Meditative Yoga Float: Starry Skies and Sound Bowls
Updated: Sep 2
Close your eyes.
Trust me. You'll want to do this.
Close you eyes….and imagine yourself floating on a giant raft in a quiet place listening to sound bowls being played by one of your favorite yoga instructors (although they are all my favorites) as a beach breeze without the humidity gently rocks your float and makes you think of being in one of your favorite places.
You are relaxed, guided to breathe and reminded to just let yourself BE.
This Aquarius girl was in yoga heaven. Water. Yoga. Sound bowls. Life Time. Quiet. A beautiful sunset.
You can open your eyes now. (easier to read)
If you are wondering, I was in the outdoor pool at Life Time in Ellisville at a Meditative Float Series program and Margie Koch was the yoga instructor.
We were lucky to have yoga instructors Ulrikke, Sarah Chatterton and Sarah's family including her husband David and her kids Winn and Beatrix helping us. Sweet Beatrix is below!
Sarah explained what to expect, instructing us on how to get onto the floats and then they along with the lifeguards helped us embark onto the floats and stay dry. They had a system which worked great. Setting up on the edge of the pool we sat down and then moved onto the float as they held it still and then a lifeguard guided the float into the pool. They would remain in the pool to make sure the floats didn’t bump into each other. You might ask why they needed to be in the pool. Not only for safety reasons, but also because the floats really did collide!
If you are wondering, the floats are sturdy enough that once on them and settled, you don’t feel as if you might fall off. They are also wide enough and long enough so that you can relax into the float.
As they helped me onto the float, I took a big breath, smiled for a photo and relaxed as I was guided to float into the pool. The sun was still out and the breeze was immediate. It was a Sunday night, the end of a long week or the beginning of a new one whichever way you wanted to think. I thought both: What a relaxing way to finish my week and what a way to start my week-floating, meditating, being on the water as the sun set. Listening to Margie play the sound bowls.
After everyone was on their floats, Margie gently guided us into a yoga state of breathing and thinking as she began to play the sound bowls. It was very quiet, quieter than I’ve ever experienced at the pool-so quiet you could hear the birds above and the traffic on Clarkson Road.
I closed my eyes and could feel my entire body relax into the float. I immediately knew I could trust the lifeguards and Sarah and her family to keep us safe in the water.
At first the sound bowls surprised me, though I’ve been to yoga classes with sound bowls before. As I listened to Margie guide us into the breathing and the meditation, the sound bowls became part of the environment, almost a background. They seemed to follow our breathing, and the breeze.
Margie suggested we pay attention to our breathing and to then simply let our minds think what they may. With this freedom I didn’t think about what I needed to do the next day or even the next week. I didn’t think about those lists I left at home. I didn’t think about the work I needed to do. She encouraged us to give ourselves permission to BE in the moment. I decided to do just that.
I could feel myself melting into the float. I could feel my mind relaxing to the rhythm of the sound bowls. I could feel my breathing steady. And then I let go. (I am very good at letting go….)
It felt like I was on the ocean floating in the most beautiful water and place I’ve ever been. I could feel the ocean breeze, I felt the water beneath the float, and I felt how happy and relaxed I was. I actually noticed this.
I felt happy.
The kind of happy that doesn’t come in the form of another person, chocolate or money. The kind of happy that energizes you. The kind of happy that is light and freeing. The kind of happy that only you can feel deep inside your soul. The kind of happy that feels so good. The kind of happy that sets you free.
This happy, relaxed space lasted for what felt like was a very long time.
And then Margie gently and kindly brought us back. She continued playing the sound bowls as she talked us back into reality. Her voice was kind and low as she eased us back into the present moment.
I don’t know about anybody else-but I kept floating and followed the lead as the lifeguards and Sarah and her family eased us into the shallow end of the pool to disembark.
Do I have to?
Do I really have to give up this float?
I felt so happy and free…. and wanted to take this feeling with me into everyday life. I’m thinking this is why the mediative float under the sun and stars appealed to me. (that and how cool is this?) I possibly knew that if given the opportunity this would be something that would be healing for me.
Slowly we were all on the pool deck hugging Margie and thanking her and Sarah, David, Winn and Beatrix and the lifeguards. It took a minute for me to get my land legs. Margie suggested we write down what we thought about while we were meditating and I smiled. “Margie, I was floating in the ocean near a beach, and it was lovely! And... I felt free and happy."
As I headed home, I continued to think about how relaxed I felt. And how amazing this meditative yoga float was. Not only is it a good idea-and something very special-I was able to meet the opportunity presented.
Driving home, I saw a planet sparkling in the southwest sky and once home, I walked out to see who it was. Across the street was a fawn, she wasn’t young and she wasn’t old-maybe an adolescent. She looked at me and I assured her I was just checking out the planet. She waited while I looked through NightSky to confirm that the planet was Venus. She didn’t seem that interested but she didn’t run away.
Venus—the brightest celestial body after the Moon—embodies the sacred feminine. Spiritually, catching a glimpse of Venus is an invitation to slow down, practice self-care, and embrace emotional intelligence. It encourages you to lead with gratitude, open your heart, and find joy in the experiences of life. (according to google)
Think what you will, but I loved that Venus was part of this experience. And I decided to accept the invitation to slow down...lead with gratitude and an open heart and continue to find joy in every experience.
That night I slept for 8 hours. I didn’t wake up at all until morning!
I’m taking that light and freeing happy with me. Everywhere I go and with everything I do.
Thank you, Margie for this amazing experience.
Thank you to Sarah and David, Winn and Beatrix, Ulrikke, the lifeguards and Life Time for the teamwork to make this happen in such a positive space. Oh and thank you Venus.
Photo credit and a huge thank you to Emily Sperry, Margie's good friend for the photos.
Thank you to Lauren Ahern front desk concierge at Life Time in Ellisville. After reading about this program on social media she brought the idea to the yoga team, and through a collaborative effort and continual brainstorming, the team made it happen.
Special thanks to Sarah Chatterton, yoga lead. She was part of the collaborative team behind the meditative float series coordinating much of the efforts. Because of Sarah's leadership efforts, she ensured the series was a success. Sarah coordinated the workshop dates with the instructors, helped with advertising and recruited volunteers. She also connected with the instructors each week before the program reviewing the process as each meditative float lent feedback for continually making it better and more enjoyable. On the days of the meditative float, Sarah kept everyone organized, making sure each person (staff and volunteer) knew who was responsible for what tasks. According to the instructors, it was Sarah who helped everything run smoothly. Namaste Sarah!
Expect Good. Defy Gravity! Sparkle On. Floating to free.
For more St. Louis Girl Storytelling blogs and St. Louis Girl Podcasts and Interviews and to find out how I empower people to discover and use their voice through storytelling:
Life Time Fitness: lifetime.life
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