Kelli Wolf passed on her first chance to try a float therapy session.
“I thought it was weird. I’m not doing that,” Wolf recalls saying, after her husband Joey suggested they try the unconventional therapy on a trip to western NC.
But after Joey’s first-ever float session, Kelli noticed an immediate change.
“I could see the calmness in his face and body. I had instant regret,” she says.
Kelli Wolf, The Float Spa Owner
At that time, the only float spa in the state was in Asheville, so Wolf had to wait three years before the opportunity came around to experience a float for herself.
“It took a long time to settle in, but I could not believe how I felt when I got out,” she says. “I could not believe something so simple could make me feel so great.”
Kelli and Joey now own The Float Spa Holly Springs, located on Werrington Drive near Tapline Craft Beer and Wine Bar and Swoon Boutique.
“I wanted to provide a place where (residents) can put it all down and take time out for self-care,” says Wolf. “I want to help people the way I was helped.”
Sessions at The Float Spa can be 30, 60, or 90 minutes. Each float pool has a private room with shower, dressing area, and individually controlled music and lights.
“It’s just water and salt — 1,000 pounds of medical-grade Epsom salt — in each tank.”
“There are many reasons people come: pain relief, stress and anxiety relief, and much deeper things, too,” Wolf says.
Sensory deprivation floats are reported to assist in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and high blood pressure.
“There are endless benefits,” Wolf says — improved sleep and enhanced focus, creativity, and athletic ability among them.
But for many, it’s a practice that takes … well, practice.
“I tell first-timers that the first float is exploratory. You may not get zenned out right away; it takes time to get adjusted. Have fun,” Wolf says.
“There are physical benefits even if the mental relief is harder to settle into,” says Danielle Jones, a massage therapist at The Float Spa. “The magnesium in the salt is awesome for stress relief and muscle repair. (Floating) is a gentle way to take the pressure off the body.”
By the third float session, many clients find mental quiet and never look back.
“I’m not good at relaxing,” says Jones. “After my third float, I needed to call an Uber afterward. I felt a deep sense of relaxation for hours after.”
As a massage therapist, Jones adds, “A lot of pain relief and relaxation therapies are hands-on. This is a good option for people who may not want to be touched.”
As the holidays wane and the new year approaches, many recommit to health and wellness practices.
Wolf says float therapy provides a valuable and natural transition away from holiday clamor into post-celebration calm.
“I always book a float for the day after Christmas. The holidays are full of sensory overload, family dynamics, unhealthy food, feeling tired and sluggish. Now it’s time for self-reflection, to reinvest in me,” she says.
The Float Spa Holly Springs welcomed Main & Broad Social Media Coordinator Arlem Mora for her first float therapy session in October. Mora reports back on her experience.
Arlem Mora, M&B social media coordinator, tries float therapy for the first time.
M&B: Before your float session, were you experiencing any stress, tension, or pain?
Mora: Yes, life is busy right now. I can’t slow down. Plus, the morning of my appointment, I had an intense boxing session. I walked into the float session feeling sore.
M&B: How did you feel afterward?
Mora: Immediately after exiting the float tank, I felt light and had a clear mind. When I went to sleep that day, I fell asleep very fast (for me, falling asleep fast is difficult). The next day, when I woke, I felt stress free and energetic, and had no more stiff muscles. Yay!
M&B: What was going through your mind during the experience?
Mora: At first, all I could think about was how I was going to relax. It was my first time, and I was very excited. I did a couple of deep breathing exercises; I started letting my body feel the water. I let go of anxiousness, and I decided to turn off the light. I closed my eyes and fell asleep!
M&B: Were you eventually able to relax and clear your head?
Mora: Yes! Every muscle in my body felt relaxed. I’ve never felt like this, not even with massages.
M&B: What details can you share with readers to help them prepare?
Mora: Follow all the recommended tips on The Float Spa website before floating. It’s very safe and a must-try.
M&B: Did you like the facility?
Mora: Yes, from the moment I stepped in. The facility is very clean, smells so good, and the staff is welcoming.
M&B: Did they make you feel comfortable?
Mora: Yes! I had a complete orientation. The owner showed me the facility and walked me over to the tank where I would have my float. She explained how everything works and gave me some useful tips to enjoy the experience more.
M&B: Would you go again, and would you recommend it to others?
Mora: I am already checking The Float Spa Holly Springs packages. I can’t wait to go back!
In addition to float therapy, The Float Spa Holly Springs offers massage and Reiki. Wolf hopes to one day expand into a full wellness center with other unique therapies such as a salt room, infrared sauna, and cold-plunge pool.
The Float Spa Holly Springs
1505 Werrington Drive, Holly Springs
(919) 891-4060
floatspaxwellness.com/holly-springs-nc
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I am so excited to try the float therapy. Can’t believe you can actually fall asleep. I take it that the salt is allowing you to float without being conscious. I suffer from anxiety and nerve pain also I have chronic Rheumatoid arthritis. This is a must try!