New Floating Sound Bath sessions being offered at Four Seasons Resort Vail
Escape the ordinary and try a new way to deepen your connection to wellness
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail/Courtesy photo
Level up your sound bath by adding a float to the mix. Immerse yourself in relaxation and reconnection by blending a traditional sound bath with a true sense of weightlessness by floating in the pool at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail.
“At Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail, we’re always looking for thoughtful ways to deepen our guests’ connection to wellness and the natural beauty that surrounds us,” said Jenny Simonson, general manager of Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail. “Our pool provides a peaceful setting with views of Vail Mountain. The result is a uniquely calming experience that feels both restorative and distinctly Vail.”
If you’ve never tried a sound bath before, the practice utilizes sound bowls to produce gentle vibrations and resonant tones that help encourage relaxation and mindfulness. The experience invites participants to slow down, focus on the present moment and let go of the distractions of daily life.
“Many people find that the layered sounds create a sense of calm and balance, making it easier to quiet the mind and settle into a meditative state. It’s a simple yet powerful wellness practice that supports both mental and physical relaxation,” Simonson said.
Add the floating component, and now you’ve created a blissful combo.
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“There’s something incredibly peaceful about being supported by water. When guests are floating, there’s a feeling of weightlessness that naturally helps release tension from the body. When paired with the soothing tones of a sound bath, the experience becomes even more immersive,” Simonson said.
The class is led by River Norberg, an energy practitioner who works with sound, frequency and sound healing and works primarily out of Vitality in Eagle.
“A dear friend of mine, Sunny Koch, is also a practitioner here with The Spa at Four Seasons Vail, and she connected me with the spa and that’s how I got involved. By adding air mattresses and this floating sensation, we are helping you as an individual to come and simply go within. It’s this beautiful space that you get to go to if you open up your heart and you open up all your senses to become one in the float,” Norberg said.
I got to try this new offering and jumped at the chance to slow down a bit and relax. The session is held early in the morning before the pool is open to the guests. The Spa provides the air mattresses, which aren’t your typical pool air mattress, they are a bit oversized to allow plenty of space to spread out. I was given a blanket to fend against the crisp mountain morning air and got an eye mask which helps you tune out any distractions. The spa attendants helped me get on and off the air mattresses safely and without getting wet.
Once settled in, the air mattresses set sail across to pool toward the sound bowls. All throughout the session, which lasts about 45 minutes, there is a spa attendant in the water to keep everyone in the class near the sound bowls or space the air mattresses out so they are not bumping into others who are enjoying the vibes.
When I tried the floating sound bath, I was ready for anything and opened myself up to the experience. The floating sensation was so dreamy and the sound bowl vibrations literally caused a tingling sensation along my hairline mostly, and sent a few good tingles down my spine, too, which Norberg said is totally normal.
“Your body can be up to 70 to 80% water, and the water carries sound naturally and amplifies that for you so when you are on the water with the frequencies and the sounds that come through the bowls and the other instruments, it really helps your body to relax and open up,” Norberg said.
The class flew by and when it was over, it was such a neat experience to open up my eyes and see the outline of the Four Seasons Vail and the vast Colorado blue sky framing it. Vail Mountain looked so peaceful, too. It was like I was experiencing Vail in a whole new way. I would recommend it and it sounds like others would, too. So far, the feedback has been very positive.
“Guests and locals alike have embraced the opportunity to experience wellness in such a unique environment,” Simonson said. “Everyone is surrounded by fresh mountain air, the gentle movement of the water and the sounds of the bowls, creating a multi-sensory experience that is both grounding and uplifting. It’s an opportunity to truly disconnect from everyday stress and reconnect with yourself.”
“I had people say, ‘I haven’t been this relaxed in 18 months,’ and, ‘It was just so nice to relax and just float,’ and I’ve also heard, ‘I took a nap,’ and that’s OK. If you fall asleep you still receive, and that’s important for your body to rejuvenate, to replenish, to recuperate,” Norberg said.
The Floating Sound Bath classes are open to hotel guests and the public. The resort plans to host them through September. For the most up-to-date pricing and reservations, visit fourseasons.com/vail/spa/ or contact the resort directly.
