Lindsay Kramer, owner of It’s Worth It Massage and Wellness Studio, added a float tank to her business and changed its name to reflect the new services, which includes a float tank, far infrared sauna and retail space, according to a press release.

While floating — also called restricted environmental stimulation therapy, sensory deprivation tank or flotation tank — has been around for decades, it has become more popular in recent years, the release states.

“I tried floating last year on my birthday and it was such a great experience that I started thinking about how we could bring it to Albert Lea,” Kramer said. “With all our kids, running a business and everything else going on in life, the stress adds up, but I felt so relaxed for almost a week after the float that I knew there was something to it that could help others.”

A float tank is a large tub with a cover and is filled with an Epsom salt solution that is kept at around 95 degrees. The Epsom salt is kept at about 30 percent — compared to 3 percent salt in the ocean — so you are extremely buoyant.

The combination of floating in the warm solution and the serenity due to no light or sound enables your body to relax in a way that most people normally cannot, the release states.

“We had our grand opening for the new service over Small Business Saturday in November, and many people have tried it,” Kramer said. “While most people express anxiety or apprehension because it’s something new and the idea of climbing into an enclosed tank is scary, almost every client has come out with some variation of ‘Wow. That was amazing.’”

In addition to the float tank, the studio now has an infrared sauna which is used for relaxation, helping to heal injuries and to loosen muscles before clients have their massage, as well as many other health benefits that studies are finding.

It’s Worth It Massage and Wellness Studio is in the Freeborn County Arts Initiative Building at 224 S. Broadway in Albert Lea, but has moved to a larger space at the front of the building with dedicated street access. The studio is open by appointment and online booking and gift certificates are available online at www.worthitmassage.com or by contacting Kramer at 507-369-6086. You can also find out more on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ItsWorthItMassageStudio.