While in San Diego for a conference, I made the most of an afternoon to relax at Float Spa San Diego. Finding a great deal on GroupOn for a $35 for 1 hr float session I couldn’t give up the opportunity to check something else off my bucket list. With a close friend of mine, we headed for our 4 PM appointment.
For those who do not know what this isolation/float/sensory deprivation tank things is all about… here is some quick information.
- In a tank, there is 860 pounds of epsom salt in the water. So you will not be fighting gravity to stay afloat.
- As soon as you lay down in the water you are already rising and floating on top.
- The water is kept at 94 degrees because it is skin receptor neutral. This enables you to lose track of your body.
- Benefits: Stress relief, reduce toxins, focused mind, relieve chronic pain, enhance athletic performance and others.
The idea of entering a floatation tank is to truly be able to enjoy everything YOU WON’T BE DOING. You won’t have to worry about time, moving, floating, distractions. It is truly just you freeing your mind or just allowing yourself to go wherever your mind wonders to.
My Experience
The atmosphere of Float Spa San Diego was delightful. It was calm as soon as you enter much like it was when I did Salt Therapy (Check out that post here if you missed it). The owner then brings you to your own room which has a chamber, shower, and a little changing area if you choose to use it. Inside they provide you with towels, shampoo, conditioner and body wash. In addition, they give you petroleum (in case you have cuts you need to cover), ear plugs (to further lower distractions if any), and a little float device that can help your head.
I ended up using the ear plugs and the float device to keep my head up. I felt a bit uncomfy without the support. I did decide to have the experience completely naked, but you can choose to go in with bathing suits or whatever you choose. As soon as I was laying down soft music began to play, and I closed the door behind me. It was completely dark and all I could hear was the soft music playing. Slowly I got over the fact that I was floating and could not fall into the water… and off I went into my own mind.
Every experience will be different, but for me I began thinking of things I wouldn’t even on a regular day think on… people I haven’t seen or talked to in ages, recalling memories I personally didn’t realize I had towards the end. I am not sure why or how this came about but I just allowed my mind to do what it wanted. I initially was hoping I would go in and my mind would be clear and that would be my experience (I am curious about meditations and mind control as of recent)… but my busy mind did not allow for me to tap into this curiosity.
Eventually, towards the end I started losing awareness of how my body. At times I would touch one aspect of the tank, but it seemed as though I was sometimes being pulled away or towards another end. Sometimes the movements seems rapid, other times slow… I was not really sure. At one point I actually had to pull myself to the top of the tank and feel for the latch for the door to bring myself back to understanding what was around me.
Towards the end of the experience, the music begins to play again, and you finally open the door back into the room. I apparently stayed a bit longer than I should have almost 2 hours, but I honestly either missed the first time the music played, or just misjudged how long the music was playing… I am still unsure which it is.
My friend had a totally different experience as he shared with me, but that is his story to tell. I will however include a few snaps of him and I preparing to enter our tanks.
I had a wonderful experience, and hope to do it several times a year. Personally, I liked this way more than Salt Therapy for relaxation and the experience. But check out a few shots of the day…
What do you think? Would you do an isolation tank? If you have done it before, what did you experience?
