The Float Experience

Have you tried floating yet?  It's an experience you've got to try and the more you go, the more benefits you reap.

When I first heard about Float Tanks it was about 25 years ago.  A man named Crash down in the Los Angeles and Malibu area was serious about ozone and floating and let me into his magical world. If you are in the LA area, be sure to check out Float Lab.  I was thinking of opening my own Float Tank business here in San Luis Obispo (SLO) but decided to stick with www.LoveYourHotTub.com and my passion, ozone.

Over the years, Float Tanks and Float Pods started appearing at the Pool and Spa Trade Shows.  Momentum carried the industry until it became more and more popular.  The physical and mental health is INCREDIBLE when there is no outside stimulation and you and your body can have a minute to listen to one another.

25 years later, I finally tried Floating!  Last year my Word of the Year was self-care; time to listen to my body.  But where will I go?  Luckily, we finally got a legit Float business here in SLO, Central Coast Floats. Owned by a brother and sister duo, their place is awesome!  Super clean and relaxing with a staff who are knowledgeable, helpful and kind.  All-in-all I would say Good Vibes live there.

The first time I try things is the "scariest" as I am a creature of habit and unknown things are not my comfort zone.  I knew I just had to get the first float under my belt.  What better time to dive in (don't do that, by the way) then my birthday?  Here I go!

Things to think about: don't shave right before you go - SALT, OUCH!  Also, if you have any wounds or scrapes, the salt water can sting. It can also help heal, just like the ocean. For any cuts you don't want salt in, they will give you something to cover it with (like wax or Neosporin, I can't remember). Fortunately, I did not have either of these scenarios but thought it was important enough to share.

When this salt lands in your eye, it stings!  Since it happens often enough, Central Coast Floats sets you up with water to rinse your eye and  cloth to wipe it clean.  I was seeing if I could turn a full circle, and couldn't. In the process, I splashed myself. Live and learn, am I right?

At Central Coast Floats you get your own room, a shower (shampoo and soap), towel, and a neck pillow to rest on.  The tanks are NOT clostrophobia-enducing. For my first float, I left the light on, turned the music on and did not shut the door.  I was scared - this was all new!

After what seemed like 20 minutes, I fell into the float state. Relaxed and feeling good, I turned the light off, turned the music off, even shut the door.  The peace and quiet took over me and I then turned to my body.  "How you doing?  What's going on?" I expected to go deep into my body but what I experienced was also so much fun.  As a tall woman, I grew out of the bathtub (too) early.  Here I was, reverting back to a small child in a HUGE bathtub!  It was so fun!  With 1,200 pounds of salt, you simply cannot flip over (I tried). You can swirl, stretch, bounce back and forth from bottom to the top. I felt like such a kid; what a joyful feeling!

Other things I did not expect included the time flying by so fast. I thought, "How am I going to be still for SIXTY minutes?"  I honestly thought I would freak out. Alas, I did the opposite and loved it.

Another thing that caught me by pleasant surprise was how SOFT my skin felt afterward. It felt super great and, I don't know, refreshing?  The word does not exist yet for that feeling.  Additionally, when I got out, my hair was huge!  Salt embedded itself and it was just another fun, interesting feeling that I didn't know was coming in this new journey.  Remember, they have showers, so you can rinse it out.

As I went for my second float, the worries of the First Time were not present. I was relaxed and ready to float. I asked the super kind gal at the front if floating gets old, the novelty wears off. Her answer surprised me when she said they are allowed free floats each week as an employee. She told me it gets BETTER after each float and if she could float more than once or twice a week, she would!  Wow.  That says a lot.

Although I bought a Membership, I haven't been back in awhile. My full-time jobs picks up in the Fall, followed by the Holidays. I'm ready to float again and can't wait to see what comes up this time.

If you have been wanting to try floating, do it!  It's life-changing, for sure. Your spirt, your mind and your body all get such a neat experience together.  No screens, no texts, nobody else's thoughts...just YOU.  "Hello, you."