What’s the New Adventure this Month?

Some months I struggle to find something new to do; other months, like March and April 2019, were full of new adventures.

My new experiences started when I found Neuro Fitness Wellness Center on the edge of Ann Arbor, through Groupon. Located in an unassuming strip mall, I did not know what to expect. You enter a sleek, clean, quite center that makes you forget about everything happening outside. My services started with a 60-minute floatation therapy session. Floatation therapy is a zero-gravity experience that allows your mind and body to relax. After a shower to remove the oils and perfumes from your skin, you enter either a floatation pod or WAVE float room (I tried the pod), filled with near skin temperature water and over 800 pounds of Epson salt to create a weightlessness experience. You can choose to float with lights and music on or off. Since I was in the pod with the lid closed, I started with the lights and gentle music playing. About half way through the session (or what I perceived as half way through the session), I switched the light and the music off and just spent time being.   At the end of the session, I was surprised I was able to turn my mind off and even more surprised how energized I felt! I can’t wait to go back and do this again.

Once out the floatation pod and after a quick shower, I was off to my haleotherapy or salt therapy treatment. This century-old practice has been touted to relieve respiratory illness, improve skin and strengthen immune systems. Since I do not have any of these issues, I was skeptical if I would recognize any benefits. The salt therapy room was quite small, but the chairs were comfortable, so I settled in for my 30-minute session while a halogenerator diffused salt into the air. Within minutes, my skin seemed more alive (it made me think back to vacations by an ocean) and my airways opened. It was a great way to end the floatation therapy and gave me time to contemplate the experience I just had.

The March adventures continued with a trip to the Rage Room in Whitmore Lake (see my blog, “Let’s Rage” from March 16, 2019 https://adventuresinbucketlisting.com/2019/03/16/lets-rage/ ), for a full recap of that unique experience. What a great way to let off a little steam!

And to finish off the month, it was time to try the fish pedicure (see my blog, “Swimming with the Fishes” from April 2, 2019 https://adventuresinbucketlisting.com/2019/04/02/swimming-with-the-fishes/ ). This might have been in the top 3 best things of the vacation for my daughter.

April found me back at Neuro Fitness to try cryotherapy. After dressing in a robe, socks, booties and gloves, I climbed into the tube. The attendant stayed during the treatment to ensure I did not have any problems. After choosing the medium temperature (-165 F, -185 F or -210 F), I was ready to go.  A three-minute therapy does not sound like a long time until you factor in the cold. It felt like an eternity! But I felt energized and “alive” when I was done!

A friend invited me to the studio where she works out to try gyrotonics. Knowing nothing about it, I did some research before going. Gyrotonics is touted as a movement method that addresses the entire person by opening energy pathways, stimulating the nervous system, increasing range of motion, and improving strength and movement efficiency.  Would it be like Pilates? Yoga? Maybe a combination of both?

I went into this session with an open mind and was pleasantly surprised. It was a low impact session that worked my core and made me felt straighter, taller and looser when I was done. I think it’s an excellent addition to mix up a workout routine.

What a fun couple of months — lots of new experiences, locally and on vacation. There is adventure all around — stay tuned for what happened in May!