Floatation therapy is the act of floating on your back in 13 inches of a warm saltwater solution, in a lightproof and soundproof chamber. Free from external stimulation and gravity, your body and mind quickly reach a state of relaxation and meditation. Many people float to relieve pain, experience deep rest, to meditate, or to find creative inspiration. Created at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA, Esalen Massage was designed to give the client a sense of deep relaxation and integration of body, mind, and spirit. Each massage is customized to meet your personal needs in the moment. When receiving an Esalen Massage you can expect to receive long flowing strokes that travel from the top of your body all the way down, and back up again. The pressure will vary as your body relaxes and opens to the touch, but will always be full handed and very contactful. The practitioner moves slowly, listening to your body’s response to the touch. Once your muscles begin to warm up and relax, the practitioner will begin to use techniques to move into those deeper muscles of the body, and help to bring your awareness to tension and holding patterns. A variety of techniques may be used such as rocking, passive joint movement, stretching, deep tissue, acupressure, cranialsacral therapy, or energy work. The intention of the massage practitioner is to continue to invite and coax the body into a deeper state of relaxation, more breath, and more awareness.
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The History of Asheville
Before European settlement, Asheville was part of the Cherokee Nation. Bearing the name Untokiasdiyi, meaning “Where they race,” the Cherokee people used the area as a gathering place.
Settlement didn’t occur until after the Revolutionary War, in 1784, when Colonel Samuel Davidson and his family arrived, claiming land through a soldier’s grant. The settlement, initially named “Morristown,” was later renamed Asheville in honor of North Carolina Governor Samuel Ashe.
Asheville became an important outpost in the Blue Ridge Mountains, attracting famous travelers like Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. The city flourished during the railway boom into the 1920s but faced a significant setback during the stock market crash of 1929. However, thanks to a committed urban renewal plan and efforts to maintain the city’s charm, Asheville transformed into the vibrant culture hub it is today.