float tank therapy faq

Everyone has their unique stresses, and one thing we know about floating is that it reduces stress, and not in a vague sense, but in a very literal biological sense. While much exciting work remains to be done in the study of floating, there are numerous anecdotal and studied benefits of floating. For more information on this subject, please see our Floating 101 page.

You will! Regardless of body composition, the high concentration of Epsom salt will make sure of it. Remember, the solution in a float tank is 5-10 times more buoyant than sea water, and more than twice as much as the Dead Sea. The salinity of the human body is less than that of the water in the tank, and so the body will sit on top of the water.

All common questions. Claustrophobia and anxiety are prevalent in many people, but centers don’t often hear of individuals having issues in the tank, especially once they have experienced the first 5-10 minutes of their first session.  At floatology we use large oversize open float tanks with 7 foot ceilings, this tends to alleviate most issues vs the tight pods other centers use.  As a floater gains experience, these concerns go away, as floating can be extremely beneficial for anxiety.Also, built in light and audio features of the tanks can lessen these concerns.  Customers have a significant amount of control over their float session. Users can opt to leave the LED lights on in the tank at any of the three power settings (high, medium, and low light).  If desired, the tank door can be left fully or partially open, decreasing any sense of being enclosed, while still enjoying a reduced gravity environment.  Furthermore, the audio and music features of the tanks can be turned on at the discretion of the user, which for some makes the float more relaxing and enjoyable.  Using light and/or audio are successful tactics for reducing first float anxiety and potential claustrophobia.Ultimately, if any of this becomes a serious issue while in the tank, please simply exit the tank, and we will work with you to identify a solution so that you can benefit from floating.

No, you will not drown, and we encourage users to sleep if the opportunity arises. There is no reported incident of a drowning ever having happened in any float tank or float center. We encourage customers to put these thoughts out of their mind.

Firstly, the tanks are only 10-12 inches deep, and so one does not need to know how to swim. More importantly, the solution is so buoyant that a floater’s body will not go under the surface of the water even with great effort. Should a floater submerge their head under the water, which would be difficult, the extremely high salt concentration would immediately cause discomfort in the eyes, nose, and mouth, and force the floater to pull their head out of the water.

While some lucky floaters will fall asleep regularly in the tank, the buoyancy will not allow the floater to sink. Should the floater turn their head while asleep or splash salt in their eyes, the worst thing that would happen is short-lived discomfort and stinging.

You can get out anytime. The tanks are not locked during the float, and you can easily turn on the light, open the tank door, and exit the tank at any time during your float. If you have any issues during the float, simply exit the tank. You can also communicate with a store employee using the in-room intercom before, during, and after your scheduled float time. Having said that, customers generally report that time in a float tank often goes by quickly due to the relaxation it provides.

Music and light settings are configured to easily notify the floater that the session is complete. There is also the ability to configure the tank to play music and/or turn on the lights at a pre-set time prior to the end of the session. For example, we can turn music on 3 minutes prior to the end of the session to notify you that the float is coming to an end. Either way, there is no rush, as you have ample time (up to 15 minutes) to get out of the tank, shower, dress, and exit your room.

It happens to the best of us, and if you float enough, it’s bound to happen. Worst case scenario is some temporary stinging and discomfort. As a floater becomes more experienced and motionless in the tank, this is not an issue. We recommend completely drying your face/neck and any hair that may get in your face prior to lying down in the tank. This should prevent the issue from happening.

We also provide a small face towel to bring into the tank so that you can easily wipe your face without having to exit the tank. We don’t recommend wiping your face with wet hands that have been in the tank, rather it is best to use the towel. In the event of an issue with salt in the eyes, please exit the tank, completely dry your face and hair using a towel, and re-enter the tank.

No, quite the opposite. The high levels of Epsom Salts in the tank not only prevent the skin from wrinkling, it moisturizes and leaves the skin feeling smooth even after the float is over.

Yes, but only if the hair color has completely set, which can take 1-4 weeks depending on the individual.  Your normal home shower or bath water should be running completely clear before you float.  If this is not the case, please reschedule your float.  There is always a risk that the high salt concentrations in the tank may strip hair color, although it has generally not been reported as an issue.  As with anything, if you are unsure, please ask a Floatology employee.

No, but with multiple tanks, feel free to bring a friend, co-worker, or significant other with you to simultaneously float in their own tank.

Firstly, congratulations on trying this unique experience. New customers should plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to their first appointment in order to allow time to complete minor paperwork, receive instructional information, tour the facility, and ask any questions prior to the float. Floating is a very simple practice, we just want to show you some basic things, tell you what to expect, and get you on your way. Repeat customers do not need to arrive early. They can simply arrive at the start of the session, or preferably a few minutes prior. For a more detailed walkthrough of the experience, please see our first float page.

Mainly yourself, as we provide the tanks, showers, towels, flip flops, soap, shampoo, conditioner, ear plugs, and Vaseline to cover up any small cuts. The vast majority of customers float nude, and you are in a private room while floating, so there is no need for a bathing suit. In fact, for multiple reasons, it is highly recommended and preferred that you float nude.

We recommend that you bring any additional body care or post-float products that one might require. This could include makeup, deodorant, cologne, a comb, eye care or contact solutions, and basically anything you would use post showering that isn’t already provided by us. Many customers also bring their own flip flops, but this isn’t required.

Dress as comfortably as you can. Keep in mind that you will be rinsing and showering before and after your float, so comfortable and simple clothing are best. While we provide adequate room to dress/undress and keep clothing away from any potential salt or water, it is often easiest to dress in a relaxed manner. However, for those of you that float during or after work, have no worries, as many customers come dressed in business attire. It simply means that it might take you longer to dress and undress, but there is ample time before and after the float to allow for this.

We encourage and prefer that our customers float nude for a few reasons. Firstly, you are completely alone once you enter your room. You will shower and float in complete solitude, and no one will see you! Secondly, the intent of floating is to experience sensory deprivation, including the sense of touch, and having a suit on may detract from this. Lastly, while the water in our tanks is supremely clean, it goes without saying that any time a foreign object such as a bathing suit is brought into the tank, it potentially brings with it unwanted contaminants.

There is no best answer here, so common sense applies, and everyone knows their body best.  Including the time to shower and change, a float session can take up to two hours.  Don’t allow hunger or thirst to prevent you from being able to relax and enjoy your float.  Having a small meal an hour or two prior to the appointment is probably ideal for most people.

Also, avoid going into the tank dehydrated, which is just good practice in general.  Everyone is different, so please pay attention to your body and use common sense.

We encourage customers to avoid caffeine for 3-4 hours prior to floating, just as they would before going to bed.  This is merely a suggestion though, and as usual we encourage customers to use common sense and trust the knowledge of their own bodies.

We encourage our customers to use our restrooms prior to their float, just as they would with anything else such as a massage or seeing a movie. In the event that it becomes an issue while in the tank, which we do not generally see, please exit the tank, use the restroom, and return. This is generally not an issue, and we trust that our customers use common sense and know their bodies.

Once you have exited the tank, showered, and dressed, you will exit your personalized room. At that point, we encourage our customers to use our post-float relaxation area, as well as our vanity room as needed. There is no rush, and customers will often stay and use our post-float space in order to extend their relaxation before exiting the center.

We used full-sized float tanks manufactured in the USA by Superior Float Tanks in Norfolk, VA. Explain the dimensions, brief summary about the safety and quality, etc… Mention audio and lighting capabilities once we know more. For more information about us, please see our about floatology page.

The water inside of our tanks is almost certainly the cleanest water you have ever been in. The incredibly high salt content of the water prevents bacteria and other microorganisms from surviving within the tank. In addition, we filter the water 7 times through between each float using NSF …….., run it through antimicrobial ultraviolet light, and infuse ozone into the solution as an extra safeguard. This is more than is done for any hot tub or swimming pool that you have likely ever been in.

Additionally, every customer has a shared responsibility in keeping the tanks and float rooms clean. Individualized showers are provided in every room, and we ask that customers use the shower to rinse prior to entering the tank, as well as after the session in order to remove the salt from their before and after their sessions.

No, this would be both wasteful and infeasible. The water and Epsom Salt are simply topped of daily by store employees to account for slight spillage from customers getting in and out of the tank. The water in a float tank is extremely clean due to the high Epsom Salt concentration, and the water is filtered 7 times through between each float session. For more information on the specifics of our tank filtration process, please see above.

Yes, the tanks come equipped with audio jacks, through which music or other audio can be streamed from a smart phone or similar device, as well as stock audio that can be streamed into the tank. All audio input is optional at the customer’s request, and can be turned off by the customer during the float. A large number of customers choose to not use any audio, while others find that it improves relaxation and enjoyment of the overall session. Using audio and music are also successful tactics for reducing first float anxiety and potential claustrophobia.

Also, an in-room intercom connects to a Floatology employee should you need assistance or have any questions or concerns before, during, or after your session.

Yes, the tanks are equipped with LED lights and easy access to three power settings (high, medium, and low light). All lighting is optional at the request of the customer, and can be turned off by the customer during the float. A large number of customers choose to not use any lighting, while others find that it improves relaxation and enjoyment of the overall session. Using lighting is also a successful tactic for reducing first float anxiety and potential claustrophobia.

We offer 60 minute float sessions, meaning you will spend 60 minutes floating in the tank.  Please also keep in mind that one must undress/dress, and rinse/shower before and after a float, for which we provide 15 minutes before and after each float. This adds 30 minutes to the length of the experience, and you are in your personal room for 90 minutes total, so please consider this when scheduling a float. For a more detailed list of pricing, please see our float pricing page.

First time floaters often pronounce it as one of the more relaxing and unique experiences of their lives. For some, a lifelong practice of floating will begin after the very first float. For others, however, it can and often does take 3-5 sessions to become acclimated to the tank environment and begin to reap the benefits. Many individuals simply have a large amount of accumulated muscle and nervous tension locked in the body that is released during the first few floats. Many experts recommend an initial 3-5 sessions within a shorter period of time (such as 1-4 weeks) to trigger the various beneficial hormonal and brainwave responses early and often, and then regular maintenance of 1-2 sessions per month going forward. The pricing and membership plans at Floatology were designed with this in mind, enabling customers to affordably float often enough to be able to experience, maintain, and build upon the benefits of the practice.

Sure, by simply booking back-to-back sessions, we can technically accommodate longer floats.  We are also working towards expanding and accommodating more flexible scheduling options such as 90 and 120 minute sessions.  As we gain customer input, we will look into longer float lengths, night floats, and things of that nature.

We offer individual floats, discounted packages, and further discounted membership offerings and specials. This is intended to suit multiple types of floaters, schedules, and budgets. Please see our pricing page for more details.

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This is a situation for which there is no right or wrong answer, just please use the same protocols that you would use for a swimming pool, spa, or similar body of water. We trust our customers to be adults and take the proper precautions and use common sense. While there is no health risk due to the sanitation and filtration qualities of the tanks, if there is any doubt, please be considerate of your fellow floaters and err on the side of caution by abstaining from floating during this time.

Yes, in fact this could be a section of its own. We can’t think of a group that might benefit from floating more. Pregnant women, and their babies, have been enjoying the benefits of floating for years with great results, and numerous centers enjoy seeing them as regular customers. Many float centers report that mothers often give rave reviews of floating, and testify to an extra degree of closeness to their babies during the session. There should be no doubt that spending time in a weightless environment is a great way to give a woman and her body relief from the added weight and physical stress of pregnancy.

While an unpleasant fact of life that no one likes to talk about, pregnant woman are more prone to suffer from constipation, hemorrhoids, and other related changes in the body. Epsom salts, which are prevalent in large concentrations in the tank, have been proven effective in assisting with these and other similar issues for many decades or more.

While we encourage pregnant woman and their babies to float, we are not doctors, and so we always encourage anyone with concerns to consult with their doctor before floating.

Through many thousands of floats at centers all over the world, floating has been shown to be extremely safe and beneficial for just about everyone. Having said this, we are not doctors, and if there are any concerns, Floatology encourages customers to consult with their doctor before floating, just as they may with any new exercise, fitness, or wellness plan.

Due to the large amounts of Epsom salt and Magnesium intake, individuals with kidney disease should take precaution to consult their doctor before floating, as the kidneys are responsible for processing and excreting magnesium from the body.

Although rare, those with epileptic conditions or who are seizure prone should take extra precaution to consult their doctor before floating.Users should not float while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Anyone with large cuts, open sores, skin rash, or serious infection. Open cuts or sores may be very painful to the floater as they interact with the high salt concentration of the water. Please use common sense, discuss with a doctor, and wait until these issues have cleared.

While it is uncommon for a user to experience negative issues in the tank, as with any experience, particularly one that is new to the user, we ask that customers exit the tank if they believe they may be sick.

Yes. We have a 24-hour cancellation policy. Should you need to cancel your appointment less than 24 hours prior to its start time, or if you miss the appointment, a fee of 50% of the full price of service will be charged to you. If you are using a gift certificate, package float, or membership float for your service, this will simply be marked as used and deducted from your account. In the case of an emergency or otherwise extenuating circumstance, the fee will not be charged. If you are within the 24 hour window, please call and we will do our best to accommodate. Need to figure this out. Heavily dependent on how much customization we do with Booker. May just default to a $20-30 fee for a missed float.

Floatology will launch its first location very soon…