What to expect when floating?
You do not need to bring anything with you to float. The process is quite simple – arrive a few minutes before your appointment time, get in the tank, lie back and take a load off! You will be in the tank for 70 min, but allow yourself at least 90 min for the appointment, to include showering before and after. To break down the process…
Prior to floating
- If you have serious health concerns, as with any therapy, get the ok from your doctor.
- For sanitation, the water contains low levels of chlorine and bromine. Not suitable for people with allergies to these products.
- Don’t shave within a few hours of floating, the salt is likely to sting shaved skin.
- If you have any small open cuts we will provide a spray to seal them from the salt water. No large grazes, cuts or wounds.
- Avoid caffeine within 3 hours of floating. It will make relaxing more challenging.
- No new hair colours permitted.
- Turn off the phone
- Remove contact lenses.
- Remove jewellery.
- No drugs or alcohol to be taken prior to floating, you will be refused.
- If you are menstruating, take the measures you would with swimming.
- Put in ear plugs (provided, or you are welcome to bring your own heat resilient ones)
On arrival
- You will be shown around the facilities. Any questions you have will be happily answered.
- Go to the toilet, even if you don’t feel an urgent need (you don’t want to waste float time answering a call of nature!)
- All your belongings will remain in the float room with you.
- You will be given a towel. Shower well and rinse thoroughly. Lightly towel dry.
- Put in ear plugs (provided, or you are welcome to bring your own).
- Enter the tank room. It will be dimly lit throughout your float.
In the tank
- Enter the tank. Music will be playing and the internal tank light will be on.
- You will have a hand towel. Close the lid and wipe the roof above your head with the hand towel. The tank is a warm, humid environment, so this will avoid drips of condensation falling on you during the float. Open the tank and put the hand towel outside on the hook. It is now available for you throughout the float should you need it.
- Close the lid, lie down on your back and settle in. You may turn off the light or adjust the music volume. (Unless agreed otherwise prior to the float both music and lights will be turned off after 5 minutes)
- KEEP THE WATER OUT OF YOUR EYES!!! It will sting. Should you get drips on your face don’t wipe your eyes with your hands for this reason. Use the hand towel provided.
- Buoyant body positions, you can experiment with the best position for you. Make sure your movements are slow and deliberate. You may like your hands above your head, on your chest, along your sides, what ever works best for you. If you have tension in your neck you can relieve it by clasping your hands behind your head.
Note: Once you have fully relaxed your neck, the water will come close to your eyes on the side of your head. Well done! You have relaxed your neck nicely, and rest assured, the water will not come into your eyes.
- When your session is up the music will be played to signal it is time to leave the tank.
- You may like to turn the light on. Sit up slowly, with your head tilted back to avoid the salt water rolling into your eyes. Slide open the tank door.
- Take care to stand up. You may feel looser, so hold on to the tank as you stand up and readjust to the weight of gravity.
- Please try to keep all the water in the tank. The saltwater is slippery, so you don’t want to drip it everywhere. On standing in the tank, use your hands to squeeze the water from your hair, and wipe your body down with your hands.
- Step out of the tank and walk to the shower. Shower and wash your hair (body wash, shampoo and conditioner provided). Rinse your ears. Dry and dress. Place earplugs in the bin.
- Return to the waiting area. We recommend taking a few minutes to drink a glass of water whilst readjusting and returning to your day.