Sensory deprivation tank... lets get real
Does floating in a pod filled with salt water in complete darkness sound relaxing to you?!?! Well apparently it can be.... I am here to break it down and be frank about what to expect from your experience. I'm not going to lie, it was relaxing, but there are some tips and tricks to "floating" that I had never read about and came to quickly realize until after my own personal experience.
How it works
The idea is you lay in this heavily saturated saltwater and you float. Think the dead sea in a bath tub. I mean it's literally impossible to drown and it's only 10 inches of water, so yeah your safe. Back to the concept of it all. So your supposed to float in the salt water for a least an hour, but can float up to 8 hours once you get good and trust me it takes time to get good! A more traditional experience is to float in complete darkness without any sound or light distractions. Me being a typical anxious millennial, unable to relax easily, let alone be in complete darkness for an hour. If your like me, it took a while to lay without being inside my own head, if you've tried meditation it's the same idea. Lock out all distractions and clear your head, BUT while floating.
What it feels like
So you put in ear plugs and quickly shower to protect your skin from all the salt. Trust me you will turn into a human margarita! For real your body turns into a margarita glass rimmed with salt. Then it's time to hop in the pod. When you first sit inside the pod you can't imagine being able to float, but as you slide to lay down it's near impossible to sink, trust me I tried. Once you lie down the hardest part is to actually relax, at least is was for me. First, you may realize how tense you are and normally when one floats, like in a pool or the ocean, your using ever muscle to keep yourself afloat. Even though I didn't need to I felt my abs tightening and my neck trying to lift my head even though it wasn't necessary. At first, it wasn't easy to just lay back and relax. You can use a head rest which would have been nice to use , and it maybe nice to use your first float.
Now your laying their in this pod, floating, trying to turnoff your mind. I had a more modern pod so I had zen music playing for part of it and had it fade out later in my session. I also had a light control, inside the pod. I turned the light off after I started to feel more comfortable in the pod, but did not close the pod all the way for two reason. Number one, I just wasn't fully really. I'm not a claustrophobic person, but the total darkness, unsure if I'm awake or asleep, was a little next level for me. Still the room was really dark, but it was nice to know I had the light in case I got a little freaked and the lid wasn't shut so I didn't feel trapped. Maybe that says something about my personality, without over analyzing myself I will move on.
The second reason I'm glad I left the pod open, now this maybe TMI, but here it goes. If you have any cuts or scrapes they suggest you cover them with petroleum jelly to keep the salt water from stinging your cut. I thought to myself, I haven't shaved in a few day and no cuts that I know of so I'm good to go. About 15-20 minutes into my float my lady parts started to feel.. well a subtle sting. I though oh boy somehow I got some salt water up my vagina, this sucks. I quickly hopped out, quickly rinses off my lady bits felt a bit better and got back in! Not one to try to over think it, again it started off well, no stinging, but again 20 minutes later it started up. At this point I was not relaxed and was getting really upset. Number one my man was treating me and I was starting to hate it and it was one of the only thing I wanted to do on my trip, and it was turning out to be a mild vaginal nightmare. In my panic about my lady parts I called my man, I know I was supposed to be without distractions and technology, but can you blame me? He felt so bad and just suggested a long shower and to just call it a day. Me being stubborn I again washed off, felt better and insisted I was going to float the whole hour. Again the cycle repeats. It wasn't as bad and I felt fine after washing off so I new this wasn't a permanent feeling. My husband, while I was doing my last 20 minutes, did some research for me, and so here I get to the warning and advise most people don't tell you. If you have sensitive skin down there you need to cover the area with that damn petroleum jelly. It is common because of the high salt content and the varying ph. It was comforting to know, but I mean who would have thought? I didn't!
Results
At the end was a more tranquil human? Were my senses heightened? Was I a new zen version of myself? I am not sure? Yes it was relaxing and yes I was more zen just like after a massage, kinda. My neck however was a bit stiff the next day because I was trying to float for a good majority of the session. And well there was the whole lady part business, BUT I think if I went more regularly I would see and feel more of the effects. Like anything, the first time is always a trial and error, your figuring out what works for you.
Final thoughts
You may have to try it more than once and I suggest you do if your really looking for the best results! One float isn't a cure all, but I think over time it can be! Cover your vag with Vaseline if you don't want to feel like your having a mild UTI sensation the whole time. And easy into at your own pace. The guy at the center I went to was really nice, but in a way made me feel like I had to turn off all the lights or close the door for a true experience. You don't, so do you!
Comment below if you like what your reading and want to see more similar posts or let me know things you'd like me to hear me review, or really, rant about! Check out my instagram izzababy9 as well!
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| This was my pod or tank... a newer version. The older styles are square and do not have an interior light like the blue one in my pod or a controllable lid from the inside. It also had speakers where I could listen to music. |
The idea is you lay in this heavily saturated saltwater and you float. Think the dead sea in a bath tub. I mean it's literally impossible to drown and it's only 10 inches of water, so yeah your safe. Back to the concept of it all. So your supposed to float in the salt water for a least an hour, but can float up to 8 hours once you get good and trust me it takes time to get good! A more traditional experience is to float in complete darkness without any sound or light distractions. Me being a typical anxious millennial, unable to relax easily, let alone be in complete darkness for an hour. If your like me, it took a while to lay without being inside my own head, if you've tried meditation it's the same idea. Lock out all distractions and clear your head, BUT while floating.
What it feels like
So you put in ear plugs and quickly shower to protect your skin from all the salt. Trust me you will turn into a human margarita! For real your body turns into a margarita glass rimmed with salt. Then it's time to hop in the pod. When you first sit inside the pod you can't imagine being able to float, but as you slide to lay down it's near impossible to sink, trust me I tried. Once you lie down the hardest part is to actually relax, at least is was for me. First, you may realize how tense you are and normally when one floats, like in a pool or the ocean, your using ever muscle to keep yourself afloat. Even though I didn't need to I felt my abs tightening and my neck trying to lift my head even though it wasn't necessary. At first, it wasn't easy to just lay back and relax. You can use a head rest which would have been nice to use , and it maybe nice to use your first float.
Now your laying their in this pod, floating, trying to turnoff your mind. I had a more modern pod so I had zen music playing for part of it and had it fade out later in my session. I also had a light control, inside the pod. I turned the light off after I started to feel more comfortable in the pod, but did not close the pod all the way for two reason. Number one, I just wasn't fully really. I'm not a claustrophobic person, but the total darkness, unsure if I'm awake or asleep, was a little next level for me. Still the room was really dark, but it was nice to know I had the light in case I got a little freaked and the lid wasn't shut so I didn't feel trapped. Maybe that says something about my personality, without over analyzing myself I will move on.
The second reason I'm glad I left the pod open, now this maybe TMI, but here it goes. If you have any cuts or scrapes they suggest you cover them with petroleum jelly to keep the salt water from stinging your cut. I thought to myself, I haven't shaved in a few day and no cuts that I know of so I'm good to go. About 15-20 minutes into my float my lady parts started to feel.. well a subtle sting. I though oh boy somehow I got some salt water up my vagina, this sucks. I quickly hopped out, quickly rinses off my lady bits felt a bit better and got back in! Not one to try to over think it, again it started off well, no stinging, but again 20 minutes later it started up. At this point I was not relaxed and was getting really upset. Number one my man was treating me and I was starting to hate it and it was one of the only thing I wanted to do on my trip, and it was turning out to be a mild vaginal nightmare. In my panic about my lady parts I called my man, I know I was supposed to be without distractions and technology, but can you blame me? He felt so bad and just suggested a long shower and to just call it a day. Me being stubborn I again washed off, felt better and insisted I was going to float the whole hour. Again the cycle repeats. It wasn't as bad and I felt fine after washing off so I new this wasn't a permanent feeling. My husband, while I was doing my last 20 minutes, did some research for me, and so here I get to the warning and advise most people don't tell you. If you have sensitive skin down there you need to cover the area with that damn petroleum jelly. It is common because of the high salt content and the varying ph. It was comforting to know, but I mean who would have thought? I didn't!
Results
At the end was a more tranquil human? Were my senses heightened? Was I a new zen version of myself? I am not sure? Yes it was relaxing and yes I was more zen just like after a massage, kinda. My neck however was a bit stiff the next day because I was trying to float for a good majority of the session. And well there was the whole lady part business, BUT I think if I went more regularly I would see and feel more of the effects. Like anything, the first time is always a trial and error, your figuring out what works for you.
Final thoughts
You may have to try it more than once and I suggest you do if your really looking for the best results! One float isn't a cure all, but I think over time it can be! Cover your vag with Vaseline if you don't want to feel like your having a mild UTI sensation the whole time. And easy into at your own pace. The guy at the center I went to was really nice, but in a way made me feel like I had to turn off all the lights or close the door for a true experience. You don't, so do you!
Comment below if you like what your reading and want to see more similar posts or let me know things you'd like me to hear me review, or really, rant about! Check out my instagram izzababy9 as well!
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