if he were lying on a bed.
“When you’re in the tank, you don’t get any of that,” Gardner said. “Your body, every muscle, is able to completely shut off.”
In such a state, the body can make eas- ier repairs, he said, speeding up recovery time. Now, Gardner spends 90 minutes each week in the pod, and his back pain doesn’t come back to full force for about four days after a session.
Along with the physical relaxation comes a mental rest as well. Meditation is a popular use for the pod, because a per- son can choose to be completely deprived of distractions, with earplugs, no light, and no movement.
“You’re sort of forced to go into medi- tation when you’re in there,” he said.
Clients can bring in music to accom- pany their float, or guided meditations, but many, like Gardner, prefer the silence. Quieting the mind, being truly still, and experiencing weightlessness can be transformative.
“It can be an extremely emotional experience,” Gardner said.
Gardner is now considering adding a second pod to his Whitefish location, but he is also considering branching out to add a Missoula location. Already, flota- tion enthusiasts from Missoula drive up in groups to use his tank, he said.
Floating for an hour costs less than a typical hour-long massage, clocking in at $45; 90 minutes costs $55, and two hours is $65.
His current client base consists of floaters ranging in age from 12 to 84, and most of them schedule appointments online. Now that he has a new employee and regular hours, Gardner hopes to introduce more people to the power of truly letting go of life’s distractions and focusing on themselves.
“That’s why I’m here,” he said. “It’s been a life-changer for me.”
For more information, visit www.iso- floatcenter.com or call 406-871-2370. FL
SPRING 2015 | FLATHEAD LIVING 97