The renegades of float; Brothers Andy and Mike Zaremba pioneered the modern sensory deprivation tank movement when they launched Float House in Gastown in 2013. The float scene has since exploded and they have continued to be on the forefront growing to locations in Kitsilano, Langley, Surrey, Victoria and Edmonton. Beyond floating, these brothers are community creators and constant seekers of conscious evolution... to the point that they created one of Vancouver's top podcasts aptly named Vancouver Real where they constantly expanding perspectives with a variety of thought leaders and industry makers from Gabor Maté to Wim Hoff to Meghan Currie. We sat down with Mike and Andy to chat their Best of the Best:
(Andy left, Mike right)
Daily Breakfast:
Mike: I always wake up and I squeeze some lemon and have some lemon water and then I’ll meditate for 20-30 minutes. I sit and breathe…more of a Vipassana style but I switch it up by the day. Lots of breathe awareness.
On the go Snack:
Andy: My go to is a bar that is just on the verge of being released, called The Grind Bar. It’s a CBD energy bar…amazing for focus, for calming and for energy. It also greatly reduces pain and inflammation.
How do you Supplement your diet:
Andy: Multivitamin and I switch up my variety. I take them as I feel that there’s so much that I could be missing if I don’t take them. We don’t necessarily know the nutrient density of the food we’re eating anymore. It helps me cover the spectrum of what my body needs. I take BCAA’s after a workout to help cover the protein spectrum and I also use Onnit Alpha Brain for cognitive function.
Mike: Brain Evolve. Basically, it’s an all-natural nootropic designed towards concussions and brain injuries. It’s the first concussion treatment supplement you can take. It helps with inflammation and you take it at night for a recovery agent.
Can’t live without:
Mike: My meditation. When I meditate. I’m one step ahead of the day, when I don’t, I’m one step behind. There’s a lot of spontaneity in my day and meditation keeps me more equipped for whatever the day brings.
Andy: Feeding my brain knowledge. Taking in as much as I can. I always have a podcast or audiobook on in the background. I’m always consuming information. Social sciences and personal development stuff. The brain is like a dot connecting machine. The more dots that you gather info for, the more connections you make. Dr. Jordan Petersen is a guy I’m really into right now. He’s a different flavour of phycology. Then I’ll contrast that with a little Ram Dass.
Top Podcasts/ Essential Listening:
Mike: Psychedelic Salon (#497 Bernardo Kastrop, #477 Matthew Souther)
Andy: Joe Rogan (#946 Denis Mackenna and Dr. Jordan Petersen), London Real, Sam Harris ( #71 what is technology doing to us, Tristan Harris), You are not So Smart (#91 Learned Helplessness), ReWild Yourself.
What does balance look like:
Mike: Balance is Being in this world and culture and fulfilling those needs while also exploring the beyond, into the potential of who, what and where we are. Having one foot in order while the other is in chaos...think of the Yin-Yang, of order and chaos.
The next big wellness trend is:
Mike: Not sure how BIG it will be, but what I feel is absolutely critical is bringing in and recognizing ritual and ceremonies that are authentic and not commercialized. I believe humans are hardwired to participate in various rituals with clear intention. There seems to me to be a wholistic nature to wellness one gets from bringing in conscious rituals into their life.
Andy: Cannabis and psychedelic medicines. This is more medical then a health trend but could potentially be a big breakthrough with mental health and psychiatry.
Your Hero(s):
Mike: Don Howard Lawler, Shaman & Founder of the Spirit Quest Sanctuary in Iquitos, Peru.
Andy: My daughter. She’s been through a lot since the moment she was born. Whenever I feel like I’m having a bad day, I just think back to what she went through and I realize I have nothing to complain about.
Best Advice you’ve ever received:
Andy: Take on as much responsibility as you can. Life is short. We are here for a finite time, so you might as well challenge yourself. Do something extremely difficult and you will be rewarded in spades. It’s the Heroes Journey; move towards the things that scare you. Slay your inner dragons and you’ll be rewarded by the treasures that those dragons guard.
Best song to float too:
Mike: anything by Snatam Kaur.
Debunking any Floating myths:
Mike: claustrophobia is a common apprehension but it is very easily conquerable. Lots of people won’t try it because they think they can't when actually they’re in complete control and you can get out whenever you want. It’s a very valuable skill to learn how to empower yourself. It’s a mental projection that many people seem to put onto it before trying floating.
Andy: Once you can get over a fear, it empowers you to tackle your fears vs. hiding them. That’s the empowerment. Instead of sheltering your fears, tackling them head on… within reason. Also, in regards to floating…its not a bucket list thing…you won't experience the benefits if you go once, but if you make it part of your regular routine and you stick with it, it becomes very powerful as you notice yourself gaining control over your own mind. You can gain control over your own thinking. The point is, it’s not a one-off experience. It’s a practice to see the benefits.
Top Guilty Pleasure:
Mike: Fried foods. Streaming Survivor.
Andy: Craft beer
Books that left a mark on you:
Mike: Anatomy of the Spirit and A New Earth.
Andy: Meeting the Shadow.
Top Documentary:
Andy: Zeitgiest. It makes you question. It’s paradigm shifting
Mike: Culture High. Government focused on how they claim to have our best interests but don’t. Also worth watching, a CBC doc called Jungle Prescription.
If you had a super power for 1 day:
Mike: I would give everyone on Earth an overwhelming, undeniable mystical experience to show them all viscerally without a shadow of a doubt that we are all One.
Top Travel Spots:
Mike: Peru. India. Sri Lanka.
Best spot for Dinner:
Mike: Alibi Room, in Railtown.
Andy: Samurai Sushi (Howe and Davie)
Go to Juice or Smoothie:
Mike: the Greener the better for me! My home-made regular smoothie is: spinach, cucumber, fresh ginger, fresh turmeric, coconut oil, hemp hearts, celery, pear, raspberry, blueberries, lemon juice, and water!
Andy: Juice Truck of course!
What’s the future of your podcast?
Andy: To become a hub of information to inspire people to lead the best life possible.
What’s the future of floating?
Mike: I see floating as an intimate part of a holistic health and wellness lifestyle. It dramatically, and naturally, affects our central nervous system in a very calming & cleansing way. In a day and age with evermore stimuli, especially within an urban environment, I see floating as a way to disconnect from everything externally to reconnect internally. I see floating as a way to introduce Western culture to the inner realms in a very powerful way, much more readily and tangible than yoga and meditation. Floating introduces Stillness and Being unlike anything else without consuming anything. The environment is the medicine.
Your Current Mantra:
Mike: “I can keep my light, and have abundance too.” Meaning I can stay connected with Spirit whilst having a great life, materially speaking. I am saying this mantra as of now to try and reprogram an old belief pattern that I may carry.
Andy: Move towards whatever you resist.