Here are some of the more common questions we hear.  Have a question you'd like answered? Don't be shy,  contact us and let us know.

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WHAT DO I WEAR IN THE TANK?

Your float tank is in your own private suite with your own private shower.  Most people float in the nude, and this is what we recommend as well.  Anything you wear will become heavy with epsom salt and distract from the experience.

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IS THERE ANYTHING I SHOUD DO BEFORE A FLOAT?

Come in ready to relax and let go.  Your float will be much more beneficial if you arrive relaxed with an open mind.  We recommend you come in a little early to enjoy our lounge and get acquainted with our center.  A few other things to think about: 

• Don’t drink coffee for several hours beforehand, it can make your system jittery and prevent you from relaxing into your float.

• Don’t shave or wax immediately before your float since salt water can irritate your skin and make your tank time unpleasant.

• Eating a light meal about an hour to 90 minutes ahead of time stops your stomach from sounding like an angry monster while you float.

• If you wear contacts, remove them before floating.

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DO I NEED TO BRING ANYTHING?

Something to put your contact lenses into while you’re in the tank.  

Other than that, we provide everything you need (towels, robes, earplugs, body wash/shampoo, etc…). 

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HOW LONG SHOULD I PLAN TO BE THERE?

Our Float Sessions are either 60 or 90-minutes in length (unless there is no one after you, then you are welcome to stay longer) but we recommend blocking off about 2 hours of your day to concentrate on you.  You will want to arrive a few minutes early to fill out our New Client Form and kick back in our lounge and wind down a little before jumping into the the tank. 
Same thing goes for after your Float.  After decompressing in the tank you will likely want to hang out in one of our two lounges and enjoy your post-float-glow before jumping back into the chaos you just escaped from.  Of course, you are welcome to come in as early, or stay as long as you’d like - we are here for you.  :) 

 

WHAT ABOUT MY HAIR?

The color from your hair could stain our tanks, if your hair has recently been colored within the last week please wait a few days or until the water in your shower runs clear and the color isn't bleeding on to your towel.

For any other hair treatment please ask your stylists advice if you are not sure.

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WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM MY FIRST FLOAT?

There is literally nothing to expect.  Like meditation, the float experience naturally varies from person to person.  And, like meditation, to get the most out of your experience you should try to fully relax and let go.  Since we lead such busy and stressful lives it often takes a couple of float sessions for the body and mind to re-learn how to let go and just be.  Many first timers find their minds racing, not quite sure how to handle this free time...  

What if I fall asleep? ....... Am I asleep? ....... Did I feed the cat today? ....... Am I doing it right? ....... Are my eyes open?     

How much time do I have left? ....... Did the milk expire today? ....... No, my eyes are closed...I think…

This is why we recommend committing to 3 floats within a few weeks of each other because, by even the second float, you are more at ease and prepared to fully unwind into the experience, thus reaping more benefits.

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CAN I FLOAT IF I’M PREGNANT?

Yes!  The float tank is great for pregnant women.  The buoyancy of the water helps to relieve the pull of gravity on the body, helping to relieve backpain and body aches. There is even a special position you can float in that relieves all of the weight of the baby off of the mother’s body.  

 

FloatationLocations.com has this wise recommendation:

Pregnant woman probably get more relief from floating than most people. The extra weight carried by the mother-to-be can be very stressful due to the forces of gravity.   Floating eliminates the negative effects of gravity which can cause joint pain, inflammation, and stress on the organs as well as the unborn baby.

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Pregnant woman have also reported a reduction of erratic movements of the baby inside the womb.  This is due to a phenomenon called the “mirror effect”.  The baby is safe and secure inside the womb and the mother shares a similar experience in the warm isolation tank.  Woman report a stronger connection with their baby when exposed to this environment.

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If you are in your third trimester, or have any concerns, please consult with your physician before coming in.

 

CAN I FLOAT IF I’M MENSTRUATING?

Yes.  Just follow the same protocol you would for a swimming pool.

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DO I HAVE TO STAY IN THE WHOLE TIME?

No.  There are no latches on the tank doors, and you can get out anytime.  That being said, the 90-minutes usually goes by way faster than you’d expect.  

WHAT IF I’M CLAUSTROPHOBIC?

Being in the tanks is more like floating in outer space than being shut in a box.  You’re always in control of your environment and can leave the door to the tank open or turn on the light if that makes you more comfortable.  Even people with extreme claustrophobia have reported having no problems with their time in the tank.

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BUT ISN’T IT A SENSORY DEPRIVATION TANK?

Yes, it is, but not the scary person morphing contraptions you’ve seen in the movies.  These are non-threatening; in fact, comforting environments that actually ease your mind and body and calm you down, not send you screaming for the hills.

You can relax with the door completely open, partially open or you can enjoy a quiet, warm, dark, gravity free place to fall into the deep recesses of your own brain.  You define your own personal experience.

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HOW DO YOU CLEAN THE TANKS?

The ~1,200 pounds of Epsom salt in the water creates a solution which is inherently hostile to the proliferation of bacteria.  Between each float, the entire volume of the tank is filtered 3-4 times through a 1 micron filter, and treated with Ultraviolet light and Hydrogen Peroxide to purify and disinfect the water.  Additionally, when the tanks are not in use the purification system routinely runs to cleanse the water.

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CAN I DROWN?  WHAT IF I ACCIDENTALLY TURN OVER IN THE WATER?

No.  The water is very shallow, usually about 10” deep.  Besides, it is much heavier than ordinary water because of the 1100 lbs of Epsom salts, so you float very easily and much higher in the water than in a swimming pool or another body of water.  You float on your back with absolutely no effort, and there is no tendency to roll over.  Actually, people often sleep in float tanks.  The worst that can happen is getting woken up by a bit of salt water in your eyes.

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WILL I GET COLD, LIKE STAYING TOO LONG IN A BATH?

No. The float tank is constantly heated to the same temperature as your skin. The correct temperature is important and constantly monitored.

PRO tip: If you typically run cold, shower in cool water. If you typically run hot, shower in hot water. This will help you acclimate to the neutral temperature of the tank  with ease.

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WHAT IS EPSOM SALT, AND WHY IS IT USED?

Epsom salt is made up of naturally occurring minerals magnesium and sulfate. It is very different from sea salt or table salt, which is mainly sodium chloride. Epsom salt has been used medicinally for centuries to treat various health issues.

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WHAT IF I CAN’T SWIM?

No problem. Floating is as easy as taking a bath. You just step in, sit down, and lay back. You can touch the bottom 

with your hands (it’s only 10”deep). There is no skill required. Just let the salty water do the work.

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WHO INVENTED THESE CRAZY DEVICES?

In 1954, physician, neuroscientist and psychoanalyst Dr. John C. ­Lilly devised the flotation tank as part of his research at the National Institute of Mental Health. He was testing the premise that mental activity would cease in the absence of external stimuli. Instead, he found floating to be profoundly relaxing, and that it facilitated the discovery of richly elaborate states of inner experience. Since then, many people have discovered the multiple benefits of floating.

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IS THERE ANY ONE WHO SHOULDN'T FLOAT?

YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO FLOAT IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

• Infectious skin or respiratory disorders

• Open wounds

• Incontinence

• Epilepsy or serious mental conditions

• A high-risk pregnancy

• Under the influence of any drug or alcohol

• If you have colored your hair in the last 7 days and the color has not yet set in.  Please be sure that the color is not bleeding onto your towel after shampooing.  This is not an issue for your hair, but we cannot compromise the integrity of the water in our tank.

• If you are under the age of 18 without parental presence

• If you have recently spray tanned and the color is still bleeding on to your towel when wet.  We cannot compromise the integrity of the water in our tank

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These are some of the more common questions we hear.  If you have a question you'd like answered, don't be shy,  contact us and let us know.