Let me float an idea

My float room and tub.

When it comes to trying new experiences, I’m kind of a 'wing it,  what’s the worst that could happen, I’ll hate it and not do it again' kind of girl. While I don’t always love the adventure, I don’t regret having had the experience. 

And with this in mind, I had my first float room experience. Over the years, float tanks have piqued my interest but never enough to try it. One of the biggest reasons is being encased in a pod with a lid.

I don’t think I’m claustrophobic but the idea of it makes me hesitate. So, I didn’t try it. 

And, truthfully, I didn’t really think any more about it. That is, until recently. 

A conversation at work about a teammate’s float experience intrigued me. Unlike float tanks, this was a float room. A private float room. The more I listened, the more questions I asked, the more intrigued I became.

I came home a couple nights ago and combed through the company's website. I liked what I saw, the vibe, the philosophy. I had a few more questions, though, so I reached out and had immediate responses. Still, I didn’t book a time slot. I thought I was in a good space, in a place where I didn’t need relaxing. But a couple of days where I found myself annoyed with the people in my life made me realize relaxing and letting go might be more beneficial than I thought. 

There was a single time slot left the other night and I took that as a sign it was meant to be. So I reached out and claimed it. And, with only two hours notice, I would be floating. 

I watched the prep video and the instructions I was emailed. Basically, I’d head into my private room, get naked, shower, shampoo and float. A thousand pounds of epsom salt would keep me buoyant in a tub that was about five feet wide and eight feet long. And I’d relax. 

I should have a light meal and refrain from a lot of liquids. Sounds pretty straightforward.

Upon arrival, I was greeted by a very warm and friendly young lady who was as excited about my first-time experience as I was. I didn’t have any questions, so she ushered me straight into my room, recapped how things worked and let me get into my experience.

The shower area was lit in a soft violet light that set the soothing mood. The instructional video said the best experience was with a neutral shower; a shower that was the same temperature as my body. A quick shampoo and body wash later and my naked self climbed into the tub. 

I kicked back and immediately floated. Effortlessly! My mind didn’t have to think at all about keeping my body up and, by taking that focus away, I could simply focus on my thoughts. As I created the right ambience for my float, I played with the light settings: a starlit ceiling, soft bottom lights, both, neither. Ultimately, I chose to have most of my float in total darkness. I’m comfortable in the dark and, if I would’ve become hesitant, turning on lights that were easy to find was less than an arm's length away. 

One of the main benefits of floating is to release stress and relax. I’ve heard some people nap. Some go into a meditative place. I did a bit of both; however, I also had some anxiety as well. I was anxious that I’d fall asleep and not hear the soft music that plays as a signal my float is over. I was anxious because, as I floated, I’d occasionally float into the side of the tub. And, as odd as this sounds, I was anxious that I wouldn’t relax. So, I guess I was nervous to fully let go and enjoy the experience.

On top of that, I had a medical exam done earlier in the day and had fasted. I had become both hungry and had a bit of a headache. I did eat a muffin but the supper plan was lasagna and Caesar salad — not a light meal. So I made the decision to delay my evening meal until after the float, which was wrong. My stomach growled in protest and my headache pulsed a little more, both of which detracted from the experience.

There were many things I enjoyed about my float. The neutral shower meant that, in the dark, I couldn’t tell where the water ended and the air began. It was seamless temperature wise and it felt like I could be floating effortlessly anywhere. 

I enjoyed the stillness. I enjoyed there were no distractions, including music, so I could let my mind go where it needed to go. I loved the fact I was in charge of creating whatever ambience I chose to, altering my experience. And I loved that while I didn’t fully relax, I was able to let go for short bursts and could get a taste for the possibility of total relaxation. 

The hour float seemed like an eternity. I could’ve left at any time but all of the things that detracted didn’t detract enough to make me want to leave early. All the possibilities made me want to stay.

Eventually the soft music began to play and that was my signal to leave the tub. I got out and showered again, washing off the salt that kept my body floating. 

Tea time in the lobby!

I dressed quickly and then relaxed with a tea in the lobby. I struck up a conversation with a gentleman asking about his floating experiences. He told me that after his first time, he left with mixed emotions, feeling the same things I was feeling. It took him about three floats to find his “relaxation rhythm” and now he has he said that the time flies by. He’s able to let his feelings and thoughts drift off where they need to go. He can fall into a nap or meditation quickly. He tries to float once a month, generally at the end of a month, and lets the happenings of the month go. I liked his plan and felt encouraged to give this a second try. 

The wonderful young lady who checked me in asked about my experience and further encouraged me by adding a free float to my account to be used in the next couple of weeks.

I love being in the water. I’m hoping that by adding floating to the mix, it will knit my body and mind together with water therapy and help my find a different kind of balance.