- Marley Betts
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
I went for a naked float the other day in a dark pod. Have you heard of a float tank before? Have you been in one? Would you like to? Why would you want to? Sounds like a blog post to me! Let's get talking about float tanks and pods.
What is a Float Tank/Pod?
A float tank is a fully enclosed pod with a sliding (or liftable) roof that blocks out light. The pod is partially filled with extremely salty water that you lay in. It is also known as a sensory deprivation tank.
Ummm, WHAT?
The water is kept at body temperature, the closed sliding door blocks out all light, and the super-salty water makes it virtually impossible NOT to float. You get in, lay down, and enjoy the absence of physical and visual input. The point is to attempt to achieve a maximum state of relaxation by having no external stimuli.
The first time I went in a float pod, I couldn't turn off my brain, and I was cold. I have never been cold any other time, so I'm not sure if the first time the heater was down, my body temp was up, or maybe I just didn't stop moving and I kept having too much bare skin exposed to cooling air. I don't know. Each time since, I have been very comfortable.
The details:
You shower before you get in
The salt will sting if you have any open cuts or wounds.
Tie your hair back so that it doesn't touch you or get in the way.
The pods are meant to be soundproof. They are not.
You will likely be provided with optional earplugs to block out sound. I like using them, although they usually begin to play music at the end of the float so that you know your time is up and I worry that I'll miss it and they'll have to come knocking and find me naked and oblivious.
Hang on! Naked?!!
Yep. I float in nothing but my birthday suit (to avoid any external stimuli), but this is optional. You can choose to float in your bathers.
There is a button to turn on a light inside the pod, so you can choose to leave it on if you don't wish to be in total darkness. You could also choose to leave the sliding roof open, although I think that would end up a little chilly for me (Note that I am the type of person who gets cold before everyone else, so other people would probably be fine).
I haven't got any pod water in my face before, but I imagine that getting the salty stuff in your eyes and nose would sting, and it would absolutely taste horrendous. I recommend you don't do this.
Benefits/Why float?
Relaxation!
In addition to the relaxation benefits, there are also meant to be benefits from the salt/magnesium itself. My last few floats have been at Mind, Body, Salt in Geelong (Vic, Aust.) (Thanks guys, they have all been blissful!!). They list some benefits on their website, such as:
Pain relief and reduced inflammation
Improved sleep
Anxiety and stress relief
Improved skin and hair health and appearance.
Other stuff:
You can do couples floats (not sure why you'd want to. Sorry husband. lol), and floats in tanks that are not fully enclosed.
The Mind Body Salt website tells me that their pods are filled with 1000 litres of water, that ends up only 30cm deep, and has 400 kilograms of epsom salts dissolved in it. Wow!
What to expect
Okay, this is how my floats usually go:
Go to the toilet (don't get stuck needing to wee when you're in the pod. That would totally suck)
Get shown to private float room
Lock door, tie back hair, get naked, then shower
Put in earplugs
Step into pod and lay down. Spend some time working out whether to use the little round head pillow floaty rings or not. Sit them on top of the pod so that I can still reach them if I change my mind.
Close the pod roof. Spend some time checking where the roof handle is, making sure the roof slides open easity, checking where the light button is, then turning it on and off, usually getting my hand further away each time until I am confident that I can float without needing to worry about finding the light button.
Listen to the music until it fades away. Realise that 10 minutes have gone already. Get used to hearing my own heartbeat. Try to stay still but continue to make minor body adjustments, attempting to balance comfort with beneficial floating body position.
Try to stop moving. Try to focus on my breathing. Become aware of the air that I am breathing and the feeling of the water on my skin when I move my limbs.
Try to stop moving. Try to focus on my breathing. 'Can I find the light button? Oh shit! I can't find the... oh wait, I found it. It's okay.' Try to stop moving. Focus on my breathing.
Repeat. Plus add random thoughts like, 'Damn, I am wasting my time making minor body adjustments and thinking about my breathing. Stop thinking and just relax, dammit!', 'I wonder how long I've got left?', 'Is that the music starting again, already?', 'I hope I locked the door. Stop moving! Was that a drip of water on my leg? What am I going to do after this? I wonder what so-and-so is doing. STOP THINKING! FOCUS ON MY BREATHING!!'
Music starts playing. Immediately turn on pod light, slide open the roof, and have a shower to wash off the salt.
Use all of the supplied delicious-smelling toiletries and towels (OMG the body wash at Mind Body Salt is DIVINE!!).
Dress and leave the pod room. Head to the lounge. Select one of the herbal teas on offer and sip it slowly on the couch, enjoying the ambiance, candles, and my new relaxed state.
Float walk back to the car.
Hahaha yep. You might think, 'Why would she do that? How is that relaxing?!'
Well... you should hear what goes on inside my brain all of the rest of the time! lol.
I find the whole experience very relaxing and it is as close to being able to switch off my brain as I ever get.
I love floating, and I recommend that you give it a try, unless you get severely claustrophobic, and then I'd probably suggest a float pool and not a tank or pod.
Have you tried floating? Will you try it now? Let me know if you do!
Happy floating!
Much love,
Marley
http://P.P.P.S.No
P.P.S. When I'm not floating, I'm either Mumming, or I'm creating. Check out my books, poetry, or comics, or follow me on Facebook where I share all of these things.
P.P.P.S. No, this article was not sponsored.
