There was a moment that the water beneath me and the darkness above me became one thing. And then all of a sudden I was that same thing too.
I know that sounds weird. But it is the truth. I probably should back up a bit. A few weeks ago, my cousin, Paulie posted something on Facebook about floating in a sensory deprivation tank. Out on Long Island. And I was intrigued. So I looked up The Float Place and made a reservation to float in one of the pools. The Float Place has three rooms, two with float pools and one with a floating tank. I opted for the pool because it was slightly larger.
When I arrived at the facility, I was given a tour and orientation by one of the staff members. The place and the guy were both very chill. He brought me into the room where I would be doing my float and walked me through the entire process. Then showed me where people go after the float, to the tea room to have some tea or water just to get yourself back to normal after the float and before you jump in your car.
So after the tour, I got myself ready. I switched off my phone, which was relaxing in itself. 90 minutes or so of total radio silence. I took a quick rinsing shower and stepped into what sort of looked like an industrial freezer, but filled with Epsom salt infused warm water. I sat in the water and closed door. Like my guide had mentioned the salt level of the water would make the floating just happen and my feet were trying to rise up from the floor of the pool, It was about a foot deep. The two float rooms are filled with 300 gallons of water with 1400 pounds of Epsom Salt dissolved in it. I laid down and my body rose up from the water I was half submerged. I turned off the light from the inside. It was super dark, and then a few minutes later the lights from the staging area went out as well and I was in total blackness. There was no sound, it was like space.
The Float Place which has been in business since 2015, boasts two of the largest float rooms on the East coast.
When I arrived at the facility, I was given a tour and orientation by one of the staff members. The place and the guy were both very chill. He brought me into the room where I would be doing my float and walked me through the entire process. Then showed me where people go after the float, to the tea room to have some tea or water just to get yourself back to normal after the float and before you jump in your car.
So after the tour, I got myself ready. I switched off my phone, which was relaxing in itself. 90 minutes or so of total radio silence. I took a quick rinsing shower and stepped into what sort of looked like an industrial freezer, but filled with Epsom salt infused warm water. I sat in the water and closed door. Like my guide had mentioned the salt level of the water would make the floating just happen and my feet were trying to rise up from the floor of the pool, It was about a foot deep. The two float rooms are filled with 300 gallons of water with 1400 pounds of Epsom Salt dissolved in it. I laid down and my body rose up from the water I was half submerged. I turned off the light from the inside. It was super dark, and then a few minutes later the lights from the staging area went out as well and I was in total blackness. There was no sound, it was like space.
The Float Place which has been in business since 2015, boasts two of the largest float rooms on the East coast.
While you are submerged everything that you are stressing about floats away. Anxieties drift off into the ether. I'm not sure if I was drifting in the ether as well. That was unclear. During your time you become both aware and unaware of your body at the same time. It was like you were just your mind. I tried to sleep, but I just couldn't. I was relaxed but just not tired enough to sleep. Perhaps I realized that I was in the water and my natural survival instincts didn't allow me to sleep. Though a lot of people according to the staff are able to sleep while floating and they say that an hour asleep in the tank is the equivalent to three hours of REM sleep. Then from seemingly underneath you some soothing music comes on, that is you signal that your time is up. But they were very cool about saying take your time, and that the music wasn't an alarm clock. It took me a few minutes to find the light, and I stretched a little, some of my muscles were a little cramped from lying still for 90 minutes. I got out and cleaned off the salt from my body.
I unwound in the tea room and headed home. I had a smile on my face and was ready to take on whatever was ahead of me with a clear mind. And like the guy who worked there said I slept great that night.
The Float Place has two locations on Long Island, one in Deer Park and another in Patchogue. Taking a float or two is well worth the money, for the peace of mind you get and for the escape from everything.
Disclaimer: The Float Place provided me with a complimentary float to be used for writing this post. But as always all opinions are mine. -NV
I unwound in the tea room and headed home. I had a smile on my face and was ready to take on whatever was ahead of me with a clear mind. And like the guy who worked there said I slept great that night.
The Float Place has two locations on Long Island, one in Deer Park and another in Patchogue. Taking a float or two is well worth the money, for the peace of mind you get and for the escape from everything.
Disclaimer: The Float Place provided me with a complimentary float to be used for writing this post. But as always all opinions are mine. -NV
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