Your First Float Tank Experience: 10 Essential Tips for Complete Sensory Deprivation

If you are looking for a new way to experience the benefits of meditation, float tanks may be just what you’re looking for. I’ve been practicing transcendental meditation for some time now and I believe that float tanks offer a deeper level of relaxation. If this is your first time visiting a float tank, there are some tips that can help make your experience as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.

Float Centers are easily found in major cities throughout the United States, and where I live (Los Angeles, California), there are quite a few to choose from. My local favorite is the Float Clinic in Torrance Ca. If you search your local yelp page for the nearest Sensory Deprivation Tank, you’ll definitely find something nearby. Most of these float centers have a 60 or 90 minute float session several times throughout the day, I usually recommend the 60 minutes for beginners; however, I’ve had some first-time floaters commit to the 90-minute session as well and they loved it.

I’ve done quite a few floats now and I have had a number of good experiences and some below average ones, too (I’ll elaborate below). I put together this list of 10 essential float tank tips to share my wisdom and hopefully enable you to have an unforgettable first experience.

Why Float?

I first heard of the sensory deprivation tank on a podcast by Tim Ferriss. He mentioned the benefits of floating, and how 1 float therapy session could basically equate to a few weeks of meditation. That sparked my interest and got me on the hunt to find the closest isolation tank near me.

These tanks are pretty big and take up a lot of space in a normal home. They are filled with about 1,000 lbs of epsom salt, which allows you to float mid water. By floating in complete darkness, you allow your body’s sensory system to take a break, hence the “Sensory Deprivation” part. This allows your conscious state to be alert and brings focus and observation on the thoughts currently consuming your brain. Just as meditation permits you to analyze your thoughts, floating allow you to accomplish a similar effect by giving your body little to no sensory stimuli. This in turn gives you the opportunity to let go of any thoughts that aren’t serving you and begin to observe the world in a different state of mind.

Float Centers

Each float center has a different type of float tank. Some are built in to the rooms and have access through a metal door, others have a float pod, which is a white pod that stands in the middle of the room and opens up like a car trunk. They both can give you an excellent first float experience.

Your center will usually also have a shower in the float room. Along with a towel, earplugs, and some q-tips, you will have everything you need to freshen up when you exit the float tank. They are very spa like, to get you in a relaxed state.

My Tips

1. Get Fully Undressed Before Getting In

   1. When getting in the tank, I think it’s important to go fully nude. The point of sensory deprivation is to not have any feelings or senses of things touching your skin, if you start to feel clothing rubbing on you, that might distract you and keep you from having a full experience of complete deprivation from any senses.

2. Put On the Ear Plugs Before Showering.

   1. I always recommend putting on the ear plugs prior to stepping in the shower. Ear plugs help with keeping water out of your ear canal. Once I put them on, they are firmly fixed and do not budge even once I shower. The key to getting a good fit is to stick them into the ears ahead of time so that they go on dry.

3. Scrub Your Body and Shower Before You Get Inside the Tank.

   1. It’s highly recommended that you fully wash your body before entering the tank to decrease the possibility of contaminating yourself. You should not get in a float tank with perfume or makeup on your body, as this would contaminate the water.

4. Avoid Shaving 2 Days Before Your Session

   1. Don’t shave a day or two prior to getting in the tank. The last thing you want is a burning sensation on your skin from all that salt water getting in them pores.

5. Don’t Go On A Full Stomach.

   1. Try not to have a heavy meal before going to your session. When you eat, your body has to digest and that takes energy, you want to conserve your energy so your body can relax and just flow. If you have to eat something, make it a light meal like a salad or fruits.

6. Get In the Tank and Center Yourself

   1. As soon as you get in the tank, you will feel a bit awkward floating around. This is totally normal. The brain is not use to having your body float effortlessly on water, so it will try to adjust. Get use to the floatation feeling and learn to let go and lay back. Some locations do offer a floating pillow that you can put on the back of your head to support it. You can use that or just float learn to float freely. I recommend using your fingertips to center yourself, once centered, let the water calm down and relax.

7. Avoid Getting Water In Your Eyes

   1. When you are finally settled in, you might get the urge to scratch that itch on your face. This is why its important to dry your face before getting into the tank. If you do get that urge to scratch,  just be careful not to get any water in your eyes. Getting salt water in your eyes is not fun. This has happened to me a time or two and it completely ruins the experience. Each tank does have a hand towel and some have a bottle of fresh water that you can use to clean your eyes, just in case you need it.

8. Focus on the Breath

   1. Once you are centered and relaxed, its easy for your brain to try to keep you busy on all these other thoughts like “how much time has passed?” or “what am I suppose to feel?” I suggest that in these moments, you just focus on your breath. Breathe in and breath out. If done correctly, you will eventually get in a transcendental / meditative state.

9. Learn to Observe

   1. While in there, your busy mind will be racing. It’s important to let your mind wander and learn to observe the thoughts it comes up with. This is the whole point. Once you are able to observe these thoughts that come up, you can decide if you want to continue to keep them, or learn to let them go.

10. Shower afterwards

    1. Once your session is over, make sure you take a long warm shower. You will have a lot of salt water on your skin. Clean yourself off and reflect on everything you just went through.

In conclusion, float tanks offer a unique and rewarding experience that can help you achieve physical, mental, and spiritual balance. The 10 essential tips discussed in this article will provide a helpful framework for anyone looking to maximize their float tank experience. However, the key advice to remember is to keep an open mind and allow yourself to relax into the experience. Enjoy the journey by exploring all the benefits that float tanks have to offer.