From our Float Ambassador’s Substack.  THANK YOU Bridget! We love you!

I didn’t have a clue what to expect but was wildly curious. I had heard of floatation therapy before but knew next to nothing about it. I knew some kind of tank was involved, which honestly terrified me because I’ve always been fairly claustrophobic and, because of that, I figured I’d never find myself inside one. Plus, I figured there wasn’t anything like that around my hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong!

One day, while listening to my favourite podcast, Mike and Kristen, I was captivated as they interviewed Lindsay MacPhee, an absolute gem of a human, who actually owns a floatation therapy centre, here, in the city (and get this… it’s been going strong for ten years)! I felt instantly drawn to the practice and decided I would, eventually, give it a try. It lingered at the back of my mind for a few months and kept coming to the forefront so, after exploring The Floatation Centre’s website meticulously, I booked myself in for an appointment. They have a mobile app that I find to be very user-friendly but their staff is also super helpful and kind if you call or text them at 902-453-5628.

The Floatation Centre is an oasis hidden in plain sight, right in the middle of the city (in the North End). Located at 2631 King Street, off of North, it’s very accessible and was easy to find once I saw their adorably inviting sign out front. There are a few parking spaces designated for the folks who visit the centre but there’s also ample parking available on the surrounding streets if you don’t mind a short walk.

When I walked through the door, I was greeted warmly by Jenelle, their lovely manager and one of their Float Hosts, who immediately made me feel at ease. It was clear I was in a safe space. The atmosphere of the space, as soon as you walk through the door, is calm and inviting: vibrant colours; chill, feel-good music; a variety of plants; and sun-catchers, casting rainbows across the walls.

Jenelle helped me fill out a form to get me started and then showed me through the centre to my room. We walked through their carefully curated living-room-area where you can check out all kinds of treasures — made by folks at locally-owned businesses — and lounge on the couch, while doodling and drinking tea if you want! It was hard to take it all in while walking past to get to the float room, so I made a mental note to take my time and hang out there for a while once I was done.

Jenelle brought me to Room 2. She reassured me that I could lock the door once she left but that, if they needed to get into the room for any reason (i.e. in the case of an emergency) they have a key to get in. She went on to talk me through how everything works. I thought I’d be overwhelmed at this point but all I felt was a calm curiosity. I listened carefully to Jenelle as she explained it all, which wasn’t hard because she was very good at explaining the whole process in a concise, down-to-earth manner:

1. get undressed;
2. get your earplugs ready (they provide foam ones);
3. hop in the shower [pro tip: most people float in the nude but, if you want to wear a swimsuit, just make sure you shower with it on before getting in; and DO NOT use conditioner until after your float!];
4. apply lubricating jelly to any cuts to stop them from stinging (also provided);
5. get into the tank! [pro tip: you can leave the door all the way open if you’re nervous, or prop it open using a rolled up facecloth they provide you with; I chose to close it fully, much to my surprise];

FLOAT for (up to) 75 minutes [pro tip: you can get out early if you’ve had enough time or are not feeling it… Jenelle’s recommendation was to do some deep belly-breathing and said that it’s normal for your body to calm down before your mind, which turned out to be the BEST advice and was so reassuring]!

*Once you’re showered and dressed, you’re more than welcome to spend time in the living-room-area; I would highly recommend staying a while, as it’s the perfect way to decompress after your float and give yourself the gift of a little more time before returning to “reality”. I usually doodle in one of their sketchbooks, or write in my journal, and sip water or tea. Sometimes I even have the good fortune of cuddling with Lindsay’s pup, Pearl, when she’s in — the cutest, most friendly, permanent employee-of-the-month.

Once Jenelle left me to myself, I locked the door and got undressed. They had everything I’d need, next to and inside the shower: a towel, a face cloth, body wash, shampoo, conditioner for after my float, and a cute little table with a tray of helpful items — foam earplugs, q-tips, lubricating jelly and tissues. There was also a facecloth and a spray bottle of fresh water you can access from inside the tank, in case you get salt water in your eyes! The lubricating jelly came in handy once I had showered. I put it on a cut I had on my hand, which I imagine would’ve stung in all that salt water without it. [FUN FACT: Did you know, there are 1,000 pounds of salt in each floatation tank mixed into about 11 inches of water?! So if you’re worried you won’t be able to float, trust me, you have no choice!] I have tiny ears and have always struggled to keep foam earplugs in but they worked fine for my first float. I did make a mental note to bring my own the next time though, just so I wouldn’t have to keep pushing them back into my ears, mid-float.

On top of the tank there was a piece of amethyst, meant to bring a calming presence into the room. The vibes were immaculate! Next to it was a piece of foam, shaped like a ring, that Jenelle said some people like to use because they’re not used to the neck being supported when floating in water (cause, usually, water’s not chock-full of salt!!). I decided to give it a try since it was my first time.

Stepping into the tank felt wildly refreshing! The temperature of the water is set to be about the same temperature as your skin so that, once you’re floating, it doesn’t make you sweat or shiver and, instead, makes you feel as if you’re being wrapped in a warm hug. I knelt down and slowly closed the door over me. I stretched out in the water and put the foam ring under my neck. It worked well to ease me into the weightless feeling of floating but I decided I’d try floating without it next time (I float frequently now, and have gone back and forth with using it, but I’m a lot more used to the feeling of my neck being supported without it now). It was dark with the door closed but I could see a slight purple glow streaming in through a small hole at the other end of the tank. This light would turn off a few moments later and come back on at the end of the float — a thoughtful touch to help the flow of each transition.

Jenelle was right; my body calmed down fairly quickly but my mind wouldn’t stop racing… I focused on my breathing a while and, soon enough, I slipped into a level of calmness I’d never experienced before. I truly felt like I was floating in outer-space! If you’re familiar with the show, Stranger Things, I honestly felt like Eleven when she’s floating in water and is able to psychically project her consciousness elsewhere, in some sort of parallel reality. In inhibiting her usual senses, she’s able to access her psychic projection powers! I started to feel like I was almost on that level, not being able to see, hear, feel, smell or taste anything. It felt like my legs were drifting farther and farther below me — like my body was slowly tilting forward in zero-gravity, floating peacefully within infinite darkness — when, in reality, I was lying horizontally on my back in a deep, restful state, in a tank of ridiculously salty water. Every once in a while, my leg or hand would twitch and I’d, temporarily, jolt myself out of my rest (or my ear plugs would expand and start to pop out so I’d need to fix them) but it was so easy to slip back into that blissful serenity.

At times, I found I wasn’t even thinking of anything, which is typically unheard of when it comes to my brain. The closest I had ever come to not thinking of anything was during meditation. I had recently learned the power of Transcendental Meditation in particular and found that this setting — inside a float tank — was actually the perfect place to meditate! Since being inside one deprives you of all your senses, it makes room for your mind to do whatever it desires — from dreaming up your next creative endeavour to basking in the peace and quiet, or even falling asleep (Don’t worry; if that happens, your buoyancy supports you and keeps you on your back)!

Apparently, approximately 90% of our brain is usually busy dealing with external stimuli (something I learned in browsing the The Floatation Centre’s website). Take away the distractions and see what your brain can do! I may have eventually fallen asleep but, before I knew it, I started to notice a quiet humming that turned into singing voices, growing gradually louder as I listened. I opened my eyes and could see the purple glow again, ever so slightly. This meant it was time to get out, and shower. I really appreciated the gentle prompt and felt totally invigorated as I stepped out of the tank. I took great care in washing all of the salt off my body and, as I dried off, noticed how remarkably smooth it had made my skin.

Once I got back to the living-room-area, Jenelle asked if I wanted water or tea. I gladly accepted a cup of warm tea and settled in on the couch to hold onto the stillness a little longer. I noticed a poster all about Transcendental Meditation just ahead of me and smiled at the synchronicity — a sign I had found a sacred space… a space I knew I’d return to as soon as possible. I was drawn to a sketchbook on the table in front of me and spent some time doodling with their collection of brightly coloured markers. It was fun to flip through the book, as it was full of thoughts and drawings of fellow floaters, showcasing so much wisdom and talent!

I discovered that The Floatation Centre offers so much more than floatation therapy; it’s a heavenly hub of alternative medicine! It’s a wellness space with non-judgemental practices that prides itself on being a safe space for everyBODY, no matter how you identify. Their staff is made up of integrative wellness professionals who offer everything from floatation therapy to registered massage therapy, and everything in between including: acupuncture, hypnotherapy, manual lymph drainage, combined decongestive therapy, foot massages, Akashic readings, astrology chart analysis, and tarot reading! They even have an infrared sauna I’ve since tried that’s out-of-this-world… complete with a cold water bucket you can dunk over your head when you’re done, in the shower, by pulling a rope (…unless you’d rather just rinse off)! I highly recommend the sauna as an add-on to any service you seek at The Floatation Centre.

After taking plenty of time to decompress and admire the locally-made items they have for sale, I eventually set out on my way, feeling completely rejuvenated! I made sure to tell Jenelle I’d definitely be back and decided to sign up for a monthly membership, pretty much as soon as I walked out the door. I was definitely less sore than I had been before and I felt like my mind was clear for the first time in forever! I slept like a baby that night, and have gone back at least once a month ever since — you may say, the rest is history!