Marc West plunges in to take the January detox to a new level

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Are you sticking to them so far?

After the sheer indulgence of the festive season I’m now resigned to a healthier (and hopefully happier) regime for 2015.

Many people opt to detox throughout Dry January and having done this a few times before I wanted to take things one step further this time around.

Among the hustle and bustle of the busy Cowley Road, I’ve (finally) discovered a petite oasis of calm that offers a selection of natural health treatments to help me on my merry way.

Now, I’ll admit here and now, until recently I was rather skeptical of alternative therapies – choosing instead to put my faith in traditional medicine.

However, many of these practices have been used around the globe for centuries, so it’s probably about time we all opened our eyes in the West and finally embraced this culture to truly reap the benefits.

In a world focused on speeding into the future, some much-needed time out offers a rare opportunity to change the pace and slow things down momentarily to allow body, mind and soul to reset. On this note, I was recommended to undertake a flotation session – and it was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before!

I stepped into the tank and closed the door behind me. As in the Dead Sea, the body is completely supported by water saturated with salts and the sensation of weightlessness is liberating. Initially, my body felt quite tense and my mind was whirring.

But, as I gently laid back and spread out into a starfish shape, I started to relax and instead concentrated on my slowing heartbeat and long deep breath – while the cold outside world slipped further and further away with each passing minute of the hour.

The unusual surroundings of complete darkness and blissful silence can be unnerving at first, but soon my state became deeply meditative, spiritual even. Reverting to a womb-like existence where time and space become almost irrelevant, I started to lose sight of where my body ended and the water began.

Obviously, not everything works for everyone all the time. But, once you’ve found the right treatment for you the range of benefits can be astounding – life changing even.

Flotation balances the production and elimination of stress-induced chemicals and can be helpful during times of pain, fatigue and stress. I certainly left with a sense of clarity and focus in addition to my skin feeling beautifully smooth and clear.

Eau de Vie at 34 Cowley Road is the ultimate place to unwind, relax and restore – having the only flotation tank in Oxfordshire.

The welcoming and professional team offers a totally holistic and tailored approach to treating your needs – all served up with a friendly smile and a nice cup of vanilla chai tea.

An hour’s session like mine costs £43 – or only £35 if booked alongside another treatment. There are also courses running throughout the year to maintain your well-being – such as Restorative Yoga and Mindful Movement on February 20.

Visit eau-de-vie.co.uk for more details

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