Harvest Moon – Inner city Escapism

At last it is possible to escape from the stresses of the city right in the heart of the D2 business centre. Harvest Moon, hidden in a basement next to Maguire’s on Baggot Street, is passed every day by hundreds of busy business people but I wonder how many stop to look at the bright yellow logo or to wonder what oasis of calm can be found within?

Harvest Moon is that rare breed of alternative premises that can survive very well within a business community. Its clientele, from the short time that I waited for my treatments, were a mixture of business people and more relaxed types. I certainly did not feel out of place in my suit and walking into the building found the staff very attentive and welcoming.

My first port of call was a full body holistic massage. I was greeted by the masseuse, Britney from California, and shown into the treatment room. Warm and snug, with creative paintings on the deep blue painted walls, the room was very comfortable. Soothing music completed the picture and I felt relaxed already.

I had been asked prior if I had a preference for male or female masseuse and had opted for female. In any case, the house style seems to be very relaxed and unobtrusive, and I don’t think I would have felt uncomfortable with either. Certainly, what made the massage so relaxing was the minimal conversation. An hour and a half later and I wondered where the time had gone. There were points during the massage when I felt very sleepy and others when I felt very awake; notably when Britney discovered stress bumps in my shoulder blades. These are now, I am told, gone!

After stumbling blearily from the treatment room, I felt totally relaxed. However, my next step was the floation tank. Harvest Moon is the only well being centre in Ireland with a floation tank. I had read about floation tanks in a number of Sunday papers and, to honest, had slightly mixed feelings.

Peter Kane, the proprietor, soon put these to rest. He assured me that there was a light inside the tank which I could control, that I would not sink, that there was enough Epson salt in the water to suspend about ten people (twice as much as the Dead Sea) and that it would be very relaxing. ‘As near to deep mediation without the effort’ was how he described it.

The tank itself has a door at one end with the light at the far end. People must shower before entering and insert ear plugs. This is not compulsory but otherwise the water may stay in your ear, as in swimming underwater. Also, if you have any cuts, you are advised to use the Vaseline provided to protect them from stinging with the salt. Finally, he advised not to touch your face during the hour as the saline solution might sting your eyes.

Thus prepared, I showered and entered the tank. Closing the door behind me, I lay back in the water and turned off the light. For the first few minutes all I could hear was my breathing. I was suspended but found my neck hurting. I moved my arms this way and that before realising that it was my neck that was tense. So, I pushed my head further back in the water, trusting it to hold me, and the pain disappeared.

The next illumination came when I suddenly twitched. To my surprise I realised that I had been asleep and had suddenly woken up. This greatly reassured me that I had not sunk or panicked or rolled while asleep.

The next hour flashed by. I cannot say for sure how much I slept but Peter had to bang on the door twice to wake me up! It is quite normal for people to move in and out of sleep, such is the feeling of peacefulness that the tank engenders. I quickly showered and when I joined the busy people back up on Baggot Street, I felt quite strange. And pitied the poor stressed workers rushing past this little oasis of calm.

Would I go again? Would I heck. I booked already