Frequently Asked Q’S
Some of the following FAQs have been used with permission of Float On.
How often should I float?
For new floaters, once a week for 4 weeks will give you a great introduction to floating. Floating is like going to the gym, doing yoga, or learning any new skill: you have to practice to get proficient. After 3 or 4 intro floats, you should be able to gauge how often you need to float to maintain that lovely glow. A lot of people find that 2 or 3 times a month does the trick.
Is there anything I should do to prepare?
Don’t drink coffee for several hours beforehand (it can make your system jittery)
Don’t shave or wax immediately before because the salt water can irritate your skin.
Eating a light meal about 60 to 90 minutes ahead of time stops your stomach from sounding like an angry monster while you float.
Other than that, no specific preparations are needed.
Do I need to bring anything?
If you have longer hair, you may want to bring a comb, and if you wear contacts bring something to put your lenses into while you’re in the tank. Other than that, we provide everything you need (towels, robes, earplugs, body wash/shampoo, etc.).
Can I bring a friend?
Absolutely! We have four rooms available for floatation therapy.
What's the difference between the Pro Float Cabins and the Royal Spa Float Pod?
Pro Float is a Canadian company and Royal Spa is an American company. Both types of tanks give quality floats and the difference is mainly aesthetic. When you float in each a few times you may find that you prefer one type of tank over another.
Why do I have to float for so long?
It really doesn’t feel like that long once you are all settled in!
Do I have to stay in the whole time?
There aren’t any latches on the tank doors, so you can get out at anytime. That said, the 75 minutes usually goes by w-a-a-a-a-y faster than you’d expect (our average customer usually says it felt like 30-45 minutes).
Will I get dehydrated if I stay in the float tank too long?
No – your skin doesn’t even “prune up”. You do absorb a lot of magnesium from the Epsom salts though.
What's the longest someone has been in the tank?
Christopher from Float On takes 12 hour floats about once a month. The inventor John Lily apparently floated for much, much longer periods of time.
What if I'm claustrophobic?
Being suspended in a tank is more like floating in outer space than being shut in a box. You’re always in control of your environment, and even people with extreme claustrophobia have reported having no problems during their time in the tank.
Will I drown if I fall asleep in there?
Nope. Some people fall asleep, but the water is sufficiently buoyant that you stay afloat. The worst that can happen is getting woken up by a bit of salt water in your eyes.
Do you change the water in between each client?
Nope, no need. The water is filtered at least three times through a 10 micron filter that catches anything bigger than pollen. We skim the water with a pool net and do a flashlight check before and after each client. On top of that, the highly sterile salt water is sanitized with UV light and Ozone along with 35% hydrogen peroxide.
What if I just got a tattoo?
We love tattoos! However, you have to wait to float until after a fresh tattoo has healed up, since a tattoo is essentially an open wound (and we wouldn’t let anyone float with an open wound). It is also important to wait a couple weeks to ensure that the salt water doesn’t soak the scab and then pull out any of the color.
Can I float if I am menstruating?
Yes. Just follow the same protocol you would for a entering a swimming pool.
Can I float if I'm pregnant?
Absolutely! A float tank is a safe place for a pregnant momma to lay on her back or belly without the weight of baby being an issue. We even provide pool noodles and extra pillows! It is probably a good idea to talk to your doctor before you come in, just in case, but there are no direct contradictions in regard to pregnant women floating during any trimester.
Is floating covered by my medical insurance?
Not yet. We are working with the Canadian Float Collective (a non-profit organization) to create a regulatory body much like massage and acupuncture have done. If you are a medical professional, a policy writing extraordinaire, or someone who would like to help this process along, please contact us and we can work together to make this a reality.
How long have float tanks been around?
John C. Lily. invented the first float tank in 1954. Those early floats involved full submersion in water with a breathing device that completely covered the face. The first lay-down commercial tanks were invented in the early 1970s.
Is this new agey mumbo-jumbo?
Floating has been around for over 40 years and has oodles of published research to back it up. No mumbo or jumbo here.
Is this like the movie "Altered States"?
Yes, but you’re not submerged in water, you don’t eat ritualistic mushrooms, and only a small percentage of floaters turn into proto-human monkeys.
How long have you been in business?
Float YXE first opened our doors as Oceanic Wellness Experience in the fall of 2012.