It’s a cold winter’s afternoon and I’m standing outside the doors of EQ in South Melbourne. I’ve decided to spend three hours practicing mindfulness, an activity that doesn’t come easily to me. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not very good at calming down. So when I signed up to take part in “a unique sensory and immersive experience to manage stress, prevent overwhelm and improve your daily life,” I surprised even myself.
The mastermind behind EQ is Mia Basic. After working in the stressful field of litigation, she was looking for a way to unwind in a healthier way than Friday lunches or after-work drinks. She teamed up with real estate developers Nicholas Crema and Andrew Barbone (Projects by Crema) to bring the project to life. Located on the ground floor of an apartment building, visitors can book a single session for $150. No membership or subscription is required, and each experience consists of a three-hour session culminating in a visit to the baths.
Upon entering the venue, I was greeted by the venue manager, Jessica Anderson, who escorted me to a waiting area. At this point, I was feeling nervous and still a little anxious about what was to come over the next three hours. I had a quick chat over tea with two other attendees to ease my nerves before being escorted to the theater room, which typically accommodates groups of up to six people at a time.
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EQ’s first season, “Welcome Chaos,” runs until August 31. The show revolves around the idea that chaos is inevitable, and that we all have to find inner peace. We watch a series of short films about people who go to extremes for their work or beliefs, from stuntmen who can set themselves on fire to ice divers. I’m starting to wonder if I’ve been a bit dramatic in my hesitation to lean into mindfulness.
After the film, we head to the sound and light zone. The room is illuminated with neon-colored lights, and the three of us sit on beanbags on the floor and snuggle under blankets. For the next 30 minutes, we close our eyes and relax while the lights and sounds gather all around us. This is the part that makes me nervous. I prepare myself for the next 30 minutes to be on edge. After a few minutes, I notice something surprising: instead of being on edge, I’m almost asleep. Is this what it feels like to relax? We continued on and before we knew it, 30 minutes had passed.
Dazed, I make my way to the next room, where we’ll be doing 30 minutes of breathwork. We slip into individual pods, each equipped with headphones and a blanket. Still feeling relaxed from the previous room, I feel like getting into bed. Tension releases, and I find myself able to soak in 30 minutes of breathwork and then switch off again. I begin to wonder if downloading the Calm app and forcing myself to meditate during lockdown wasn’t the right attempt. Perhaps there’s an art to all of this?
Finally, we head to the last stage, the bathhouse. To be honest, this is what I was looking forward to. The group activity ends and we are free to explore at our own pace. Anderson told us that we can spend as much time here as we like. I really agreed to the offer.
There’s plenty to do – steam room, sauna, cold bath, mineral pool. After a quick break in the steam room, we headed to the mineral pool. The sun was setting and the pool’s large windows offered a panoramic view of the city. The thought of driving home in peak hour traffic on Kingsway didn’t put me off.
Equalizer
22 Kings Place, South Melbourne
time:
Wednesday to Sunday, 9am to 8pm.
eq-wellbeing.com
