Phoenix's Floating Sound Bath Is A Mesmerizing Resort Pool Experience Under The Serene Desert Sky

At first glance, this pool looks like one you'd find at any other luxury resort in Arizona, lined in turquoise tile and framed by towering palm trees. But on select evenings at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, the Revive Spa pool transforms into a candlelit meditation space. Instead of splashing in the shallow end or sipping cocktails, participants climb onto inflatable paddleboards, slip on eyemasks, and lie back to enjoy a relaxing floating sound bath while poolside musicians play singing bowls, gongs, and flutes. If you're looking for a luxurious resort "daycation" in America without spending the night, this is it.

"We love doing it at night, because it's so hot here, and because you're on the water, it actually makes you a little bit cooler, too," said the Mesa-based fitness instructor Sarah Williams in an interview with ABC15. Williams is the owner of Desert Paddleboards, the organization behind the floating soundbath pop-up events at the JW Marriott and other upscale resorts in the area. Tickets ($75 plus tax, at the time of this writing) sell out quickly for the hourlong event, which currently takes place on Tuesdays at 6 p.m.

If you've never heard of a sound bath — let alone a floating sound bath — you're not alone. A sound bath is an experience where deep sound vibrations help to heal the body, a concept that shares ideology with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Even travelers lucky enough to be staying at a high-end resort have imbalances or "stuck" energy in the body, and sound baths can help restore one's equilibrium.

The sound itself can involve a variety of instruments, including gongs, chimes, tuning forks, and singing bowls, all carefully employed for specific purposes. Just as a yoga teacher goes through formal training, sound bath practitioners are certified to practice.

Participants often say they feel more relaxed and better-adjusted afterwards, and some say they sleep more soundly or experience relief from chronic aches and pains. "It just takes your body through this relaxation period where it synchronizes with your chakras and helps you relax," explained Sarah Williams in the ABC15 interview.

With its warm year-round weather and dramatic mountain scenery, Arizona is home to several notable resorts specializing in desert luxury, like this upscale mountain resort in Scottsdale or the famous healing spa resorts of Sedona. But even though the region is known for wellness getaways, the floating sound bath experience on offer at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa is a rarity in the region. Similar offerings exist in Palm Springs, California, and on Mexico's Riviera Maya, and while they're slightly different, all are wellness experiences built around the healing power of sound and water.

One particular benefit of the Phoenix option is that you don't need to be a guest at the hotel to sign up through Desert Paddleboards' website. The resort is easily accessible, too, about a 30-minute drive from the airport or downtown Phoenix. The organizers suggest that participants dress comfortably — swimsuits are optional, and street clothes are also fine — and bring three towels for use during and after the session. Inflatable paddleboards and eye masks are provided. If you'd like to spend the night at the resort, prices start around $340 per night plus tax (which includes the resort fee) for a Tuesday stay in May.