BALANCE

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BALANCE Transformative EXPERIENCE

Between work, life’s stresses, and constant connectivity, our brains could use a little quiet time. Destiny Beck and her husband, Matt, found the solution several years ago with floatation therapy, which Destiny calls a “powerful stress-relief and wellness tool.” The idea is to float in silence and darkness in a tank filled with more than 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt. When dispersed in skin-temperature water (94 degrees Fahrenheit), the salt creates a weightless environment that encourages a deeply relaxing state of mind.

In 2017, the Becks opened their first Float8 location in Deerfield Beach. This past fall, they introduced a second outpost in Fort Lauderdale. “Floating helped us feel more focused and productive, so we decided to switch gears in our professional lives and open a float center in order to make floating more accessible for our community,” Destiny says.

For people trying to manage anxiety or chronic pain, Destiny recommends floating once a week for six to eight weeks. “Just like going to the gym or a yoga studio, floating has a cumulative effect and may require a few visits to fully let go,” she says. “We have members that float almost every day and others that float once per month.” (float8ion.com)

FLOAT ON

Want to learn more about the benefits of floating? We highlight a few here: l Magnesium. Many of us are deficient in magnesium. Given the amount of Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) in the water, the element is easily absorbed in the skin. “Magnesium is involved with many of our bodily functions, including detoxification, and is crucial to more than 300 enzyme-driven biochemical reactions occurring in the body,” explains Destiny. It may also “prevent cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, and relieve menopause and PMS symptoms,” she says. l Deep relaxation. During a float, the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, which slows the heart rate, helping us to relax. This therapy lowers blood pressure and the stress-causing hormone cortisol.

Mood booster. “A one-hour session can cause a significant reduction in anxiety and an improvement in mood in individuals with stress- or anxiety-related illnesses,” notes Destiny, citing the increase in our “happy hormones” of dopamine and serotonin.

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OPENINGS

SALON 2.0

Take your trip to the salon to the next level with a visit to Peacock’s BarberSalon & Drinks. Now open at the trendy Society Las Olas in downtown Fort Lauderdale, the full-service hair and nail salon features women’s cuts, color, styles, and blowouts, as well as men’s cuts and shaves. Services also include teeth whitening and brow shaping and tinting. The experience is elevated with the addition of a built-in coffee shop and bar serving beer and wine.

Creating a neighborhood spot was the goal, says owner Lee Garipoli, who is also the founder of ManKind Grooming & Services with locations in Fort Lauderdale and Coral Gables. “From owning ManKind, which is exclusively for men, for the past 16 years, it was clear that something similar with women in mind was also needed and still did not exist,” shares Garipoli. “Our experience is distinctively different, designed to feel more like a bar

CORY ABBONDANDOLO

CYNTHIA OTTUSO

or lounge, with our services built into the atmosphere.” (instagram.com/ peacocksbarbersalon)