Float Tank Review

Float Tank Experience

I signed up for my first float tank experience a couple of weeks ago. I was curious as I had read several reviews from friends and acquaintances about their first-time float sessions- most, being in the float pods that appear rather claustrophobic to even the non-claustrophobic. Recently, some friends expanded their massage school to a new location with an infrared sauna, cold plunge and large float tank, so I took the plunge. Yes, two days prior to the float tank, I tried the cold plunge. Not. for. me. The infrared sauna was definitely for me.

After the lengthy first-timer explanation:
1. Put in ear plugs.
2. If water does get in your ears, there's a handy squeeze bottle with vinegar for post-session.
3. 3 wash cloths: one for your body to shower for 5 minutes prior to entering the tank. Only use the body wash and shampoo. The conditioner is for the post-session shower. 2nd wash cloth to wipe dry your face and hairline prior to entering the tank. 3rd wash cloth to hang inside the tank should you splash or drip water into your eyes (burn), nose (burn) or mouth (awful taste).
4. Any cuts on your skin, cover with Vaseline.
5.There are 4 large buttons on the inside. The ones to the left of the door control overhead LED star lighting and float tank floor lighting. The two to the right of the door controls a panic button and music.
6. At the end of the session, you'll hear music and then a minute later, a bell. A minute and a half later, another bell- the "get out now bell". After that, they'll come on the intercom system. After that, they'll enter the room.

Float Room Higher Elevations Healing Arts

Okay, got it, got it, got it...I think. Ear plugs, shower, towel-off, wipe drips from hairline, enter, keep lights/sound on or off. Got it. They also provided a thin foam ring to place behind the head for a little head/neck support, if so desired. I knew I'd be using the ring. I entered the tank and was surprised the water was only about 12" deep? The doors closed and the room lights dimmed until just the float tank was aglow with the LED color of my choice: aqua blue, of course. I almost immediately turning off the LED floor lights in favor of just the star lights. I had Native American flute music softely playing in the background- easily heard with the ill-fitting ear plugs that I had tried to cram and readjust several times prior to the initial shower.

Within a matter of minutes I thought, "Nope. Ut-uh. This isn't for me. How am I going to last an hour in here?" My upper back was pinchy. I wasn't relaxed. Then I realized I was holding my head up even with the light foam ring. As soon as I pressed the back of my head into the foam a little more, the pinching eased and I was comfortably floating. I felt around with my big toe until I felt the buttons to press to go dark. Total sensory deprivation.

Now, I am a regular meditator of both active and receptive meditations. Lately, I have been doing more receptive meditations- clearing the space between thoughts. Doing this type of meditation in the float tank in complete silence and darkness was a piece of cake! There is nothing to think about. Your body is taken care of in ways you never knew possible. Not a single sensation. Time doesn't matter- you're in there for an hour. The water is 84F and you don't feel hot or cold...just right. It's not at all like lying in bed. In bed, your body is pressing into the mattress. In the tank, you are suspended. Perfectly supported. When you remove all of the external stimulus and sensations, it is very easy to clear the mind.

I started seeing kaleidoscopes of color in my mind's eye. I enjoyed the kaleidoscope show for quite some time before opening my eyes. It was just as dark as with my eyes closed. I decided I'd call in my guides and ask for them to show me something with my eye lids open to see if I could "see" (clairvoyance) the way I see with my eyes closed. I started to ask for them to show themselves to me. It was a practice we were instructed to do while I was doing intuitive training and I decided I didn't really want to "see" my guides back then. I didn't want to fixate on what they look like. I do have an image of my mystic guide and earth guide and my protector guide, but maybe I didn't need them to appear in holographic form. "Never mind. Show me something." I paused in the darkness, eyes wide open.

A light panel lit up and dimmed back down. It was just one panel of the tank from inside the room (rather than inside of the tank) that lit up and dimmed all the way down. "Shoot. That went fast. Is that the end? It was just getting good. Is that what he said would happen at the end of the session?" I decided to wait out a minute for the bell. I felt a ripple run through the water. "Was that the bell? I didn't hear it, but I guess I felt it." I waited another minute or so for the "time to get out" bell. Another ripple. "Hmmmmm...that must be it. I felt around in the darkness for the buttons to turn the LEDs back on to find the door to the tank. It's weird that I could hear the music, but I couldn't hear the bells. I reached for my phone. The time was 12:03pm. I guess it was over. My appointment was at 11am and I chatted with the owners and had tea before the long intro. I thought he said I had 68minutes from the time he left the room. Close enough. I rinsed my ears, showered and exited the room.

Enlarge for a better feel of what the tank is like inside with lights and music.

As I approached the counter with wet hair dripping down my shirt, I said to Audrey, "You know, I wasn't sure if the session ended when the light panel lit up because it dimmed back down and was completely dark again, so I waited for the bell and felt a ripple in the water but I don't think I heard a bell." She was looking at me dumbfounded kind of shaking her head, "There isn't a panel that lights up. Are you sure your foot didn't hit the button for the LEDs?" I said, "No, I was just floating. It wasn't a light in the tank, it was a light in the room." Again, she shook her head, "No, the music comes on first. There isn't anything in the room that would light up just a panel- unless all of the lights came on." I said, "No, it was only about this wide," as I showed her about 18 inches wide and moved my hands up vertically.

Now, I am friends with the owners, but more like casual acquaintances. The husband used to be a co-worker years ago and I've met his wife Audrey a few times. She waves at me as we drive by one another on our respective drives to work. I've asked her about massage therapists from her massage school who might want to be on-call for me at my spa. I don't know them well-enough to bring up spirit guides, but I saw a few singing bowls scattered about, so I went with it. I said, "That's odd. I had my eyes open and noticed it was just as dark as with my eyes closed. I'm pretty clairvoyant, so I asked my guides to show me something. And then the panel lit up and went dim." She ran her hands down her arms, "I just got the chills!"

"Oh!," it dawned on me, "My guides were showing me something!" She looked over at the controls from the desk and said, "Yeah, and you actually have some time left on the session. Not much, but you did end it a little early."

Ha! 

The time flew by and I felt like I could have spent several hours in the tank meditating with ease. As soon as you lift your body to a seated position, you are sitting at the bottom of the tank. There is plenty of room to not feel claustrophobic. You don't need to wear a swim suit. Your skin is not wrinkly after the session- due to the amount of salt in the water (800lbs of salt!). My skin was not dry after the session, nor did I feel like I needed extra lotion or moisturizer (I live in a very dry climate) as I had anticipated following the session.

Lucky for me, they had just started a "buy one session, get another session" for the month of November, so I get to go again this week.