After tours in the Navy, Jeff and Melinda Van Dam moved to Maryland. But when Jeff injured his shoulder doing Brazilian jiu-jitsu, their life path swung in an entirely new direction. Doctors had told Jeff that he would need shoulder surgery, something Jeff wasn't thrilled about. So before heading to a surgeon or someone really good at the game Operation, Jeff tried flotation therapy. The float spa helped ease his pain, sans surgery, and the Van Dams decided to open their own center to spread that relief to others.

Now, at Float Annapolis, the Van Dams introduce others to the benefits of floating in a sound-free, light-free chamber that's brimming with salt water. The 95-degree salt water, created with 1,200 pounds of epsom salt, causes bodies to defy gravity, helping to relieve pressure on the joints and muscles. The lack of sound and light can help improve mental clarity, induce sleep, and encourage meditative states. In addition to the float chambers, clients can visit saunas that switch between traditional and infrared heat to round out the relaxation experience.